Posted Oct 10, 2023

Childhood is magical. Christmas has always been considered the biggest holiday of the year. However, Halloween has now become a close second. For retailers, this is a huge help to their bottom line to have a second season of big buying.

If your family does “Halloween”, please keep in mind that your young ones have very impressionable minds. So much of the holiday has taken such a dark turn. You as an adult can mentally filter out the evil that is represented in movies, yard displays and costumes, but for young ones, the images can not only be frightening, but even life altering.

If you take them around your neighborhood, walk quickly past any displays that are gruesome or outwardly satanic. You have in your hands a precious gift that should be filled with joy and happiness, not fear. Be also sensitive to what is on your screens at this time. You may enjoy the adrenaline rush of a scary movie, but it may overwhelm or even pull evil into a child’s life. This goes for teenagers as well.

From my memories, the real excitement of Halloween was making the costume with my mom. We spent hours designing a new costume each year or modifying last year’s. Some were simple like an old worn out sheet that became a simple ghost. Some were more complex with contractor coveralls and tool boxes. There was the hobo year with the bandana and stick with raggedy clothes. One year I even made a crazy chicken costume (of course).

Spending that time with my mom creating something out of stuff laying around the house was the memorable part. The creativity and time together was more important than who got the most candy. Don’t worry about the competition of a costume parade. It’s the time with you that counts.

TREATS: Bags and bags of candy – sugar highs! There is sugar in almost everything you eat today. It’s addictive – some say as addictive as cocaine. I can’t vouch for that, but I know I fight the sugar cravings every day. So here are some alternative ideas shared by some friends.

One year they had a bunch of beanie babies the kids could pick out of a basket. Another year it was matchbox cars. Then there was the year of colorful pens and pencils they had accumulated from trade shows – things like keychains and notepads. The kids were thrilled. So put on your thinking caps – talk to your own kids – look around the house. Be creative this year

That’s what good play is all about.

No directions, nobody telling you that
“you can’t do it that way”.

It’s pure discovery!