(by 5 people)
Maybe this is your little one's first real Halloween, without a stroller. On her own two feet, she feels a sense of adventure, but things can also be scary.
I'm looking for ways to make this Halloween fun for my little one, and not scary. Here are some great ideas and resources I've run across.
1. Prepare ahead of time.
Anything that's exciting can be scary for a little one. Having it suddenly become Halloween can be really disconcerting. All of a sudden people are wearing costumes, it's dark and people leave the lights off, there's fire (!), and everyone seems excited. What a stresser!Ways to work up to Halloween:
- Take some night-time walks in your neighborhood.
- Light a few candles the week before halloween
- Try costumes on and play in them.
- Try to keep your own composure.
2. Pick a costume the little one likes.
Pick a comfortable costume the baby likes, and it will be dress-up clothes for a long while after Halloween.
Dora the Explorer Toddler Halloween Costume
Amazon Price: (as of 12/02/2008) 
List Price:
Bob the Builder Costume Child deluxe
Amazon Price: (as of 12/02/2008)
List Price: $57.75
INFANT or TODDLER Cute FUR Little Monkey Costume (Does not include Stuffed Animal being held by child)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/02/2008)
List Price:
3. Make a family of pumpkins
What could be more fun (and non-scary) than making a set of pumpkins, one for each member of the family? Include the people your baby is close to, and he or she will think it's really fun, I bet.Carve them, paint them, stick colored toothpicks in them, glue wads of yarn to them... Have lots of fun, and leave the scary stuff for later years.
"Look! A Mama-Punken!" That's my little one talking. He points, "Mama Punken, Papa Punken, Brubber Punken, Grammudr Punken!"
4. Bake some special cookies!
Frightfully Fun Halloween Crafts & Cooking
Amazon Price: (as of 12/02/2008)
5. Make some happy, friendly decorations
- Tissue Ghosts
Make ghosts out of white tissue. Wad up a few tissues, then use that to stuff another tissue, creating a ghost head. secure the "neck" with string, tape, or a rubber band. - Magic Appearing Ghosts
A grownup can color some ghosts on white paper with white crayon, and they can be discovered by painting over them with watercolors. The paint doesn't stick to the crayon, so the ghost becomes visible. - Shiny Ghosts and Creative Pumpkins
Ghosts that a parent cuts out of posterboard can be covered with glue and sprinkled with white glitter for a fun, messy project.
A pumpkin shape cut from construction paper can be a base for gluing on the basics, eyes, nose and mouth, or you can gather buttons, yarn, scraps of paper, and whatever else you can find, to make some truly creative pumpkins.
6. Curl up with sweet Halloween books and movies.
Sweet means not-scary.
Little Bear - Halloween Stories
If you've seen any of my other toddler lenses, you know how much I love Little Bear. This is the only new 2006 release, and I have it on order.
I know it will be great, because Little Bear episodes are always full of curiosity, honesty, and love.
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 12/02/2008)
Franklin's Halloween
Franklin struggles with his own fears, but in a gentle way, and he always figures it out in the end. Franklin is gentle and loving like Little Bear, but it focuses more on learning lessons, and less on relationships..
Amazon Price: (as of 12/02/2008)
At what age can kids usually handle scary halloween stuff?
What do you think?
If you like this lens, please scroll up to the top and rate it by clicking on a star.* ___________________________________________________________ How does your family celebrate Halloween? I'd love to hear from you. Click "submit your own blurb" below to leave a comment.
