Preparing Your Toddler For Halloween

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Who doesn't love Halloween? Stacks of candy, scary costumes, awesome decorations and tricks to scare even the most bravest of men. Adults love it, kids wait all year for it to roll around, and toddlers - many of them balk at the festivities. But don't fear - your toddler can enjoy Halloween! With some advanced preparation and parental coaching they will be well prepared for anything the day throws at them.
Rule #1 is No Surprises:
Make sure your tot is fully aware of what is going to happen on Halloween. You can prepare him using the following ideas.
  • Take him for a walk around the neighborhood during the month of October. Point out all the decorations. Show him the pumpkin carvings, fake webs and scarecrows. Explain to him that they are a fun way to show that an exciting holiday is coming up. Ask him to help you spot different decorations. He will soon delight in finding the scariest objects and pointing it out to you.

  • Role play for Halloween trick-or-treating by having him knock on your door and say "trick-or-treat!". Show him that he will be given a candy to put into his basket. Remind him to say thank you!

  • Keep reminding him during the days leading up to Halloween that all candy goes into the basket and he will be able to eat some when he get home. Otherwise he will demand to eat each one as he gets it by yelling "mine." As any parent of a toddler knows, when a toddler yells, "mine" all better watch out! Avoid it at all costs.

  • Take out books or videos from the library that show a lighthearted view of Halloween.

  • Practice putting on and off assorted masks, and show him that you are right under there. Explain to him that under even the scariest masks is a regular person.

  • Run through the safety rules and your expectations for the trick-or-treat trip. Remind her that she must hold your hand when crossing the street and no knocking on doors until an adult is standing next to her.

  • Tell him that there may be sudden or loud noises, such as 'boos' and scary music. Don't make it too dramatic, because then she may decide not to go at all. Explain to her how funny it is and that she can say 'boo', 'you almost scared me' or 'I wasn't even scared' back to the person who booed her.
Let your toddler help you pick which costume she wants to buy. Make sure it's comfortable for a toddler. If she was recently toilet trained, you do not want to get a one piece costume. Don't get a costume that requires him to hold anything, such as a gun. If he loses it along the way a major meltdown will occur. Check for itchy tags or seams.
Many toddlers balk at wearing a costume. If your child is one of those, find a costume that has a simple cape or hat and paint her face to match. There are also some toddler costumes that are just a shirt and skirt and look quite adorable.
Have your child practice wearing her costume before Halloween so she is used to walking around with it. Tell her to point out anything that bothers her. It's way easier to fix the hat at home than at a busy street corner!
Consider keeping a countdown calendar in the kitchen. Your toddler will love crossing off the days until Halloween!
Miriam Seitler is mother of 4 adorable children who lives in New Jersey. She is the owner of UltraQuirkyTot.com, a website for just toddlers. Check out their fabulous line of toddler clothes, accessories, educational toys, kids room decor and toddler gear. Ultra Quirky Tot has a extensive collection of Toddler Halloween Costumes that are both adorable and practical for toddlers.