Fall is in full swing – falling temperatures, crisp leaves, and the smell of cinnamon spices wafting through the air are just a couple of things that autumn lovers enjoy. It’s the perfect time for fun and spooky decorations, creative costumes, friendly tricks, and plenty of sweet treats. However, celebrating the festivities can be a little tricky with young kids.
Here are some tricks to ensure your holiday is full of treats and very few scares. 🎃
Stay Connected
Whether or not you and your kids celebrate Halloween, there are lots of activities to participate in during the fall. Pumpkin patches, fall festivals, apple picking, hay rides, and corn mazes are just a few examples of all there is to do. Take a moment to check out the local community recreational center, neighborhood social media groups, and/or the local news to find out about the different activities in your area. Additionally, childcare workers and parents should communicate to find out what childcare activities are planned and if there are costume days scheduled. ChildWatch’s Family App is a valuable resource for communication, offering easy access to event calendars and two-way messaging.
Be on the Lookout for Important Colors
Children often go trick-or-treating with many different trick-or-treat buckets. Some kids will bring out a backpack or plastic bag for simplicity, others may incorporate their treat bucket into their costume, and some children prefer the classic jack-o’-lantern bucket. However, you may have noticed that the traditional, orange jack-o’-lantern buckets now come in a variety of colors. Often, children choose and carry the bucket they prefer, but some may have a specific color bucket to signal their special needs. If you see a child carrying a blue, teal, or purple bucket, be aware that it may indicate that the child is autistic, has food allergies, or has epilepsy. Remember, the color of the bucket is not always important, but it can be!
Choose Treats that Save Smiles
Halloween treats are sweet and yummy! We all have our favorites, and then there are some treats that we can do without. When consuming and buying treats, try to choose popular sweets that are more teeth-friendly to avoid tooth decay and cavities. Try to avoid too many hard candies, sticky/gummy snacks, super sour candies, and caramels that tend to get stuck in children’s teeth. Instead, opt for chocolates that melt easily and dissolve quickly to protect young teeth.
Be Mindful of Comfort
When going out to trick or treat, remember to factor in the comfort of you and your children’s costumes. Don’t forget to check the weather and, if necessary, find ways to layer clothing to adjust to the changing temperatures. Consider how long your child will be out and about, and plan for comfort by bringing out snacks and water and/or ensuring your child has eaten a meal before going out. For safety, as well as comfort, avoid masks that restrict vision and costumes that limit mobility. Remember, it’s not fun if you’re not comfortable – dressing up is fun, but comfort and safety should come first.
Make Safety a Priority
Celebrating Halloween is exciting, but it can present some safety risks. However, these risks can be reduced if everyone takes the time and effort to prioritize child safety. On Halloween evening, drivers should expect increased foot traffic and be mindful of pedestrians while driving down residential streets. In the same way, parents should hold young children’s hands and remind them to look before crossing the street. If possible, try to go out before dark, but if it’s unavoidable, make sure to have enough light and reflective/bright clothing so that you are easily seen.
Halloween can be fun for all ages. However, some kids may find all of the excitement to be too much. If your child is easily scared or does not like spooky fun, try to avoid anything that might trigger their fears. If your child does get scared, the most important thing to remember is that being scared is a normal and natural part of childhood, and their fears will pass. So, what are you waiting for? Go grab your costume, it’s time to trick or treat!