Halloween

Halloween is pure child. Children too young to remember last year will marvel at the colors, costumes, the decorations, the free flow of candy and the time mom and dad spend with him having pure kiddie fun.

Halloween is a great way to introduce children to the idea of “occasion.” It’s both a private and public adventure for which they are the center. Keeping holidays like Halloween safe and fun takes a little before-the-fact work on the side of a careful parent or provider.

Here are some tips from a mother whose children have gone out trick or treating for over twenty - five years. Some of them way into their teens.

* Underwear -- Everything under a costume is underwear. Layers if it’s cold are as pitiful as coats over costumes. The best thing under a costume is the child’s ordinary skivvies and a turtleneck to match the costume and a pair of tights or close fitting sweat pants.

Children will be doing a lot of running and they won’t feel the cold. Close fitting hats are also a heat keeper. It never ceases to amaze me how children can be bundled up on Halloween in a winter coat when it’s 45 degrees, and then come to school without mittens and hat or heavy coat when it snows a few weeks later. Perhaps it’s enthusiasm for the first chill of the season.

* EVERYBODY goes to and uses the toilet BEFORE going anywhere. Borrowing or even using a toilet from a friendly neighbor is a real pain when children have literally a cardboard box of clothes tied, pinned, and tucked on. Don’t ask -- tell.

* Eating. We don’t eat anything along the way. What do you do with the wrapper? It seems always to fall into the neighbor who’s picky about his garden. And it’s always best to look over children’s treats before the snarf them down.

* Shoes. This is always a battle. Kids who make up their own costumes think it’s fun to put on oversized, too soft, too unsupportive shoes and it is, but allowing them to wear crazy shoes out is a big mistake. Kids should wear their most comfortable sneakers. Think about it. How often to kids take a mile walk today? Answer? Once a year on Halloween.

* Bags for treats. Save the cute bag for display at home and let them carry a sturdy department store bag with handles. Some kids think big and want to carry a lawn and leaf bag. Parents and providers need to explain to kids that it would take at least a week of trick or treating to fill such a bag, and besides, dragging such a huge thing down the road is going to result in holes in the bag and a loss of candy.

* Courtesy. Please and thank you are the opening and closing statements for Halloween. Children who can’t say thank you or please should return candy to the giver. Mom or dad or a thoughtful provider can help with this. Parents should always go to the door with young children, and help them say the right things. Rude children will stop being rude if you take what they want away the first time they can’t say what is expected.

Halloween is a delightful family adventure that begins with the child and ends with the child. We always let our kids empty their bag of treats into a huge bowl and play with it for hours. Halloween is one night of fun you just can’t duplicate -- especially if it’s planned ahead with just a little care.