Halloween is fast approaching, bringing goblins, ghouls, and plenty of chaos for the youngest kiddos in your practice. Since many parents LOVE Halloween themselves, it can be easy for them to forget just overwhelming it can be for their little ones.

Here are three tips to offer caregivers to help make Halloween a smashing success:

1. Prioritize Comfort - A toddler's comfort is the most important part of their Halloween costume. While that elaborate, Pinterest-worthy outfit might look adorable, if it's itchy, hot, or difficult to move in, you're setting yourself up for a meltdown. Choose a comfortable, familiar base: Consider a costume that can be worn over regular clothes, like a simple animal onesie. Parents may also want to opt for face paint over masks: Masks can be hot, disorienting, and frightening. Face paint allows for more visibility and is often more comfortable for a toddler to wear.
2. Prepare Them for the Spooky Stuff - Halloween can be filled with unfamiliar and potentially scary sights, like masks, loud noises, and spooky decorations. Toddlers may not be able to distinguish between what's real and what's pretend. Suggest to parents that they read books about Halloween and trick-or-treating to help them understand what will happen. If parents are going to a store with Halloween decorations, they can show toddlers how the spooky masks and costumes are just made of plastic and fabric. You may also suggest that they have a "practice run" in your own home where parents knock on a door, say "trick or treat," and receive a piece of candy. This can help them feel more in control and less anxious about the real thing.
3. Keep It Short and Sweet - Young children thrive on routine, and Halloween festivities can throw that routine out the window. A long night of trick-or-treating can lead to overstimulation, meltdowns, and a disrupted bedtime. Advise parents to eat dinner before they trick or treat, go out while it's still light, and get back in time for their usual bedtime routine. Parents should have realistic expectations about how much a toddler can handle and when to call it quits and head home. Less is more!