But for some little ones the scary side of Halloween can be a bit too much. For parents this can mean the day (and the evening) of the 31st is more of a trick than a treat! For many, managing your child’s fears (and overactive imagination) when everyone is getting their Halloween-on and knocking at your door, can be a challenge.

From shy to scared, anxious or unsure, if you want to introduce your child to the spooky season in a gentler way, here are a few ideas that’ll help make Halloween a little bit less scary. Check out our 5 tips for a scare-free (and tear-free) Halloween!

1. Allow for Plenty of Prep and Talk to them Early

Preparation is key to keep the nerves at bay. At every opportunity, remind them that it is all pretend and most importantly a bit of fun! As the supermarket aisles fill up with Halloween decorations and costumes, it’s a great chance to start talking to your child about the 31st and what typically happens on that day. From decorating your home and opening the door to trick or treat callers, to carving pumpkins, keeping them informed about what to expect will go a long way to calming any fears.

Another way to softly introduce the festivities is to read child-friendly Halloween stories or tell them about your own Halloween celebrations when you were young. If you do plan for your child to join in with the Halloween dress-up, a top tip is to get the costume out early. A few weeks beforehand, let them try it on and get used to it, so when it comes to the day itself it is not so new and overwhelming!

 

2. Make it Fun Not Spooky

It’s not uncommon for kids to be scared of Halloween and for lots of younger children, the idea is a bit too complicated to properly understand. But don’t worry, there’s still lots of ways you can include them in the Halloween fun. Let your child get involved with planning the Halloween activities for the whole family. From selecting their own costume to helping pick Halloween decorations that have a low scare factor like pumpkins, black cats and glow sticks, they can control their surroundings and immediately feel more at ease.  Even better, let your little ones make their very own Halloween decorations. There are oodles of spooky (not scary) Halloween craft ideas, from paper bats to pom-pom spiders that are simple, easy and fun to do.

 

3. Think About Not-So-Scary Activities

Turn your Halloween in to a spooky spectacular that won’t give your kids nightmares by simply turning down the scare factor a few notches. If the night-time is too creepy, then opt for a daytime party with activities like apple bobbing or potion mixing – just some of the games we’ll be doing at Holiday Club and POD this month. If the idea of trick or treating is too much, arrange a little route where you only go to local neighbours or friends’ houses. Armed with glow sticks, torches or lanterns (especially if they are a little afraid of the dark), they’ll love the reassurance of knowing whose house they are visiting and of course the sweet treats they’ll receive.

 

4. Remember You Can’t Plan for Everything

The truth is that however much you prepare, you can’t plan for every eventuality. Yes, you can keep the celebrations to a minimum and dial down the spook-factor, but sometimes when kids are still little, being frightened can come from the most unexpected situations. Nerves and excitement become all rolled up into one, so it’s important to take the time to help your child figure out what’s making them feel uneasy.

The key here is to try and get your child to put words to how they are feeling. Try to encourage them to explain what it is that’s making them scared or worried. Is it the music? Is it the lighting? Then work with your child in managing those fears and give them the words to explain it better. Remind them that it’s all pretend, to take a deep breath and aim to put a positive spin on the experience. Getting them back to feeling safe through talking it through can really help manage the situation and their fears.

 

5. Know When to Call it a Day (or Night)

The best way of managing any fear is to let the person who is scared call the shots. Remind your little one that they can stop whatever you’ve got planned at any time. If they don’t want to wear their Halloween costume but are happy to go trick or treating to their friends’ houses, then roll with it! If they are keen to have a Halloween party at home but are terrified of trick or treaters coming to your door, simply pop out a bowl of sweets for visitors to help themselves - so they don’t need to ring your doorbell.  For younger children who may not be able to communicate so well, watch for signs of a melt-down and if they seem to be getting stressed or tired, then call it a night.



Whatever you plan to do this Halloween we hope you have a cauldron of fun! From crafting something creepy to keeping the activities spooky and not scary, even the most reluctant child will be tempted to get involved.

It’s not easy to see your child scared but with a little bit of planning we promise Halloween can be great fun, whatever their age. Taking small steps to build their confidence with spookily safe and well managed Halloween activities is the is the easiest way to ensure you all have a fa-BOO-lous time.