From big jumping spiders and oversized webs to crazed looking clowns and 12-foot skeletons, Halloween brings out all the thrills and chills of the spooky season.
While some kids might feel pure excitement about all the ghoulish decorations, costumes and trick-or-treating, there’s some who may experience some increased fear and anxiety during the Halloween season.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, occasional fears are common in children, such as being afraid of the dark or strangers.
Small children and even bigger kids are still learning the difference between what is real and what isn’t, so seeing something scary, even if it’s just for pretend on Halloween, could trigger a very real and fearful response.
Here are a few ways to help your children have a fun (not frightful) Halloween.
Talk about Halloween in advance. As decorations start popping up around the neighborhood or in your local store, start talking about Halloween and what to expect.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Reading books to your child about trick-or-treating — and Halloween in general — are great ways to help that discussion. You might even want to have your child practice dressing up in their costume before the big day. Toddlers need to know that Halloween is just for fun and the scary stuff is all pretend.”
Get in the Halloween spirit. Have your child help with kid-friendly Halloween decorations around the house. Pick silly jack-o’-lantern faces and have them help scoop out the insides from a carved pumpkin or paint a pumpkin for your front porch.
Choose Costumes. Let your child browse the costume aisle and pick out their favorite superhero, princess or animal costume. Have your child try on the costume before Halloween night to make sure they can walk comfortably.
When it comes to costumes, always consider safety first. According to the Food and Drug Administration, only wear costumes that are labeled as flame resistant. Choose costumes that are brightly colored or reflective so they are easy to spot at night and consider wearing make-up instead of masks, which can obscure vision.
If your child is feeling shy about dressing up in a costume, offer to dress up together as a family.
Go trick-or-treating during the day. Check out a local trunk or treat or grab tickets to a special kid-friendly trick-or-treat experience such as Boo at the Akron Zoo or Pumpkins & Piranhas at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium. These are usually scheduled during the day or indoors so you don’t have to worry about it being too dark or scary.
Let your child pass out the treats. If your child is feeling hesitant about going trick-or-treating on the big night, let them help pass out candy or trinkets to other trick-or-treaters. This will allow them to see costumes and learn how the interaction works.
Have a plan for Halloween night. A few days before Halloween, take a neighborhood walk or drive-by to check out decorations and plan your route. If something spooky does pop up while you’re trick-or-treating, have a plan about how you’ll handle it with your child.
If your child is experiencing Halloween fears, it’s best to be supportive and validate their feelings, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“Do not belittle or ridicule your child’s fears, particularly in front of their peers. Do not try to pressure your child into being brave. It will take time for them to confront and gradually move beyond their anxieties.”
Not-So-Scary Costumes for Kids:
Superhero
Princess
Friendly animal (puppy, bunny, duck, cow, cat, fox, skunk)
Robot
Astronaut
Unicorn
Bug (caterpillars, butterflies, lady bug)
Sea creature (mermaids, fish, octopus, crab, sea turtle)
Food (cupcake, cookie, slice of pizza, burrito)
Fruits & Veggies
Family-friendly Costume Themes:
Characters from Inside Out
Minions
Crayons
Characters from Frozen
Characters from Bluey
Characters from Mario Brothers
Characters from Toy Story
Characters from Alice in Wonderland
Characters from Sesame Street
Characters from The Wizard of Oz
