Consider taking Halloween off.
For many children, Halloween is an exciting and fun time of year. For children who have experienced trauma, it may look a little different. Images and decorations portraying death or blood can be frightening for children who may have been physically harmed, seen someone be seriously injured, or in some other way had their life threatened.
On top of this, not being able to identify safe people because their appearance has been altered for the holiday can be panic-inducing. This can make the holiday tricky, and not in a fun way. Preparing for this time of year and managing expectations is key to ensure that your child’s mental health is protected. As a licensed social worker and parent, preparing for Halloween is something I’m dealing with personally.
Manage expectations
Managing your own expectations for this holiday, as well as your child’s is key to ensuring that high expectations do not add to the stress of the day. As the parent, you may need to let go of, if only temporarily, hopes that you have for celebrating and enjoying traditions that you had as a child. Allow yourself to grieve this loss and plan for ways to celebrate in ways that are healthy for your child.
Some celebrations may need to be scaled down to accommodate for emotional meltdowns, or eliminated completely. Maintaining flexibility is key, don’t be afraid to change plans if a situation becomes too overwhelming for your child. Strive for an authoritative parenting style that balances limit setting as well as high amounts of nurture.
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