I need some advice. I have a wee toddler of 2.5 years and I have come to the conclusion that halloween petrifies her. Normally I do a pretty nice little yard haunt but I was already planning to tone it down a fair bit since both the wife and I want to be able to take the kiddo out ToTing...
But after seeing her reaction last night at the spencers store and the walmart halloween section I am afraid that any attempts at a haunt would absoultely torment the poor girl.
I have no idea what to do. Last year we sort of took the year off to prepare for a bigger and badder year this year.. but I am afraid that we may be shut right down..
Have her help you make something small, like a mask. She will see its transformation from ordinary materials into the end results, and will be too proud of her achievment to fear it (in theory). Also, her involvement may spark a creative interest that over-rides her fears.
You could still do the set up, just avoid taking her to the scary places. This way you have fun, she has fun and everyone get's what they want. Or even try setting up a fun halloween thing in your back yard for her with happy pumpkins exct.
That's also my opinion... have her involved, let her touch the things at the store and at your house, and not just the scary stuff, but the cute stuff also (like princess costumes and masks, cute scarecrows). Explain to her that it's all make-belief, and ask her what she fears.... maybe you will find out exactly what it is.... You can also play dress-up with her, so she might see the evolution of a disguise....
I always do that when I wear my witch costume... I kneel down beside the little ones, and talk to them in a normal voice, have them touch my fake nose, and explain to them that I'm just a grown-up wearing a costume, just like them... It usually works....
PS By the way, she is absolutely A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!!!!!
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what a cutie pie, absolutely adorable! I agree with getting her involved in the decorating/creating process. I did that when my kids were smaller (they're now 13 & 10)
My oldest son. I made the mistake of attempting to shelter him.
I was doing a professional haunt that year, and would get a babysitter (my partner's wife) if my wife wasn't home whenever I was off decorating. We got all finished and I took Kyle through the first night... Tears. He was 2 at the time.
Gradually, working there every night, he got to see it was all in fun. And got to be pretty brave, to where I had though nothing could scare the boy...right up till I took him on Jaws the ride at age 4...but that's a whole other story...
My second son was 3 when we moved into our current house. He got to see everything, and had this innate sense for what was going on. Out in the garage, I'm attempting to form a dummy. It looked like a bunch of boards slapped together, even to me. Had all the boards cut, and had assembled the legs and chest area. It didn't look like anything but a pile of wood haphazardly tossed together, even to me. Alec picked up a board without any prompting, handed it to me and said "here, daddy, arms".
He saw it all out in the garage, and was a bit nervous come halloween night with all the effects, but not truly frightened.
Talia. Now, we've started her awefull early. She's 5 months old, and thinks the 'scream' from the 'blood' covered butcher knife that came in a pile of assorted halloween stuff I grabbed at a yard sale is absolutely hilarious.
So, I definately recommend getting it out, letting her help set it up, and if possible letting her make something as well.
I've really enjoyed having my kids help this year. I'm real anal about making things all symmetrical and perfect. Which is fine, but not always the best for Halloween. The kids have brought a bunch of chaos to some of the items that I love, but could never bring myself to replicate.
Such a cutie! I agree with those that said introduce her to the stuff in daylight and make sure to show her something mild and how fake it is. She may still be too young to differentiate and be a tad frightened, but at least you can work her up to it as she matures.
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I agree, have her help with the mild stuff.... we do halloween without the gore and do themes... We have a pumpkin patch closest to the front door, then the theme in front of the house/ the graveyard is the furthest away from the door. That way the tot's parents can distract them to the pumpkin patch on the way to the door. The themed area is just static skeletons in costumes, so it's not too bad. Those are the hard years, but it's do-able withour terrifying your child.
check out the pics.
Another vote from me for involving her with decorating, prop building, pumpkin carving, etc.
Starting with something small and cutesy, then just slowly make your way to the decorations that are scary!
Help with my own kid...and halloween
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