Children look forward to Halloween with much excitement, but not all children are enthralled by the holiday.
For some children, Halloween can be downright scary.
If your child has expressed fear about trick-or-treating or other Halloween activities, you can take steps to help them surpass their fears so they can have fun on this special night.
Here’s how to help your child over their fear of Halloween.
1. Let Your Child Know It’s Normal To Be Scared
One day, your little one may come home from school with a sad story. The other kids teased them because they were scared of Halloween. You see the distress on their face and want so badly to reassure them that they aren’t alone.
We all have things that we’re scared of. Some people are afraid of spiders, heights, open spaces, or creepy masks, even grown-ups. No matter what it is, it can be really hard to get over being scared.
But if you know why someone might be afraid, you can help make it less scary for them. Explaining this to your child and offering reassurance will help them feel more comfortable in their skin.
2. Ensure You Check Their Candy
It may seem not easy, but checking their candy can help ensure they are safe. Next, if they’re wearing a mask, take it off.
It would be best to do this with the parents present in case the child gets angry or resistant.
Next, try taking away their candy and asking them if they think they should wear their mask while they go through the rest of their treats before re-clothing them in their costume.
3. Discuss Possible Strangers Who Might Scare Them
Strangers are scary for children, but it doesn’t have to be a child with bad intentions who scares them. Many children will be frightened by people they don’t know and may also worry about seeing ghosts or monsters (they are mere fantasy).
It is important to remember that Halloween is just one day out of the year and is not meant to cause undue fear in our kids.
We need to educate our kids on holidays, so they can feel prepared instead of scared or confused by what might happen.
Talking to your kids about Halloween beforehand should help relieve some of their fears.
4. Do Not Let Your Child Watch Scary Movies
To help your child overcome their fear, you may want to cut out the chance to watch a horror movie. For example, not letting them watch TV shows or movies with scary scenes.
You could also talk about this in advance and tell them that it is okay if they get scared because it just pretends there are no real monsters.
It will also be good for them to feel brave by staying up late or turning off during bedtime.
5. Remind Them Halloween Is About Dressing Up and Having Fun
On October 31st, children wear costumes and go door-to-door asking for candy, while adults dress up in costumes too. This can be a scary phase for a lot of children unfamiliar with the spooky holiday.
First, discuss the day and show them pictures or videos from previous Halloweens. Next, talk about why you think people wear costumes on this day.
Next, discuss whether they like it when kids come to their door and ask for candy.
Then explain that other kids may not have enough money to buy their treats, so they have to rely on others giving them things at home.
6. Do a Fun Activity Before Going Out Trick or Treating
Help your child become comfortable dressing up in costume by doing a fun activity together. A great example is trying on different costumes, getting their makeup done, or painting a holiday-themed mural.
The goal is to expose them to see that dressing up in costume isn’t so scary! And when it comes time for trick or treating, encourage them to talk about what they’re feeling and devise an action plan to overcome their fear.
7. If They See Something Scary, Explain It Away As Being Fake
If your child sees something scary, you might try explaining that it is just a costume.
For example, if they see someone in a big costume, tell them the person is wearing their pajamas or has a bed sheet over them.
Tell them that because it’s dark outside, people might wear masks to make themselves look like different things like ghosts or animals.
Make sure they know that everything at home and school is safe and that the adults around them will protect them.
Let them know this by hugging them, telling them how much you love and care for them, and asking questions about their actions to keep themselves safe.
If your child has been fearful throughout October, you may choose to avoid trick-or-treating this year and instead attend a community event.
Conclusion
Every child sees fun differently, and while some find clowns and scarfaces custom cool, others find it quite scary. Unfortunately, it’s the same when it comes to Halloween.
But following the tips we’ve highlighted below and reassuring your child that there is nothing to be scared about on Halloween will help them overcome that fear.
But, if that fear persists for too long, an expert child therapy can help them overcome that fear.