Some children love Halloween, but for babies and younger children (and some older ones too), it can be frightening.
Witches, ghosts and spiders can play into fears of the dark, monsters and the unknown, not to mention the fact that lots of children just don’t like dressing up.
The creepy decorations, fake blood and costumes can be overwhelming and unfamiliar for a child. That isn’t to say you have to miss out on the fun though. Here are some ideas to make the most of a less-spooky Halloween!
Torchlight time
You can make the most of the darker evenings by playing with torchlight. Just grab a torch, turn out the light and make shadows on the wall using either your hands or small toys. There are shadow puppet tutorials available on YouTube if you’re unsure how to do it. Babies, toddlers and children of all ages will all enjoy this, and it might be a good opportunity for some tummy time for younger babies.
You could also create a scavenger hunt using torchlight for toddlers or older children, where you turn out the light, pass them the torch, and ask them to bring you something soft, something yellow, et cetera. If your toddler or pre-schooler will be holding the torch, we recommend using a lightweight one, to avoid sore feet if they drop it!
Pumpkins
Pumpkins are a longstanding feature of Halloween and can be used to decorate the house without it looking like the set of a horror film. We’ve all seen images of perfectly carved pumpkins, but why not let your child have a go themselves, if they’re old enough? Or you could just enjoy some messy play together by using a waterproof tablecloth or their high-chair tray, adding the seeds and pumpkin flesh and letting them explore.
For babies, you could put some of the seeds and flesh inside a resealable freezer bag for them to explore. The bright orange flesh and the contrasting pale, hard seeds will be interesting for your child to touch and look at. Remember to supervise your child.
Build an indoor den
Using chairs, a sheet and pegs, you could build on indoor den to read a story in by torchlight, eat some snacks, share stories, play some games, or just lie back and enjoy the different view.
Dried Chinese lanterns
These pretty orange flowers (Physalis alkekengi, to give them their proper name) are the perfect shade of orange to put you right in the spirit, without giving anyone the heebie-jeebies. They are also interesting for your little one to look at and touch. You could find them at your local florist or order them online.
A walk in the dark
Halloween night itself might be a bit frightening, with streets filled with mini-witches, vampires and werewolves, but you could go for a walk in the early evening dark the night before or after. Walking in the dark is such a different experience for your baby or child – even the most familiar of streets can appear different. And keep an eye out for any nocturnal animals you spot along the way.
Food
If your child is weaned, there are so many options for a special treat at Halloween. You could add pumpkin purée and a little maple syrup to porridge, have a go at making pumpkin houmous or even pumpkin pancakes and muffins. For an easy breakfast, for could make a ‘witch’s brew’ by stirring different cereals together in a bowl, or adapt it for lunch by stirring a soup containing spaghetti. There are lots of good recipes available that nod to Halloween without overloading the sugar or verging on the scarier side. If your child isn’t weaned yet, why not try some for yourself?
Most of all, take some time to enjoy the cosiness of this time of year together, and mark it in the way that’s right for you and your child.