Halloween Activities for Children
Until children are old enough (about six years old) and mature enough to distinguish between make-believe and reality, they should not be told frightening stories. Young children take all of the words that adults say literally. If they are told that there are ghosts and goblins that will “get” them, they believe it to be fact.
Keeping the fact that young children take everything literally in mind, there are dozens of activities that can be enjoyed by young children. You’ll find HUNDREDS of sites on the Internet where you can download pictures of pumpkins, Jack o’ Lanterns, black cats, and bats for young children to color. You’ll also find games that are not designed to frighten them.
A family activity that can be enjoyed be all of the members of a family from small children to Grandma and Grandpa is pumpkin carving. The fun can begin with a trip to a pumpkin farm and the selection of “just-the-right” pumpkin. Young children can participate in the plan and the design of the finished Jack o’ Lantern.
Bobbing for apples is another fun activity in which even young children can participate. (The apples that small children bob for need to be small, as well.)
There are probably thousands of crafts that use crepe paper, construction paper, scissors, and glue and that are simple enough that even young children can participate.
The costumes that are purchased or made for small children should represent familiar characters that don’t promote fear. Superhero costumes for little boys can’t be beat. Fairy princess costumes and Cinderella costumes are excellent choices for little girls.
Going trick or treating is an activity that even small children can enjoy. It’s just important to remember that their safety comes first and that supervision is absolutely necessary.
Favorite Halloween Monster Costumes
Halloween is a night when kids and grownups both like to dress up in monster costumes. The kids like to go trick or treating, and the adults like to go to costume parties. Monster costumes always have been and probably always will be the first choice of kids and adults.
Some of the favorite Halloween costumes are:
1. Bats: Bats are creatures of the night, so they are automatically associated with things that are dark and evil. Most bats eat insects. Some eat fruit. Some do drink blood, and that’s where the idea that they could be transformed vampires came from.
2. Ghosts: Ghosts are part of the culture of every society that has ever lived on earth. Some people believe that ghosts are spirits of the dead that haven’t found their way to the afterlife or don’t want to go to the afterlife because of unfinished business here on earth.
3. Mummies: We can thank Hollywood for the popularity of mummy Halloween costumes. The idea of preserved dead bodies coming back to life can cause panic, which is exactly what Hollywood was counting on.
4. Witches: Witches and witchcraft have always struck fear in the heart of humans. Young women were burned at the stake when they were accused of being witches back in Salem. Everybody knows that witches have long pointy noses, wear black robes and pointy hats, and ride on broomsticks.
5. Werewolves: What could be more frightening than a part-human/part-wolf creature that drinks blood and eat human flesh? Again, Hollywood is responsible. Think Dracula.
6. Zombies: Zombies are the undead. They’re soulless creatures that are controlled by the forces of evil. Zombies are slaves to their masters and do the evil bidding of the dark force that controls them. Hollywood loved this one, too.
Monster Halloween costumes are always a good choice for trick or treating and partygoing!