How to Make Your Halloween Not So Scary for a Toddler

The world is a very scary place for toddlers. So much to do, so much to see, and so much that can hurt them. Halloween brings along its own set of unique challenges for a toddler. At that age, most children are not comfortable around strangers. This can complicate Halloween for two reasons. There will be plenty of strangers out walking around or coming to their house and majority of them will be wearing scary costumes.

How do you get toddlers to adjust to Halloween? I mean, you cant expect every person to wear child friendly outfits, or take the paint off their face for the sake of a 3 year old who is trembling in the corner. Here are a few ideas that I have found especially helpful when adjusting toddlers to this wonderful holiday.

Make Halloween fun. Have your toddler help to hang up cobwebs and fake spiders. Let them handle the spiders so they know they are not real. Every time they ask is it real, walk with them to touch it to show them they are not real and reinforce that they are fake ad cannot hurt them. Lots of children are afraid of spiders and other creepy crawlers. You can even create special spooky spider treats with your child and eat them when you are finished!

Don't allow scary masks in your house. I know it is harder to do when you have older children who insist on being the character from the Texas Chain Saw Massacre or the Bloody Witch, but it can be done. If your children really want to be these, encourage the children not to put on the masks until they leave on their trick or treating outing. You can also have the kids play peek a boo games with the toddler until they realize it is them under the mask.

Instead of using words like "scary" to describe a costume, try saying such things like "Look at that crazy costume!" You can use others words such as funny, silly, amazing, terrific, fantastic, wonderful as well. If you make something scarier than it really is, the child is more apt to be afraid. If you answer the door to hand out candy, you can approach the door and say such things as "I wonder if this is going to be another silly witch or crazy ghost- they are so funny!"

Get your toddler a "safe" costume such as an animal, or worker that they can recognize such as policeman, truck driver, etc. He will like to play dress up as you explain lots of people are playing dress up that night too.

Of course, not all children will want to be part of this day, and it is ok. If the child is scared, reinforce to them that it isn't real and they don't have to be around it if they do not want to- no one will force them to be around others in costume. Above all else, help them to have fun!