Thinking About Halloween

Screen Shot 2013-10-24 at 10.16.17 AM

Halloween is right around the corner and there are so many teachable moments to encourage social and emotional development with children.Wonder Questions: This is a great way to get to know your friends better.  Start by having your child ask their friends what they are going to dress up as for Halloween. They can also make smart guesses based upon their “Person or Friend File” (click here for more information) of what they think their friends will be.   If they know that Sarah likes music, maybe she will be a rock star.Pumpkin Faces: Decorate small pumpkins with different facial expressions using stickers or Mr. Potato Head pieces and have your child guess how they are feeling. This gives kids a chance to identify different emotions, which is important for understanding and getting along with others.Expected vs. Unexpected:Talk to your child about what is expected and unexpected behaviors during Halloween and trick-or-treating (see blog on Hidden Rules for Halloween). Some expected behaviors include staying with the group, saying thank you when you are given something, say “hi” to the friends you see, and look both ways when crossing the street. Unexpected behaviors include yelling, ringing or knocking on the door more than once, eating treats without permission, and saying, “EWW! I don’t like that” when getting a treat you dislike.Role-Play:Come up with a social story and role-play what trick-or-treating will look like. Have your child act out how they will approach neighbors’ homes and trick-or-treat. Include potential obstacles that might interfere with the plan. Interferences can be anything from having to wait in line to a porch light being turned off.We hope you and have a fun & safe Halloween!