Helping Kids Enjoy Halloween

Now the kids are back at school, parents’ attention begins to turn towards the next two months and there is a lot going on.  Next month sees Halloween after the half term break then Bonfire Night close its heels and then before we know it, it is Christmas.  Halloween is an event that is ever growing in popularity with the shops filling up with everything spooky already.  For some kids, it is great fun but for others it can be a bit too scary.  So how can you help kids enjoy Halloween and make sure they are safe?

Trick or treat

Most kids will say trick or treating when you ask them what their favourite part of Halloween is – mostly because of the sweets involved.  The biggest part of this is the dressing up element and most kids adore doing this at any excuse.  Of course, dressing them up in dark clothes on a dark night can seem like a bit of a recipe for disaster so one easy tip is to pop a little glow in the dark tape on the costume or on their trick or treat bag.  Makes for a fun look but also makes them easier to spot when walking around the neighbourhood.

Some people elect to let their kids wear masks as part of the costumes but one thing to watch is that they don’t cover their eyes, noses or mouths as this can be uncomfortable or worse.  Another solution is to go with face painting instead – great fun in the lead up to going out and means there is no mask to get in the way.  Older kids might elect for coloured or decorative contact lenses to add to the look but avoid these for the younger kids.

Halloween activities

If you aren’t going out trick or treating or are having a party, then getting the house ready for the event is another fun activity.  The carved pumpkin is a staple of the Halloween decorations so why not let the kids sketch their design onto the pumpkin and do the carving yourself or let the older kids take on the job.  If they want to scoop out the pumpkin, use an ice cream scoop rather than a knife.

Adding candles is another tradition but can be a bit of a risk around kids.  Replacing them with a glow stick or a flameless candle will give the illumination without the risk of a real flame to deal with. 

Dealing with Fright Night

Some kids find Halloween a bit terrifying and don’t want to take part in the activities.  They can even get spooked when people are knocking on the door.  One solution to help with this is to get a reading book on Halloween, even a personalised one that makes them the central character in the story.  This will make it seem less scary and help them understand what all the ghosts and witches are about.  That way the next year, they may even want to join in the trick or treating or Halloween parties!