𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐨 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐅𝐮𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧

I participated in an event at a school near my home when my daughter was three years old. My role was to wear a mouse costume. During preparation, my wife brought her to meet me and see the rehearsal. When they arrived, I waved and walked toward them, forgetting I was wearing my mouse costume. My daughter was frightened!

I immediately took off the top of my costume, which shocked her almost as much. She was inconsolable until I removed the costume and soothed her with a hug and some soft talking.

What was noteworthy is that for days following, I would catch her watching me as though I was about to change into another creature, and her bottom lip would tremble when I changed my vocal tone for any reason. I owned a pair of furry gloves, which I could not wear during that Winter without her becoming anxious!

So Halloween is here, even days before the actual holiday. While some children may enjoy dressing up as ghosts and goblins and receiving loads of sweets, Halloween can be terrifying for a few, particularly younger children.

Comparable to how my young daughter responded when she saw me in that mouse costume, for younger children, adults, and siblings, masquerading as sorcerers, spirits, and werewolves, can be confusing and disturbing.

𝙎𝙤 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙃𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣?

𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐯𝐬. 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜

Are you aware that your body exhibits a similar physiological reaction when you’re thrilled as it does when you’re afraid? Maybe this is a piece of what makes Halloween entertaining as we get older!

The difference in whether we feel excited or scared in a situation is how our brain assesses it. For example, if you fell from your roof you may be scared but if you were connected to a bungee cord, maybe you would feel you were in a safe place and enjoy it!

Five suggestions to help your child love Halloween

1. Pay attention to your child’s fears and reassure them.

The most valuable thing you can do when your child is scared is to listen to their fears, then support and reassure them. Show them that you understand their concerns and that you’ll be here to listen if they want to talk. Consider the difference between their fear and your enthusiasm. Help them appreciate Halloween with some of the other suggestions below.

2. Make it innovative

Instead of concentrating just on dressing frightening outfits or trick or treating, — get innovative with your child by making something together.

Allow them to take control of creating their costume or decorations. This will assist them in experiencing being a part of the festivities without connecting in something ‘frightening.’

Pumpkin carving is interactive and entertaining and are able do together. You can also go to a pumpkin patch together to choose one beforehand!

3. Have a Halloween party

If your child isn’t an enthusiast with trick or treating, why not bring the excitement inside? It can feel more comfortable and become a more fun atmosphere.

You could host your Halloween-themed party, including Halloween-themed food and snacks, make decorations and play Halloween-themed games.

4. Make Halloween snacks for trick-or-treaters.

If your child is afraid of trick-or-treaters, consider empowering them by making Halloween snacks together to give out to anyone who knocks on the door. Even if they are too scared to answer the door themselves, having a part in making the treats could help them to feel more involved and alleviate some fears.

5. Watch a family-friendly Halloween movie.

Halloween movies don’t have to be scary. Many films commemorate Halloween and are fun to watch for everyone in the family. Films like, Monster Inc, Disney Pixar’s Coco and Ghostbusters could be excellent options for a family-friendly Halloween movie night.

                                                                                            Have a Happy Halloween