Children and Halloween

Helping Children Celebrate Halloween
Tips for Parents and Families

Costumes, jack-o-lanterns, and candy! These come to mind when parents and children think of Halloween.  Children with pre-existing fears or phobias and those who’ve had personal experiences with death or trauma may be particularly vulnerable to anxiety in conjunction with Halloween events. 

Fortunately, children are also generally resilient and most can and do enjoy the holiday. There are a number of things parents can do to can help minimize stress and ensure an enjoyable experience for children. 

The American Psychiatric Association would like to offer some tips for helping children enjoy the holiday.

• Take your child’s fears and concerns seriously.  Don’t minimize or trivialize them.

• Help children distinguish between fantasy and reality.  Reassure them that the scary images they see are not real, and that you’ll keep them safe.

• Let kids participate in picking out their costume.  Don’t push them to choose something scary or frightening if that’s not what they want to wear.

• Escort young children to the door to hand out or collect candy.

• If children are frightened by trick-or-treaters, let them participate from a safe distance.  For example, they may not want to go to the door to greet the werewolf, although they may be quite willing to watch through a window.

• Talk with your children before you let them see scary movies or visit haunted houses to gauge how well they will handle these situations. If they seem apprehensive, don’t let them participate.