Newswise — Halloween may sound like fun with costumes, candy, pumpkins and bobbing for apples, but it also can be scary for young children. Wichita State University school psychologist trainer Susan Unruh encourages parents to make Halloween a magical time.
According to Unruh, Halloween is a very magical time for children. “Children love it,” said Unruh. “And regardless of what you do, you will be making memories with your child, so make sure you make good memories and let them be as involved as possible with what you do. But remember that there are other aspects, such as safety, that we have to think about.” Unruh says when taking children out trick or treating, stay close to them and don’t let them out of your sight. If you have to walk down streets without sidewalks, make sure everyone wears something fluorescent or shiny. Finally, be sure to check over what is in their trick-or-treat bag before letting them eat anything. Unruh says parents shouldn’t be surprised if their children get scared by skeletons, ghosts and goblins. “I would say let them help choose a costume that’s not going to be scary to them, and then, if you choose their costume, let them be Superman or a cowgirl and not the scary skeleton,” said Unruh. What’s really scary is the amount of candy that gets consumed on Halloween and the days after Halloween. “You’ve got to limit how much they (the children) will eat the first night and then after that,” said Unruh. In fact, it’s probably best if parents of young children steer clear of the frightening aspects of Halloween. “Steer clear of the haunted houses and scary movies, especially for our young children,” said Unruh. “It’s just not developmentally appropriate, and you can end up with a situation where your child is going to not want to go to bed by themselves. So, just steer clear of those kinds of experiences.” Unruh reminds parents that they will be making memories with their children. “Make them magical, fun memories,” said Unruh. “Let your child spend as much time as possible with you, and make it safe.”
Audio comments by Unruh are available at www.wichita.edu/newsline.
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