Thanks to the amazing success of the Twilight series parents who were once just concerned about drug-proofing their children or educating them about sex, now have to deal with a fascination with the undead. Vampires are filling television programs, books and films.

Catriona Corbett from Anglicare's Family Relationships and Early Intervention service has some insights to offer for parents dealing with the current obsession.

Vampires are beginning to populate popular culture aimed at children - how concerned should parents be?

It depends on the age of their children, and on the personalities of those children. Parents with children under the age of 10 should be monitoring what they are reading, and when they are doubtful they should have a look at it themselves and discuss it if their child really wants to keep reading it. There have always been scary stories around - think of Little Red Riding Hood. Tragic, terrible things happen in children's stories. So if children are showing signs of anxiety, parents need to distract them into other activities if books are having that sort of impact.

What are some of the classic signs of anxiety that might flow out of these 'scary' stories?

Being scared to go off to sleep in a dark room, if that's the usual thing; checking all the time for monsters under the bed; waking up during the night or crying out because they've had a bad dream; just wanting to be next to their parents all of the time, or being particularly concerned to feel secure. For older children the unhealthy signs are more likely to be things like becoming obsessed with the story or characters and possibly showing signs of disconnection from their friends and family.

What age is it that children are capable of starting to contextualize these sorts of stories?

The general consensus seems to be that from age 6 onwards children are able to distinguish fantasy from real life. But really from age 10-12 onwards adolescents are going to read what they want to read. You have to be guiding and directing them in those early infants and primary school years so that you shape their interests and steer them away from what's not healthy or helpful.

Is the child's age also going to affect the way that parents may choose to respond?

It will, and I think where the children are young it's a very good idea for the parents to read the books or go to the film with the child and talk about it - particularly if the child is desperate to do it. Some parents are very pleased if their children are reading anything and teachers often say, 'If you want your child to be a good reader, let them read anything!' So some parents are thrilled - but they do need to keep an eye on the content, without over-monitoring it.

With an older child you can talk about the moral implications of some of these stories. You can talk about the deeper issues that they raise at a more conceptual level where they can think in a more abstract way. However, because of peer group pressure, if you try and monitor them too much you are going to drive them to want to know what are in these sorts of books. If you ban them they become very enticing and there's almost a seduction about wanting to pursue something that is forbidden. You don't want to get into that sort of power-play.

Kids will talk about the books at school and it's better if your children have read them and have had an informed discussion with you about the issues that they are raising.

These sorts of stories tend to cause alarm, but do they also provide any opportunities?

There is absolutely an opportunity to use them to deepen relationships with our children. They can also raise spiritual issues for parents who want to talk to their children about eternal life, or the impact of good and evil in the world. If kids don't want to talk about it then I wouldn't push it, but those sorts of issues can be pursued as well.

Do you have more questions for Catriona? Use the comment box below…