Costumes and Candy and Pumpkins, Oh my! Fall is my favorite time of the year! Not only is this season a welcome reprieve from the stifling heat and humidity of summer, it ushers in so many of my favorite holidays and family traditions. The crisp air and changing leaves signal to our family that it’s time for apple picking, pumpkin carving, and hikes in the woods! It also kicks off costume planning for all the Halloween festivities in October.
At Heartland, we look forward to welcoming this “boo-tiful” season with you and your children! Your child will enjoy making new discoveries around all the wonderful things Fall has to offer. Our lessons are crafted around the themes of the season to make learning even more fun! As you and your family prepare to play together in the coming months, we want to equip you with some tips and tricks to have a safe and fun Fall Holiday Season!
Playing Dress-up: a preschool favorite
We know not everyone is into Halloween, but most preschoolers are totally into dress-up! Kids love to use their
imaginations to pretend to be something they are not!
There are many ways to enjoy dressing up for the season, even if you decide not to go out on Halloween night. Oftentimes local businesses or churches will have “Trunker Treats” in their parking lots. Perhaps someone you know is having a costume party! It is fun to plan family costume ideas, where everyone dresses up as a character from the same movie. Sometimes, children will have really creative ideas of their own! One year, my daughter wanted to be a gumball machine. Partner with your child’s creativity and enjoy the smile on their face when they wear their homemade costume with pride. Lastly, you can simply choose a costume at the last minute from the dress up box or local thrift store. You only have to get creative if you want to.
Halloween Safety Tips
This holiday is all about costumes and candy! If you are planning to tackle the neighborhood this Halloween, here are a few simple tips to help choose a fun costume, while keeping your kiddo safe on their special evening out!
Costumes and Cars
- Skip masks that block sight—use face paint instead, and test it on a patch of skin to catch any allergic reactions early.
- Avoid trip hazards: choose costumes that are short enough not to drag, with snug sleeves and comfy shoes. Add reflective tape or glow sticks to help little ones stay visible to cars.
- Choose soft props: no sharp plastic swords or sticks—opt for flexible alternatives.
- Look both ways- Halloween can be really scary when we forget about traffic safety. Take this opportunity to reinforce traffic rules with your children- looking both ways before crossing the street, using crosswalks, and making eye contact with drivers before stepping into the street.
Candy, Allergens and Friendly Fun
Let’s be honest. Dressing up is fun, but Halloween night is all about the treats! Here are some good guidelines to keep your trick-or-treating experience fun and safe!
- Eat at Home- I know it will be hard, but as best you can, wait to eat candy until you’re home so you can be sure of what your child is eating. You will want to be aware of any allergens or or potential choking hazards.
- Choking hazards include treats like hard candies or gum. These items might not be suitable for your little one. Sort them out of your child’s candy stash first.
- Be allergy-aware—If your child has a food allergy, it is never too early to teach them about foods and treats they should avoid. Consider participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project, where families put a teal pumpkin on their porch signaling they are offering non-food treats like stickers, bubbles or small toys.
- Make it fun! After trick-or-treating, have your older preschoolers dump out all their candy into a pile on the floor in front of them. They may enjoy sorting their candy by brand, or type (chocolate vs hard candy). Teach them the power of sharing by swapping candy with their friends or siblings- things they don’t like for things they do like – or by sharing with you! You may also limit how much candy your kids can keep and then help them box up the rest to donate. There are many organizations that accept leftover candy, many of which create care packages for soldiers overseas. A quick google search will give you some places to choose from.
Fun with Pumpkins
It wouldn’t be Fall without pumpkins, would it? We all love getting to pick a pumpkin, carefully choosing its color, size and shape. But did you know there are lots of fun things to do with pumpkins that don’t include carving? Here are a few ideas for your preschooler to explore these beloved gourds!
Golf Tee fun
All you need for this fun fine motor activity is a small wooden mallet and some golf tees! Your little one will love hammering the golf tees into the pumpkin to make a pattern of different colored tees, or no pattern at all! If you gut the pumpkin ahead of time, the holes made by the golf tees will glow nicely when you put a light inside! No carving required.
Gut the pumpkin
Mom or dad will have to carve around the top of the pumpkin to create a lid, providing access to the inside of the pumpkin. But, if you have a kid who loves to get messy or play with different textures, the next part will be their job! Let your preschooler dig in with both hands and pull out all the guts from the inside of the pumpkin. Then they can separate the seeds from the goop.
Roast the seeds
Allow your child to sprinkle the seasonings of your choosing onto the pumpkin seeds. Some people like to use butter, some use oil. Some like sweet seeds made of cinnamon and sugar. Some prefer savory or spicy seasonings! Spread them on wax paper-lined cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 35-45minutes! For more detailed instructions check out this recipe!
Decorate the pumpkin
Finally, if you want to give your preschooler a hands-on experience decorating a pumpkin, pull out the acrylic paints and let them paint it however they wish! You may also experiment with the use of stickers or temporary tattoos on the pumpkin. Some children may prefer you do the decorating, so if you like to carve or paint, consider getting their input! Perhaps they would like you to create one of their favorite movie or storybook
characters. They may enjoy watching you create even more than doing it themselves! The key is to create memories, not the perfect pumpkin.
Wrapping up
Fall is the perfect season for your child to experience the world using all their senses! The sights, smells and tasty treats of autumn create rich learning experiences for toddlers and preschoolers, and memorable bonding time with your kids. We would love to be a part of your child’s learning experience! Contact us today to find out more!