By Katie Jay
It’s almost Halloween, an exciting time for all of our little ghosts, goblins, witches, and pumpkins. Along with all the fun and excitement, all the new elements of Halloween can be unsettling or even downright scary for the littlest people. Here are some suggestions to make this Halloween the happiest yet.
Prepare your little pumpkin for spooky surprises. The world of Halloween is filled with all sorts of new characters, and ghosts, monsters, and witches (and even princesses and Elmo) can be startling or scary. Before heading out on Halloween or in the days leading up to it, let your toddler know that they might be seeing these new-to- them characters. You can also talk about creatures who might jump out and say “Boo,” and even practice saying “Boo!” right back.
Consider the candy conundrum. Halloween is closely connected with candy and trick-or-treating for most people, but chances are your little pumpkin hasn’t made the association yet. With all the other new parts to the Halloween experience, this might be a year to enjoy the sights and sounds of the neighborhood rather than focusing on hitting every house on the block. If you decide to squeeze in a few “trick-or-treats,” consider letting your child select one or two pieces from their loot, then saving the rest for the grown-up goblins at your house or workplace. (Of course be sure to check all candy for choking hazards or unsafe packaging before the candy selection.)
Young toddlers can also celebrate Halloween by helping to hand out treats at home. This is a great time to model eye contact, please and thank you, and taking turns. You might want to consider handing out non-candy items such as Halloween stickers, pencils, or small non-candy snack packs.
Costumes – the great debate. Halloween costumes can take a lot of time, money, and energy to create, and we’ve all heard stories of that infamous toddler who took one look at their intended costume and flatly refused to have anything to do with it. To avoid (or at least mitigate) the frustration that the may raise, develop a “Costume Plan B.” You might grab a hat and some face paint or even have a Halloween t-shirt on hand just in case. Whether your toddler is sporting their costume or rocking a t-shirt, make sure you’ve got options just in case the evening is warmer or cooler than you expected.
We hope these tips help you have a wonderful Halloween with your little ghosts and goblins. Happy Halloween!