Halloween: Fun Or Full Of Fear? How To Talk To Your Kids About The Spooky Holiday

Specific phobias cause persistent fear and avoidance of a situation or an object, such as clowns, heights, spiders or flying.

With Halloween just around the corner, some kids are gearing up to put on costumes and trick-or-treat the night away. But others might be preparing to stay home because of fear and anxiety around the spooky holiday.

So how can kids who are afraid of Halloween still enjoy the festivities? Julie Alonso-Katzowitz, MD, a Seton child and adolescent psychiatrist, provides advice.

1. Validate your children’s fears or concerns by listening with an open mind to try and understand them. Their fears are very real to them so avoid telling kids there is nothing to be afraid of.

1. Reassure them that they are safe and that if they are scared of a certain activity, find another activity to replace it. For example, if they are afraid of the dark, trick-or-treating or haunted houses, try daytime activities instead, such as a fall festival or decorating pumpkins.  
2. If they are old enough to understand the difference between real and make believe, talk to your kids about how people in costumes are dressing up and pretending to be something else.  Some kids think it’s fun to dress in scary costumes but others may want a silly or funny costume instead. 

Specific phobias cause persistent fear and avoidance of a situation or an object, such as clowns, heights, spiders or flying. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 15 percent of 13-to- 18 year-olds have a phobia. Less than one percent of kids in that age range have a “severe” phobia disorder.