Halloween is known to be a great holiday – a day both children and adults wait for all year.

However, for toddlers, that’s not always the case; since they already have trouble distinguishing between reality and fantasy, trick-or-treating amidst monsters, trolls and ghosts can be a pretty overwhelming experience.

But that doesn’t mean you have to keep them away from all the spooky fun! Here are ways yo can ease your little one into a safe, fun-filled first Halloween:

Be Prepared

You as a parent know your child best, so start preparing beforehand; make a mental list of all the things that trigger your child’s fear or anxieties – maybe it’s the dark, its ghosts, or even clowns!

Another great first step would be to prepare your child too. Keep them informed of whatever is going to happen through Halloween-themed books, stories or games; discussions about their little costumes, or other people’s costumes can also do wonders in helping them realise the distinction between reality and imagination. The main goal in mind is to convince your child that Halloween is just for fun, and that the scary parts are all just pretend – so get them comfortable with that fact.

Choose Their Costumes Wisely

Elaborate costumes can be really fun for the big night, but for children it can just scare them away. You need to keep in mind that they must be given a greater degree of comfort; don’t make them wear something that’s uncomfortable, scary or just dangerous.

Let them help pick a costume as well, so that they’re more involved; that way, they’ll be further convinced that Halloween is just for fun. Face-painting is a fun alternative to masks, which only restrict vision and breathing. For younger children, it’s smart to grab a “Plan B” costume too – you don’t want your child suffering in their one costume if they experience a toilet accident!

Trick-or-Treat Before Dark

The dark more often than not is the one thing that toddlers fear, so trick-or-treating in the dead of night is not advisable. Start from small steps – take them out in the evening. Simply removing the “dark” out of Halloween practices makes everything a lot less scary!

This way, your child doesn’t have to compromise on their fixed bedtime, either. They’re kept far away from unhealthy habits.

Look out for Eating Hazards

Halloween brings in all kinds of sweets, which can be hazardous for your toddlers. It’s one way Halloween is dangerous – especially for parents!

Hard candies, gummies or sticky sweets can get stuck to teeth and cause tooth decay. They can also pose a choking hazard if unsupervised. So, avoid them all costs – instead, opt for chocolates for their first time trick-or-treating; they melt easily, and aren’t difficult to eat on their own. You need to be a bit more cautious if you know you child gets hyper with a sugar-rush, or if they get sick easily; let them know they can’t eat too much candies, or else you’ll “have to leave early”. This way, maintain a limit to how much they are allowed to eat.

Before the Big Night

Only a few days are left until your little one’s first Halloween – so we’d like to highlight a few points for you:

• Do not ignore, belittle or make fun of your child’s fears. Invalidating their feelings now will make them avoid sharing anything with you in the future, making them emotionally and mentally restrained.
• Do not pressure your child into becoming confident. They’re experiencing something like Halloween for the first time – forcing them to “not be afraid” won’t come easy.
• As a parent, let your child face their fears – but constantly remind them that you’re always there to protect them.

You can make your child’s Halloween a lot more memorable if they spend it with other children – so why not come join us at Oakfield’s very own Halloween Open Day? It’s on the 31st of October – you and your child are in for lots of fun activities, interactions and great memories. Unlike other nurseries in JLT, we’re also giving spooky (and amazing!) goody bags to our first 100 visitors.

There’s a first time for everything – so make the most of it with your little one.