Halloween is one of the most fun holidays of the year, one where both children and adults can get involved and celebrate.
But what if you have a child who’s anxious or fearful about Halloween?
Not to worry, your family can still enjoy celebrating Halloween. Investing time and effort ahead of the spooky season can help you prepare anxious children for the holiday so they feel safe participating in the festivities. Try the following tips to warm your child up to Halloween.
Explain Halloween
If your child is old enough to understand, explain to him or her what Halloween is and tell them that people like to dress in costumes to celebrate the holiday. Your child will likely be less anxious about encountering monsters when they know there are people underneath the makeup, wigs, and themed clothing.
Understand Their Fears
Talk to your child about their fears and take time to understand what they’re afraid of and why. Once you’re aware of the elements that frighten your child, you should be able to avoid encountering triggering incidents more effectively.
Introduce Fun Halloween Themes/Media
To get your child ready for Halloween, try introducing non-threatening Halloween books, movies, and TV shows. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a Halloween classic that’s suitable for all ages, but there’s an array of Halloween media made with young audiences in mind.
If your child likes music, Spooky Scary Skeletons and Monster Mash are fun song choices that will help get your child into the spirit of Halloween.
Try Age-Appropriate Events
Finally, plan to attend Halloween events that are designed around your child’s age group. Community events are common around Halloween, so taking a look at your town’s social media accounts or browsing through the newspaper should give you an idea regarding which events your child might enjoy. Preschools, churches, and elementary schools often host child-friendly Halloween events.
Taking the scare out of Halloween isn’t always easy, but it can be done. If your child is still feeling anxious when the holiday comes, remind them of your presence. Children feel safest with their parents and letting your child know that you’re there to protect them should help to eliminate last-minute jitters.
Remember, if your child is still afraid of certain seasonal elements, try to be patient with them. There’s always next year if they’re not quite ready this time around.
