by Liz, mom of Sunday, pre-3
Halloween is fun for kids of all ages, even preschoolers. It doesn’t take them long to catch on to the excitement of costumes, candy and spooky characters. These family-friendly tips will help your little monsters make the most of their Halloween.
1. Trick-or-treat early (even during daylight).
2. Look for age-appropriate, alternative venues to traditional neighborhood trick-or-treating, usually scheduled earlier in the day. Some examples are: University Village, Woodland Park Zoo, neighborhood businesses.
3. Feed the kids a healthy snack or dinner before you go trick-or-treating, even if it’s not your typical dinnertime. This will help prevent meltdowns and candy-craziness.
4. Make it short and sweet for the little ones. Older siblings may be ready to stay out longer, but sometimes the excitement of dressing up in costume and visiting the neighbors is enough for a preschooler. Plan for one parent to stay out longer with older siblings and the other parent to go home early with the younger siblings.
5. Make a candy plan. Talk to your kids about your policy on eating their goodies, so they know what to expect. Some ideas: allow X pieces on Halloween, then limit to one piece of candy each subsequent day. Or, choose 10 pieces of candy to keep and donate the rest. Chocolate and hard candy is better than chewy candy from a dental perspective (click here for more on candy and dental care), and some local dentists even have candy buy-backs!
6. Inspect all of your children’s candy for tampering before they eat it. Wait until you get home to eat it so you have a chance to see it. Look for candy with damaged or no wrappers and throw them away.
7. Kids should have flashlights and reflective clothing. Use glow sticks as necklaces and bracelets.
8. Be prepared for cold and rain – this is Seattle after all!
9. Make sure trick-or-treaters will be safe when visiting your home. Keep outdoor walkways and stairs well lit and keep family pets away from the door, even if they are friendly. Handing out candy to other kids can be exciting for preschoolers!
10. Halloween doesn’t have to be all about the candy. From pumpkin carving to Halloween-themed shows, there is plenty for the kids to do around town.
And let them dress in costume…anytime, anywhere!
