Halloween is a fun and exciting time for kids, but it can also be a frightening time when kids don’t understand what’s going on around them.  Here are some suggestions from Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services on ways you can handle your children’s fears and anxieties during this spooky season.

  • The most important thing a parent can do to help their child overcome fear, is to respect what their child is feeling.  Listen to your child and reassure them that they are safe.
  • Normalize your child’s fears, then teach them how to handle them.
    Feel – “Wow, you really feel frightened of those kids in costumes.”
    Felt – “I felt that way, too, when I was your age.”
    Found – “I found that it was less scary when I…”  Offer your kids some suggestions, and ask  if they think that strategy might work for them.  If they say no, ask them what they think might work better.  This way, you have them focusing on a strategy to cope.

  • Let your child set the pace and determine how involved they want to be with Halloween.
  • If your child is fearful of going out to trick-or-treat, offer to stay home and have them help hand out candy.
  • If even that is too frightening, allow your child to watch from across the room, or avoid the situation entirely.
  • Many communities hold costume parties on Halloween as a safe alternative to trick-or-treating.  Ask your child if they are interested in doing that instead.