Halloween Directory - Halloween Ideas For Toddler

Halloween Ideas For Toddlers
Halloween night, although exciting and fun, can be stressful and traumatic on toddlers who don�t yet understand the concept of the holiday.

Here are a few tips to help you keep Halloween simple and stress-free for the little guys.

Borrow A Costume � These kiddos are so little and chances are they have no idea what they are being dressed as or why. Save the money and borrow a costume from another family whose toddler has outgrown the costume.

Another idea is to have the costume work double duty. One mom purchased a winter coat for her one-year-old that was designed like �Blue� from �Blue�s Clue�s.� The coat was furry and the hood had two ears. The father who trick-or-treated with the toddler was dressed as Blue�s sidekick, �Steve.� To make the �Steve� costume, the mom purchased scrap fabric in two shades of green. She cut the fabric in strips and safety pinned the stripes onto one of her husband�s golf shirts. He wore a khaki jacket over it and the only thing that shows were the �Steve� stripes. The toddlers coat doubled as a warm winter coat AND a Halloween costume.

No Masks � They don�t stay on. They are not safe as they block the child�s peripheral vision, which is, of course, unsafe when walking from house to house, and they are uncomfortable. Consider light face painting instead.

Consider The Weather � If you live in a climate where on Halloween night the temperature could range from 40-degress F on up to 80-degrees F, take that into consideration when selecting your child�s costume.

Don�t use the Blue�s Clue�s idea above if you live in a year-round warm weather climate and don�t make your child a belly dancer if there�s a chance that the weather will be cold and rainy. Consider the weather in advance to avoid disappointment.

Don�t Force Them To Tell Jokes � In some areas, telling a joke or riddle before being given a treat is customary. Don�t force a two or three year old to tell a joke. A simple �Trick Or Treat� will do. And if they won�t talk, simply ask them to smile. Do encourage them to say �Thank you� at every house, but don�t stress out a shy toddler over this.

Don�t Take A Toddler To Houses Where They Are Unfamiliar With Those Who Live There � A toddler doesn�t need a bucket full of treats. It can be confusing to tell your toddler �Don�t talk to Strangers� but then to send him door to door asking him to do just that.

Take the child to a handful of houses where he/she is familiar with the residents. Or better yet, take the child to relative�s houses like grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. They will love to see the child dressed up and the child will experience no fear.

Find A Local Mall Or Community Center � In many cities, malls or community centers will hold �in house� trick-or-treating activities. These are great places for the little ones to get their feet wet to learning what Halloween is all about.