Halloween can be one of the most exciting nights of the year, but it can also be a frightening, disappointing time for young ones whose hopes for Halloween can get up to fever pitch. Help ensure that they have a fun-filled Halloween to remember by establishing some ground rules first.
Set Sweet Expectations
Sometimes children are expecting to bring home a haul of sweets that will keep them going until Christmas. In order to avoid bringing home too much sugar, and to keep them calmer, it can be a good idea to set some boundaries around the length of time you’ll be out trick or treating, or the number of houses you can visit. If this is set at a clear amount, and your child knows they are visiting a maximum of ten houses, it can make ending the trick or treating easier.
Agree on a Costume
Make sure you and your kid have discussed (and ideally, sourced and completed) their Halloween costume long in advance. As kids get older, this can be something that they feel they want to match their friends with, but buying several Halloween costumes or accessories can get expensive and wasteful. If you’re handy with sewing, show your kid what you’re doing and help them to learn a few skills that they could use towards making their costume for next year.
Discuss Scary Movies
If your kid is spending Halloween night at a friend’s house, talk to your child and the other kid’s parents about scary movie limits. If you don’t want your child watching anything rated over a certain age, be very clear about this. Kids are often really curious about horror films, but then often feel very upset and disturbed after watching them, so try and agree on a film that they and their friends can watch beforehand.