Making Halloween Less Scary

You probably never think of it as a parent but Halloween can be a scary for some kids. In fact, it can be downright frightening. Skeletons, mummies, bats and vampires can really take the fun out this great tradition and stop your child from participating in trick or treating and other events.

Try to take the fright out of this Halloween night with some of these quick tips:

• If you feel that your child is developing fear about the scary parts of Halloween, talk to them about it. Explain that other kids are in those costumes. Maybe even have a sibling dress up ahead of time to show them what’s underneath the scary costumes and faces.

• Let your child choose their own costume. Make sure that it is appropriate for their age. Try choosing a costume that is not scary  or only a little scary, like a pirate or ghost. Make sure your child is comfortable in their costume.

• Avoid the haunted mansions or hayride. Enjoy the traditional non-scary halloween events such as fall fairs, pumpkin patch, or hayride instead. Also consider trick or treating during the daytime. many malls have daytime events for the smaller children.

You can’t always protect your child from scary and gory decorations, but you can try to minimize exposure to them. Talk through your child’s fears so they feel comfortable and can enjoy the season!