Lots of kids LOVE Halloween and the spooky season, but some kids don’t, so we need fall fun for Littles! What if your child’s view of this time of year is not so enthusiastic? And what if they are easily frightened? Is it OK to push them to face their fears so they don’t miss out on the fun or keep their siblings from having a good time? What should you do? According to Tamar Chansky, Ph.D., author of Freeing Your Child From Anxiety: Practical Strategies to Overcome Fears, Worries and Phobias and Be Prepared for Life from Toddlers to Teens, you can keep your child’s emotional well-being on track this month and beyond with helpful, creative strategies.
No-Scare Fall Fun for Littles
When you stop to think about it, Halloween traditions are NOT normal day-to-day life. And everything that comes with Halloween is not reserved for October 31 — costumes, movies and scary imagery can be just about anywhere this time of year. Since young kids make sense of things around them through repetition and play, it’s best to transition easily with them through the month. You can talk about Halloween traditions and more with your child in earshot so you can take away the element of surprise that can make activities and costumes frightening.
• Talk about the difference between real and pretend
Little kids have big imaginations that can turn on them.
• Expose kids to make scary items more familiar
This strategy is a big part of how therapists pick apart anxiety. In small doses, you can let your young child examine her older brother’s scary mask if she wants to. You can also walk by a Halloween display at Home Depot, for instance, and look at it together from a distance before getting closer. This sort of slow intro is very helpful for little children.
• Involve Littles in Halloween prep
Carving pumpkins, picking out decorations, reading seasonal books and even looking at costumes together is helpful.
• Have fun
Gently push young children to overcome fears, but don’t push them out of their comfort zone or the fun will end.
Do Some Crafty Fall Activities
Discover fun and easy
seasonal preschool crafts!
Pumpkinfest in Franklin provides fun photo ops amid all of the other season fun.
EDITOR’S EVENT PICKS FOR LITTLES
Tots at Cheekwood
Tue – Sat through October from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Activities, stories and turtles. Cost of admission.
OCT. 11 – 31, 5 – 9 p.m.
Boo at the Zoo
Children 2 and younger are free, otherwise $23 plus $8 to
park. Come early for your Little. Animals shows happen at 5:45. 6:45 and 7:45 p.m.
Fun zone, trick-or-treating, storytime, games, carousel rides.
SAT., OCT. 12
Fall Fun Fest at the Mall at Green Hills
Games, crafts, snacks, music and more from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Pumpkin Patch Festival
Streets of Indian Lake, Hendersonville
Pumpkin painting, play zone and more from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
SAT., OCT. 19
Rutherford Parent’s
FALL KIDS FEST
The Avenue Murfreesboro
Trick-or-treating, costume parades, music, inflatables, selfie stations,
pumpkin painting, food trucks and more.
Toddlers at Traveller’s Rest
“Seasons” includes storytime, a craft and a snack from 10 – 11:30 a.m.
FRI., OCT. 25
Spooktacular Toddler Halloween Party
A costume parade, dancing, candy, carnival games and story time. From 10 – 11 a.m.
SAT., OCT. 26
39th Annual Pumpkinfest in Franklin
Kids’ activities, costume contests and more from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. in downtown Franklin.
TUE, OCT. 29
Toddler Tuesday at Sam Davis Home
Ages 1 – 4 can enjoy games, crafts, live animals and a pumpkin theme from 10 – 11 a.m.
