Preparing Your Toddler (and Yourself) for Halloween

Newborns don't really care about Halloween. They are mostly dressed up so you can get some pictures and show off how cute they are to your neighbors. But once your kid reaches 3 and 4 years old, Halloween will be as exciting to them as the Super Bowl is to you. Here are some tips to help you prepare your toddler (and yourself) for the spookiest day of the year.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT COSTUMES
Your kid will know what they want to be. They never have tough times deciding. it is you that will have a tough time making it all work. In my experience, you won't have to worry about your kid making a poor decision in what they want to be. Normally it will be a character from a movie or television show. Or maybe just a plain ol' animal. The only time you really need to worry is when they ask to be a $2 hooker or a pimp. Unfortunately, that will probably come later.

COSTUME ACQUISITION
The hardest part for you as a parent will be finding the costume. If you aren't careful, your kid's prize costume will be sold out everywhere and you will be forced to dress them up in something that will scar them for the rest of their lives. Ask their preference early. Look online for harder-to-find costumes. Or try your hand in making a costume.

Most kids will have multiple opportunities to sport their garb: school Halloween parties, town parades, and friend parties all add up tot he big night on the 31st.

{mosnooad}SIZES
The last thing you want is to have to put a big fat Old Navy sweatshirt over your daughter's Tinkerbell costume. Solution? Put it under the costume. If you are like me, and you live in a colder area of the country, try buying or making the costume a size up. Your kid will be warm, the costume will be visible, and your kid may have a dress-up costume to wear all year long.

FLASHLIGHTS
Make sure you have batteries for flashlights before the big night. Even better, give your kids one too. We bought some really cheap flashlights a couple of years ago with glowing orange pumpkin heads. Not too great for seeing in the distance but great for motorists to see them.

CANDY
Do not allow your kids to eat candy while they are trick or treating. It's a scary world out there and you will want to inspect the candy before they dive in. And with the types of extreme food allergies showing up in kids these days, you will want to see the ingredients first.

"TRICK OR TREAT?!"
Make your kids do the talking. They are the ones dressing up. They are the ones that should ask for the candy. If they are a tad shy, it's ok to join them at the door and prompt them with words like, "What do you say?…Trick…or…" Most of the time, your kid will muster the word "Treat", your neighbors will smile and you'll move on tot he next house."

BUCKETS
Make your kids hold their own candy. It's not your candy. It's theirs.

THIS ISN"T A HOARD FEST
Don't go around hitting other neighborhoods just to score more candy. My rule of thumb is as long as we don't get in the car to drive somewhere, cross a major interstate of train tracks, or have to show a passport or proof of citizenship, we are cool. But, remember to stress that isn't about the accumulation of candy, it's about dressing up and meeting your neighbors. (yeah, your kids will buy that.) The point is, this isn't Old Country Buffet where you keep going back for more because it's there.

CHECK THE DATE AND TIME
Halloween is on October 31st right? Technically, yes, but some towns are now instituting trick or treating on the closest weekend night or during the early evening. make sure your kid is prepared and you have your candy bowl out on time.

DON'T MISS OUT
Don't stay home passing out candy when your kids are out trick or treating. It is a really neat experience to see your kids assume the roles of their favorite characters and the look on their face when they realize how easy it is to score some candy. Leave a bowl outside your door and experience it with your kids.

CANDY TAKE BACK EVENTS
Many schools these days are hosting candy "take back" events where your kids trade in some candy to benefit local charities. This is a great way to reduce their sugar intake, and teach them about how good it feels to give back. Besides, who else is gonna eat those NECCOs that nobody wants.

Good luck noodads.