A Cultural Approach on October 31st
At NSMS, our elementary students spend the weeks leading up to October 31st researching a person of interest. In Lower Elementary, the children present Mystery History. In Upper Elementary, the students present Dead and Famous.
The children have an opportunity to borrow books from the Rowley Public Library, and most of their research takes place in the classroom so that teachers can guide their note-taking. On October 31st, families are invited to school to hear the children’s presentations. The children are welcome to dress in character. Often, the elementary children ask if they can give their presentations to the youngest students in Children’s House. This is always a very exciting time!
Although we refrain from celebrating Halloween at our school, we know many of our families mark the night with trick-or-treating. So we’re sharing some tips to make the experience educational and developmentally appropriate.
Practice Grace & Courtesy
It’s not often that we march up to multiple houses and request treats. As such, we want to be thoughtful about how we introduce the practice of trick-or-treating to our children, uphold our family values, and model showing manners while having fun.
Young children will likely benefit from some demonstration before they jump into the experience. Role-playing with a family member, friend, or neighbor can set children up for success before they are in the awkward situation of standing before a stranger uncertain about what to do (or not do).
With older children, it’s also helpful to collaboratively review expectations such as walking on people’s sidewalks, how to politely respond or engage when someone comes to the door, and saying thank you. In addition, this is an excellent time to review road safety around crossing the street and checking for cars.
Remember Developmental Appropriateness
Our young children are still distinguishing between what is real and what isn’t. As such, Halloween can be an exciting and yet sometimes disorienting time. If fears do arise, acknowledge your child’s feelings, let them know it’s okay to feel scared, and make sure they feel heard and supported. The last thing we want to do is minimize our children’s fears.
However your family chooses to celebrate the season, remember we have an opportunity to model respect and thoughtfulness while still having fun.