Halloween is one of the most exciting holidays of the year for youngsters. Candy, dressing up, parties at school—what’s not to love?
But if you have little ones, the sight of some of the scariest costumes and decorations is decidedly not something to celebrate.
“For children around three to five years of age, and sometimes even older, the ghoulish costumes and yard displays can be overwhelming and very scary, but that’s a natural part of their development,” says Dr. Sue Cohen, Director of Early Childhood and Psychological Services at North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center. “Luckily, most pre-schools and even elementary schools advise parents to avoid the scary kinds of costumes, so the schools themselves are typically safe zones. But once your child heads out to trick-or-treat, they’re likely to confront some frightening sights.”
Of course, you know your child, so you’re the best judge of how scared they are likely to be. But as with all parenting issues, preparing ahead of time and anticipating any problems is the wisest strategy. Some tips:
- Let them express the fears they have and reassure them in a calm voice that it’s OK to have those feelings.
- Play a game where your child scares you, and then laugh about it.
- Show them costumes online, so they’ll have an idea of what to expect.
- Do some crafts at home that create ghosts and other Halloween décor. Explain that any scary front lawn displays are made of fabric and paint, just like the crafts you made together.
- Some children don’t like something covering their faces, so you might want to avoid costumes with masks.
- If they are frightened by masks on other people, put one on yourself and take it off to show them that you are still there!
- If any older sibling is wearing a potentially scary costume, let your young one watch as they put on their makeup or masks, so they can gradually see how their big brother or sister transformed into the witch or warlock—and that it’s still them under the disguise.
- Make a visit to your local library and ask the librarian for books that help children see that Halloween is full of pretend things—some scary and others just plain fun! Click here for some great choices.
What about if your child just adores his or her costume but when Halloween arrives, their mood changes and they refuse to wear it? “Try a compromise,” advises Cohen. “Let them bring the costume to school instead of putting it on before they go, or have them just wear part of the outfit. It’s definitely not something worth having a power struggle over, so if they refuse to wear it, let it go.”
Sources:
https://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/development/fear/4-ways-to-make-halloween-less-scary/
