| A Teachable Moment:
A Happy Halloween!
As October begins, I get calls and emails from parents about how to manage the less fun aspects of Halloween, such as fears, racy costumes, overloading on candy, and dangerous streets! Therefore, this month's column is a 'Halloween How-To guide'!
Facing Fears
It's not unusual for children to be afraid on Halloween. The scary costumes, walking in the dark, and glowing jack-o-lanterns can be creepy. to make Halloween enjoyable, it's important to respect your child's fear, without overindulging it.
- Ask scary looking neighbors to take off their masks so your child can see the real person behind the costume.
- Trick or treat before dark or stay on well lit streets with a flashlight.
- Only visit homes of people you know--the familiarity will be comforting.
- Avoid scarily decorated homes.
- Walk in a group--friends conquer fears!
- Carve your own jack-o-lantern--this will make them seem less scary.
- Don't let your child miss out completely--giving in to fears helps them grow bigger. Anticipatory anxiety is almost always worse than the actual experience (especially if you follow these steps).
Continue HERE for the next 3 Steps
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