October marks the beginning of Halloween festivities. While the celebration is fun to many, some experiences can be scary for preschoolers who may struggle to distinguish between reality and fantasy.
The décor affiliated with this season, such as skeletons, skulls, ghosts, jack-o’-lanterns, and witches, can easily trigger fear or anxiety in some children.
Read on to explore how to prepare your preschooler for the spooky holiday to ensure an enjoyable experience.
Validate Your Preschooler’s Fears
Fear is common among young children discovering and exploring the world around them. It is a part of social-emotional learning in their early childhood. Parents and caregivers need to help the young ones navigate through their emotions. Give a sympathetic ear to your child’s anxieties and fears.
Here are a few don’ts that can help you manage a child’s emotions:
- Don’t ridicule or invalidate their fears, especially in front of their peers.
- Don’t force your child to be brave. It takes time to overcome anxiety and conquer fear.
- Don’t keep pestering them to come face-to-face with their fears; instead, encourage them.
You may wish to talk with their preschool teacher to create a backup plan if there are school-related festivities. This may involve setting aside an alternate room where your child can calm their nerves if overwhelmed by the Halloween activities at school.
Explain The Difference Between Reality & Imaginary
It’s always a good idea to talk to your preschooler about Halloween before the holiday. Sit down with your child and teach them the difference between real and imaginary. You can connect this with something the kid does, such as pretend or dressing up, for a better understanding. Explain to them what to expect and how people dress up, and help them understand that although some costumes seem scary, they are unreal.
These conversations give children an idea of what to expect from the festivities. Introducing preschoolers to scary items with factual explanations and reassurance also helps. You can use pictures and symbols to explore your child’s fears around decorations and costumes. Show them that the decorations and costumes are not real and that underneath the costumes are family members and friends.
Choose Decorations & Costumes Carefully
Consider your child’s comfort when choosing home decorations and a suitable costume. Something cute and funny to you may be scary to them – consider face painting instead of masks that can often limit a child’s vision.
Get outfits that won’t cause discomfort if worn for a long time and possibly pick a costume that feels like regular clothes. You can also have your child involved in the process of choosing their costume or the family pumpkin.
Follow Your Child’s Lead
It is advisable to follow your child’s lead and pay attention to their cues, respect their choices and hold back when they show they’ve had enough of the events.
Make Holiday Learning Fun
Involve your child in Halloween family traditions such as pumpkin carving and baking seasonal favorites. Read them books about the festivities and ask them to share their favorite part of the holiday. These activities add to the fun and anticipation.
Safety Tips For Preschoolers On Halloween
Here are simple practices to prepare your kids for Halloween night.
Carry a Flashlight
Flashlights easily fascinate kids. What’s a better time to allow your preschooler to carry around their own flashlight than Halloween? It adds to the fun and excitement and illuminates the surroundings. Additionally, make sure you approach well-lit homes.
Draw out a Trick-or-Treat Map
Make sure your child is familiar with the neighborhood that you decide to trick or treat in – if it is not your own neighborhood them try to visit the trick-or-treat route in advance. You can also sketch a map for your child to help them know where they are and where they are going.
Halloween Doesn’t Have To Be Scary For Preschoolers
Spookiness aside, Halloween can be a fun-filled season for everyone. As a parent or caregiver, it’s your responsibility to help preschoolers understand that this festivity should be fun and exciting, not frightening.
At Providence Children’s Academy, we offer the Coconut Creek community a quality early childhood education. We provide a fun and friendly environment to give infants through to Pre-K children a solid educational foundation.
Our Coconut Creek preschool features highly skilled and passionate teachers who provide the best preschool experience for your child. Get in touch and secure your child’s future today.