GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) – Our friends at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services recently sat down with Maranda to talk about Halloween fears. There a lot of common fears and angers that parents and kids can work through before trick-or-treating to make sure that everyone can have fun this Sunday, October 31st.

Common Fears/Perceived as Danger

  • The dark
  • Spiders
  • Bats
  • Snakes
  • Thunder and lightning
  • Blood

Parenting Tips for Managing Halloween Fear

  1. Set expectations – make a plan.  
  2. Don’t try to eliminate anxiety; help the child manage it.
  3. Respect feelings, but don’t reinforce or empower them. 
  4. Challenge distorted thinking – replace exaggerated and distorted thinking with calming, reassuring, and positive self-talk.
  5. Think things through, brainstorm the possibilities with the child. 
  6. Model healthy ways of coping with anxiety.          
  7. Remember to Have Fun!

For a complete list of Parenting Tips for Managing Halloween Fear visit the Pine Rest Website or click here!