The “Muppets Haunted Mansion” can help families with young children find common ground for a fun Halloween viewing season. (photo courtesy Disney)

In a warm living room nearing the witching hour sits a man, a father, eager to honor the season. Skeletons hung on roof with care in hopes that trick ‘r treaters will soon scream or cheer.

But All Hallows Eve, with all its spirits and ghouls, must be approached with care, neither too scary nor too hokey. The first stage succeeds: the boys adore the decorations. One skeleton waves at the neighbors atop the roof. Another yields a candy bucket hanging from the trim. Still a third attempts to flee a skeleton dragon, who has a hold of his foot.

Oogie Boogie, a large pumpkin, three spookier ones, an orange-eyed rat and black skeleton invade the planter. And a spiderweb spans both stories of the house, four large spiders riddled throughout. A host of minor details and seasonal lights top it all off.

“Can we see the Halloween decorations, daddy?” a couple 5-year-old gremlins ask.

They love it all. But nothing really scary. That’s not the goal right now. We shoot for festive vibes. Even that’s a problem. Scour ample news sources during October, you’re bound to find family friendly options, even nostalgic recommendations pulling at the heartstrings of boomers, Xers and millennials. Think “Ghostbusters,” “Beetlejuice,” “Gremlins,” “Hocus Pocus” – need I continue?

They seem like such simple, obvious options. Who could object? Preschoolers more interested in watching toy videos on YouTube, that’s who. Just try to watch Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray chatter for some time before ghosts or slime arrive. Yeah, yeah, just have patience. It’s from another era. Both true. Both won’t quell impatient viewers too young to wait it out. They all have that problem. We might find them great starters, but that’s us holding onto something from our past.

How about some modern classics: “Coraline,” “ParaNorman,” those “Goosebumps” flicks that prove surprisingly fun. Still a negative, “Ghost Rider.” Certainly all children are different, some swayed easily to mom and pop’s favorite things. Most, I imagine, are like mine: into their own things, resisting many and any suggestions.

So if you hoped a light Tim Burton film would ease youngsters into the Halloween spirit – rock some “Frankenweenie” or “Nightmare Before Christmas” – heed this warning. There’s a good chance one of the “PAW Patrol” holiday episodes might lead the request line instead. Lots of requests … in quick succession.

You’re lucky if you redirect them to something slightly more palatable, a smidge less obnoxious. It’s “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania” for the fourth time this fortnight. Apparently the first three films are canonically problematic.

Let’s try “The Boxtrolls,” a delightful stop-motion feature about shenanigan-lovin’ yet misunderstood critters roaming the city. Not a chance. But “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon” might work. It’s fast paced and silly, in lieu of clever and impressive.

Now comes desperation. You’ve gone through special episodes across “Sharkdog,” “Doc McStuffins,” “Vampirina,” “Cleo & Cuquin” and “Roadster Racers,” which actually starred Guillermo del Toro. It’s time for desperate measures before the kiddos realize they once enjoyed “My Magic Pet Morphle,” a Dutch animated film beyond unwatchable.

I’ve got it. They already love “The Lego Movie” – “Everything is Awesome,” they call it – so the Disney+ Lego special “Star Wars: Terrifying Tales” must be a surefire success. Too scary. Also, “‘Star Wars’ is boring,” they inform me. Cool. Super cool. I’m fine. Everything’s fine. I don’t need them to love one of my all-time favorite films.

What’s left? At least, Disney+ transferred all those “Toy Story” short films from DVDs and Blu-rays, including “Toy Story of Terror.” And the Scooby gang’s many adventures are readily available on HBO Max. For a time, even, they just wanted to watch video game play for “Luigi’s Mansion 3.” We don’t own a Nintendo Switch, though I’m tempted to shell out nearly $400 just so they watch me play.

Then it happens. Common ground. Something with appeal for both sides. I give you “Muppets Haunted Mansion.” This seasonal special hardly breaches the “Muppet” bests, but it’s still a Muppet story, one with plenty of throwbacks to the puppets’ remarkable history and the Disneyland ride it’s also based on. Count this one as a win.

This kind of debacle is a modest horror, a non-issue really. Attempts to create lasting memories rarely go as expected. Moviegoing and Halloween specials might not return many wins. No worries. Those two running around the car at sundown, occasionally staring at the decorations, a few they demanded in certain places, is a memory far more lasting than a cult classic.