Ghosts, witches, skeletons... Halloween can be a scary time for your toddler. Is there any way they can join in with the fun?
By the age of two or three, most toddlers have firmly decided they're not babies, but are 'big boys' or 'big girls'. This is handy when you're trying to convince them to relinquish their beloved dummy, or to stay in bed until a reasonable hour in the morning, but it can be harder when they want to be part of more grown up activities.
What easier way to get them involved in Halloween festivities than a change of clothing? There are lots of spooky and regular fancy dress costumes for young children in the supermarkets and online. The vast majority retail for less than £15, so you needn't break the bank.
If you're handy with a sewing machine and want to make a costume, take a look at Creating Really Awesome Free Things. This site has step-by-step instructions for creating 34 interesting and unusual fancy dress costumes for toddlers.
For me, no celebration would be complete without food. Apple pie is traditional, but there are so many weird and wacky things you could make that will leave your little one gobsmacked! I liked the recipe for Zombie Chilli, a one-pot meal with sausages and beans (body parts) floating gruesomely in soup.
Cupcakes are a fantastic way of making spooky snacks. Food dye will transform the sponge and buttercream icing into truly horrible hues that could only be served on Halloween (is it just me who'd happily eat a green and black cupcake on October 31, but shudder any other time of the year?). Or, if you're feeling creative, use water icing to transform them into eyeballs.
Of course, no Halloween celebration is complete without a pumpkin. Here's a great tutorial with step-by step instructions on creating different types of jack-o-lanterns (you'll be the envy of the neighbours if you can carve the extra spiky teeth!).
Keeping toddlers entertained can be challenging: keep it short and simple is the best advice. If there are a group of them, they could play 'Pass the Pumpkin', where whoever has the pumpkin when the music stops is out (just like 'Hot Potato'). Set up a ghost hunt, hiding small ghost chocolates around the house for them to find, or play 'Mummy Making' using lots of toilet roll wrapped round one of the children.
Have you any suggestions for making Halloween a slightly-scary-but-mostly-fun experience for your toddler? Are there any useful websites?
by Dr Alexandra Swann
