Halloween and kids, how to celebrate safely...
Submitted by Kelly Evenson on October 5, 2009 - 2:06pm
Halloween is fast approaching, and I have to admit, it is one of my favorite holidays. I cannot say why, exactley. I am not into the horror and scare-factor of it all. More of the joy I see that it brings small children. I decorate my house with pumpkins, black cats and a Halloween Village that sits on top of my piano and take great joy in handing out Halloween candy to all of the trick-or-treaters.
But this year, it is even more exciting. I am taking my daughter trick-or-treating for the first time. Lauren was only about seven-months-old last year, so although she dressed as a princess, she didn't do much more than that. This year, however, she is dressing as SuperGirl and even has a Disney princess bucket all ready to go. To join in on the fun, my husband and I are even wearing costumes to make the experience more fun.
But where do we trick-or-treat safely? When I was a kid, we would go door to door for blocks trick-or-treating for candy. This is a different time, though, so I don't know how comfortable I am doing that even if we will be accompanying her. We have discussed going to the Halloween Parade on the Independence Square as well as stopping by Independence Center for some trick-or-treating. And of course, we will hit a couple of neighbors houses.
I think at almost 19-months-old, that is the best we can offer this year. Maybe as she gets older, we will do more of the door-to-door type of Halloween activity. I don't consider myself a paranoid parent, but I just want her to be safe while also having a good time doing what other children are doing.
Regardless, I think it is going to be a great Halloween and I am excited to see her face light up at the new experience.
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What a great idea! I think the event in Englewood sounds like so much fun for little kids. We will defintley have to consider that when making our Halloween plans. Another great place is the Weston Red Barn, just outside of Weston, Mo. There is a hayrack ride to the pumpkin patch, horse rides and plenty of musicians strolling around. We went last year and plan to go again this year. It is free to get in and you only pay for what you want to do, which is minimal. It is a little of a drive up there, but I think worth it for some good, family fun.
I'm with you, Kelly!
As a Christian, I don't like the "horror and scare-factor", as you say. I've struggled with the concept of "celebrating" Halloween, knowing full-well that there's a lot of true evil in this world... and things like murder (and things THAT murder) shouldn't be celebrated.
However, I really enjoy the IMAGINATION and CREATIVITY that we all are "allowed to" express on Halloween... the only day in our culture where an adult in masquerade isn't going to be ridiculed (except for maybe Mardi Gras).
It's a day to celebrate human imagination, in my humble opinion. There are plenty of characters from literature and movies.... characters that human writers invented.... that deserve a bit of celebration. And I also enjoy people's imaginative costume ideas, especially the home-made ones!
( I thought about this last night while watching Alton Brown's special on the Food Network last night.... the 10th Anniversary of his "Good Eats" TV show..... how that show and Halloween seem to tap the same "thing" in me. The imagination expressed on that TV show... with its costumes, puppets, and inside jokes... just tickles me to death! Alton was asked last night to turn a Fire Extinguisher into some sort of kitchen tool... and, with a little help from a blender, he did! It's that same inventive genius that makes me love Halloween.)
I have to give a "plug" here for my favorite annual event in this City: The Mystik Pumpkin Festival, which is held in Englewood this year! This is a FREE child-oriented festival. Parks & Rec and a bunch of volunteers provide lots of free games and prizes for the kids. There's usually a stage where music and story-telling goes on. And they bring in a food vendor with a grill, in case anybody gets hungry (that's about the only thing you have to pay for).
Each year, as a part of this festival, a small group of volunteers who call themselves the "Englewood Players" puts on a brief (15 minute?) skit outdoors in one of the neighboring yards. The skit is usually related to Halloween / movie monsters and music, with volunteers in lots of costumes. You can either walk over and watch it... or take a "Haunted Fire Truck ride" over to watch it (I think that costs a few bucks, but you get to just sit in the fire truck and watch... you don't have to get out in order to see the show. And I think the players bring some candy for the kids over to the truck at the end of their show.)
This year's Mystik Pumpkin Festival is ONE WEEK BEFORE HALLOWEEN.... on Saturday, October 24th. It starts at 4:30 PM and goes until... I think it's 9 PM. Bring the kids in their costumes! There's lots of free stuff to do. Plus, they'll enjoy seeing other kids in their costumes and "being seen" as well.
See you there! I'm praying the weather will be QUITE warmer than it has been THIS weekend.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions on how to make this a safe, but fun holiday for Lauren. I have looked into the many trunk or treat events in the community and am considering going to one of those as something different for her. We like to give Lauren a variety of experiences so going to a trunk or treat event that has activities as well as trick-or-treating would be great. Hopefully everyone can find this holiday as enjoyable as I do and I hope Lauren will!
Good Morning Kelly! Thank you for the Halloween blog, and you are not the only one that finds Halloween as your favorite days. I usually have all of my Halloween decorations out by now, but with me not being able to walk it has been rather hard. Heck I'm going to have to buy candy for my kiddos this year since I cannot go trick-or-treating with them..... I always check their candy before they get any and if it doesn't look right then it goes in the trash... I also make sure we walk with a flash light so drivers can see us! Another thing I'm going to miss this year is my huge chocolate chip cookie I make every year in the shape of a pumpking and decorate it. I really hope your little girl enjoys the experience that most of us enjoy even as adults!!!!!
Englewood Assembly of God and Maywood Baptist are joining together for a Trunk and Treat event on October 31. We will have hot dogs, inflatable games, pop corn, hot chocolate, and lots of candy. This is a community event and will take place in our two parking lots, as they face Winner Road. The fun will take place between 4:00 and 6:00 PM on that Saturday. This should provide an opportunity for a safe and enjoyable celebration for the children and families of our community.
......so that's inflatable dogs , hot games , pop chocolate and LOTS of cAnDy?..............ummmmmm...........sounds good Bob............thanks for the "heads up"...............
eldoggg
Ah, how things change. When I was a kid Halloween meant TRICK, Treat hadn't been thought of. There were no costumes and paper bags, just a bar of soap for soaping windows. Generally no damage done, but things like lawn chairs might be found the next morning hanging from the light poles. Trees might have been t.p.ed. The worst thing I recall being done was the year the older boys put an outhouse on the roof of the high school and another year they led a cow up the school stairs to the principle's office on the second floor. Just good clean fun. Safer times also. No parent ever felt the need to accompany us on our little forays.
......"led a COW up the stairs to the principle's office?"..........."good CLEAN fun?"...............ROFLMAO..............hopefully "Bessie" had already "evacuated" and "relieved" herself.............. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha..................................
eldoggg
By today's standards it was a harmless prank. No damage done, just a little necessary housekeeping.
.......I agree , it was just a "cheap"play on words .........on my part to find a way to laugh............I actually think it was a GREAT idea......but that probably comes as no surprise to anybody.......... ha ha ha..........
eldoggg
I understand the humor. Its just that my funny bone got broke a long, long time ago. I guess right after I had to help clean up after that cow.
.......my crew just explained in a NICE way that the smart thing to do was to give us the rest of the cAnDY.........and the grounds would be safe from hoodlums...........kind of a protection fee if you will..........lol.........we dressed like pirates.......with eyepatches and masks............we used to come home with grocery sacks full of cAnDY............well it is "trick or treat"................right?....................we didn't miss the "spirit" of the pagan holiday did we?...........
eldoggg
I haven't ever had a problem with safety and my kids trick or treating. When they were small, as your's is, we would just walk up to the door with them. Now we stand back at the end of the sidewalk and let them trick or treat by that way. We haven't ever let them go trick or treating by themselves.
I like the Halloween Parade, but I've never been big on trick or treating at the Center. I don't enjoy the wait in the car to get in or out of the parking lot and, to me, it seems to take something away from trick or treating.
Several area churches have "Trunk or Treat" events on Halloween night or after the Halloween Parade on the square. They usually have a little game to go along with getting candy. My kids really like these. I have never been to the center, but from what I understand it is crazy and you have to enjoy waiting in lines. We hit relative's houses and then do the circuit around our neighborhood. My kids are 6 and 8 so I hang out at the end of the sidewalk and let them go the door themselves.
We've actually not quite gotten to know, but become familiar with a bunch of our neghbors doing this. They will at least wave now when we go on our walks and sometimes strike up a conversation.