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Big Feelings in Tiny Costumes

When Halloween Is a Lot for Little People

Back in May, we talked about “Tiny Feelings, Big Lessons” and the enormous emotions that can grow out of very small preschool moments: the wrong cup, a toy that gets taken, goodbye at drop-off, or a snack that doesn’t look the way it was supposed to.

Halloween takes that same emotional landscape and adds costumes, candy, decorations, strange noises, crowds, darkness, and approximately 47 opportunities to hear the phrase, “But I wanted to do it MYSELF!”

For young children, Halloween can be wonderful. It can also be a lot. And sometimes the biggest Halloween challenge isn’t the child who is afraid of the decorations. It’s the child whose parents love Halloween so much that they’ve accidentally planned the experience for a 35-year-old version of their child.

The Parent Who Has Been Waiting All Year

Some parents really love Halloween. Not “I buy a pumpkin in October” love. We’re talking about the people who have a Halloween playlist, a favorite spooky movie, a box labeled HALLOWEEN that somehow contains three additional boxes labeled HALLOWEEN, the 12-foot skeleton from Home Depot (or more than one!), and strong opinions about whether a pumpkin should be carved before or after October 15. 

If that’s you, excellent. Halloween is supposed to be fun, and I congratulate you on still loving it so dearly, and on passing those rituals down to the next generation. But it’s vital to remember that preschoolers are still discovering what fun means to them. Your child may eventually become the kid who wants to spend all of October decorating the house, dressing as something increasingly elaborate, and arguing passionately about the proper amount of fake spiderweb…

…or they may decide that pumpkins are terrific but costumes are suspicious. They may love ghosts, but hate masks. They may adore trick-or-treating, but want to go home after six houses. They may spend three weeks insisting they are going to be a dragon and then burst into tears when the dragon costume actually goes on.

That isn’t necessarily a failed Halloween. It may simply be their Halloween. Or, their first social-emotional understanding of Halloween.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends preparing young children for Halloween, practicing with costumes, watching for fears and anxieties, and being willing to stop early if the experience becomes too much. It even notes that if a young child doesn’t want to participate, that’s okay. There is always next year, and a year can make a surprisingly big difference at this age.

So if you’re a serious Halloween person, here’s the challenge: Don’t give your child your Halloween. Allow them to discover Halloween on their own. You can provide the pumpkins, the costumes, the decorations, and the spooky playlist. Then let your child decide which parts become magical.

The Halloween Paradox

This is the child who has been asking for a costume for three weeks.

“I want to be a witch!”

“Absolutely.”

“I want the hat!”

“Great.”

“And the cape!”

“Perfect.”

“And the broom!”

“We can do that.”

Then, Halloween arrives. The hat is wrong. The cape feels weird. The broom is too long. The shoes don’t match. And suddenly your tiny witch is lying on the floor screaming that HALLOWEEN IS RUINED. It is tempting to respond with: “But you wanted this!” Unfortunately, preschool brains don’t always care about the evidence.

The excitement of imagining something and the reality of experiencing it are different. A child can desperately want to dress up and then become overwhelmed once the costume is actually itchy, hot, restrictive, unfamiliar, or simply different from what they imagined.

This is where the same emotion-coaching approach from our May article comes in. Instead of immediately trying to solve the problem, start by acknowledging the feeling:

“You really wanted to wear this costume.”

“It doesn’t feel the way you thought it would.”

“You’re disappointed.”

Once the storm settles, you can figure out whether the cape needs adjusting, the costume needs changing, or the dragon needs to become a very comfortable dragon wearing sweatpants.

That’s not giving in. It’s helping a young child understand what is happening inside them.

Too Much Fun Can Still Be Too Much

Halloween is exciting, and that’s part of the problem.

Shared excitement is still a form of bonding, and young children are not always equipped to regulate a whole evening of it. There may be a preschool party in the morning, decorations everywhere, unfamiliar costumes, loud music, candy, neighborhood activity, a disrupted bedtime, and a parent who has been announcing for six weeks that TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT. A child can be having a wonderful time and still reach their limit.

That’s why preparation matters.

Talk about what will happen. Practice wearing the costume before Halloween. Explain that the scary-looking things are pretend. Think about when your child normally gets tired. Have a plan for going home. And don’t be afraid to use the plan.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) specifically recommends preparing young children for Halloween and being ready to pack it in early if a child becomes overwhelmed. In other words: You are allowed to leave the party before the child becomes a pumpkin-shaped emotional emergency.

But It’s Just a Costume!

To an adult, the vampire at the door is obviously Dad’s friend wearing a cape. To a preschooler, the information may be considerably less obvious.

Young children are still developing their understanding of appearance, reality, and pretend. Masks and costumes can make familiar people suddenly look unfamiliar, which can be confusing and frightening. ZERO TO THREE notes that young children can have difficulty reconciling unusual appearances with their understanding of what people normally look like.

So if your child backs away from Uncle Bob because Uncle Bob has transformed into a six-foot werewolf, “It’s just Uncle Bob!” may not solve the problem right away.

Try:

“That’s Uncle Bob under the costume.”

“You don’t have to go close.”

“We can watch from here.”

You don’t have to convince your child that something isn’t scary. You can help them feel safe while they decide what they think about it. Sometimes, that means approaching slowly. Sometimes, it means waving from across the room. Sometimes, it means spending the evening nowhere near Uncle Bob’s werewolf head. All three are legitimate Halloween strategies.

The Great Costume Meltdown

Then there is the costume itself. Parents see the adorable finished product. Children experience the tag. The zipper. The hat. The tights. The itchy seam. The bathroom logistics. The impossibility of sitting down. The fact that apparently nobody considered how difficult it would be to walk like a dinosaur while wearing dinosaur feet.

The AAP recommends trying costumes ahead of time and having a backup plan. It also recommends avoiding costumes that are too long or bulky for young children.

This is one place where enthusiastic parents can save themselves some heartache. Test the costume before Halloween. Let your child run in it. Sit in it. Use the bathroom in it. Wear the hat. Take the hat off. Try the whole thing again.

And if the grand costume you’ve lovingly assembled turns out to be deeply unpopular, remember: the goal is not to create the perfect photograph for the family scrapbook. The goal is for your child to have an experience they can enjoy. Sometimes the most successful costume is the one that stays on.

When the Candy Isn’t Really the Problem

Eventually, Halloween ends. This is frequently when things get interesting.

Your child has collected candy. They have walked farther than usual. They’re tired. They’re overstimulated. Their routine is gone. And now an adult dares to announce: “Okay, we’re going home.”

This can produce a reaction of biblical proportions. But the screaming may not really be about the candy. It may be about disappointment. It may be exhaustion. It may be the sudden transition from an extremely stimulating experience back to ordinary life. And it may be all three.

This is another opportunity to use the approach we talked about in May:

“You really wanted to keep going.”

“It was fun, and now it’s time to go home.”

“You’re disappointed.”

“I’m right here.”

The feeling can be completely valid while the boundary remains completely intact. Halloween doesn’t have to continue because your child is unhappy that it is ending. They can be disappointed. You can understand the disappointment. And you can still go home.

Let Halloween Be Whatever Halloween Is

This may be the hardest part for parents who genuinely love the holiday.

You have memories. You have traditions. You have ideas. You may have spent hours imagining your child experiencing Halloween exactly the way you did.

But your child isn’t a miniature version of you.

Maybe they love the costumes. Maybe they love the candy. Maybe they love carrying a pumpkin bucket around the neighborhood but aren’t remotely interested in trick-or-treating. Maybe they want to decorate every pumpkin in sight. Maybe they want to watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown seventeen times. Maybe they want to wear pajamas and eat popcorn while everyone else goes out.

And maybe this year they are simply not ready.

That’s okay. The point isn’t to manufacture a perfect childhood memory on October 31. It’s to give your child enough safety, freedom, and support to begin making their own memories. That’s especially important for parents who have a serious love affair with Halloween. Your enthusiasm can open the door. It doesn’t have to decide what happens after your child walks through it.

Tiny Feelings, Bigger Costumes

Back in May, we talked about how preschoolers are practicing what it means to have feelings that are sometimes much bigger than their ability to manage them.

Halloween gives them a remarkable collection of feelings to practice with. Excitement. Fear. Anticipation. Disappointment. Pride. Overwhelm. Surprise. And sometimes the very confusing experience of saying, “I REALLY wanted this,” followed immediately by, “I HATE THIS.” That’s part of growing up.

Our job isn’t to make every feeling disappear. It’s to help children experience those feelings while knowing that someone safe is there with them.

So this Halloween, enjoy the costumes. Carve the pumpkins. Put out the decorations. Take the pictures. Play the spooky music. Just leave a little room in the celebration for your child to surprise you. The thing they love most may not be the thing you expected.

And if the evening goes sideways? You can always take off the costume, turn down the lights, get comfortable, and say: “I’ve got you. Let’s take a break.” Sometimes that is exactly what a tiny person in a very big costume needs.

If you’d like to discuss a place for your kids at Creekside Kids, click this embedded link to schedule an appointment. Let’s get to know each other! Like us on Facebook to follow our stories for news and updates. We’re located at 1201 W Cheyenne Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, and we can be reached at (719) 635-9111. Our hours of operation are 6:45 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Sources and Further Reading

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Autumn Magic

There’s something truly special about the first days of autumn. For toddlers, it’s a season full of wonder and discovery — crisp air, warm colors, and new celebrations. At Creekside Kids, we love watching our co-learners’ eyes light up and their curiosity when they see the world changing around them. Their interest peaks as the leaves change color and the weather begins to chill.

As autumn settles in, we’re about to hit that hectic time of year, when the holidays seem to come so quickly. Before we know it, the calendar turns, and we’re sorting out what we’ll do in 2026. We hope you and your kids can slow down and take advantage of some of the fun of autumn.

From Green to Gold: Nature’s Little Lessons

One of the most enchanting transformations of fall in Colorado Springs is watching the leaves turn. That deep summer green fades into glowing golds, fiery reds, and amber browns. It’s a perfect opportunity for toddlers to learn new words, explore textures, and notice the changes in their environment. 

Don’t miss out on the chance to introduce your child to small leaf walks. They can collect colorful leaves, press them in books, and trace their veins on paper. These simple activities encourage observation, vocabulary, and connection with nature, serving to mark the change in seasons.

Tips for Parents: Making the Most of Autumn

  • Dress in layers. Colorado’s fall weather can change quickly. Light jackets, hats, and mittens are handy.

  • Bring a treasure bag. Your toddler will want to gather leaves, acorns, pinecones, and sticks.

  • Savor snack moments. Think of cider, pumpkin muffins, and crunchy apples — foods that match the season can enhance the sensory experience.

  • Extend play into the classroom or at home. Use leaf rubbings, shadow tracing, or seasonal books to reinforce what children see outside.

  • Talk about change. Use simple language to help toddlers understand why leaves fall, why days are shorter, and why the air feels cooler.

Fall Fun Around Colorado Springs

There’s no shortage of family-friendly autumn events where toddlers (ages 3–5) can immerse themselves in the season. Here are a few highlights for this fall:

Event Date / Time What to Expect
Boo at the Zoo Oct. 17th – 19th,
Oct. 24th – 26th
& Oct. 31st
4 – 8:30 p.m.		 Child-friendly trick-or-treating among zoo exhibits
Pumpkins in the Park – Old Colorado City Sat., Oct. 18th
12 – 4 p.m.		 Pumpkin patch, painting, crafts, balloon animals, face painting
Scarecrow Days in Old Colorado City Oct. 5th – Oct. 31st
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.		 Enjoy all the custom scarecrows along the Avenue at Old Colorado City and take pictures with your favorite scarecrow.
Trunk-or-Treat at Royal Gorge Bridge & Park Oct. 18, 4:30 – 8 p.m. A scenic, elevated trick-or-treating event with local groups handing out candy

These events are generally safe, well-supervised, and tailored for families with young children. Be sure to check each organizer’s website for ticketing information, age recommendations, and any COVID-19 or safety protocols they may have in place.

Halloween: Magic, Costumes, and Safety

Halloween is often a highlight for toddlers—dressing up, getting a few treats, and playfully exploring a mild scare in a supportive environment. At Creekside Kids, we LOVE Halloween and we’ve previously written several blog posts around Halloween, including:

Is your neighborhood the kind that doesn’t do much for trick-or-treaters? We’ve mentioned it before, but one of the greatest spots for Trick-or-Treating in Colorado Springs is in the Old North End, on N. Tejon Street. Families open their spookily-decorated houses to the public. It’s a great place to go as a family, if your current neighborhood has too much traffic.  But be aware that it can be overwhelming to some kids, as the street is bustling with kids and adults having fun.

Here are a few additional Halloween safety pointers especially for toddlers:

  1. Visibility is key — use glow sticks, reflective tape, or LED touches on costumes.

  2. Choose safe costumes — avoid long trailing fabric, sharp props, or masks that impair vision; face paint is often a better alternative.

  3. Stay together — always accompany toddlers, hold hands, and stick to familiar, well-lit neighborhoods.

  4. Inspect treats — check candy wrappers before letting little ones eat anything.

  5. Timing matters — trick-or-treat during early evening hours (when it’s not too dark) to make walking safer.

  6. Set expectations — keep the experience brief, fun, and low-pressure. Not every child will want to collect a lot of candy; being comfortable is more important.

Halloween is a Teaching Opportunity

Research has shown that children can gain valuable insights from exploring concepts of fear and death. According to the Child Mind Institute, Halloween can be a perfect opportunity for children to engage with these themes in a controlled environment. By acknowledging and discussing their fears, parents can help children develop emotional resilience and a better understanding of life’s complexities. This approach enables children to process complex emotions and develop effective coping strategies, which are essential for their social and emotional development.

For younger children, the ability to distinguish between fantasy and reality is still in the process of development. This can make Halloween particularly challenging, as they may struggle to understand that spooky displays and costumes are not real. A study cited by the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) suggests that parents should acknowledge their child’s fears and explain that these experiences are pretend. By doing so, parents can help their children feel safe while still enjoying the fun aspects of the holiday. This strategy not only calms children’s nerves but also fosters a sense of trust and security.

It’s essential for parents to remember that Halloween is meant to be fun, but it doesn’t have to be mandatory. Some children may prefer to avoid the spookier aspects of the holiday, and that’s perfectly okay. The focus should always be on the child’s comfort and joy. Parents can create alternative activities that celebrate the season without the scary elements, such as carving pumpkins or baking Halloween-themed treats, allowing children to participate in the festivities without feeling overwhelmed. For parents looking to ease their children into the spooky season, the CHOC suggests acknowledging and naming children’s fears, explaining that it’s okay to be scared, and emphasizing the pretend nature of the experiences. Additionally, parents can involve their children in the planning process, allowing them to choose activities and costumes that make them feel comfortable and excited.

Autumn is a beautiful bridge between warm summer days and cozy winter-time comforts. At Creekside Kids, we delight in each golden leaf, each costume, each little hand reaching out exploring the crisp air. We look forward to sharing these moments with your family. If you’d like to discuss a place at Creekside Kids for your kids, we invite you to click this embedded link to schedule an appointment. Let’s get to know each other! Like us on Facebook to follow our stories for news and updates. We’re located at 1201 W Cheyenne Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, and we can be reached at (719) 635-9111. Our new hours of operation are 6:45 a.m. until 5:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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Keeping Halloween Fun and Safe for Our Little Ones

Image by Juliezimmi3 on Pixabay

Spooky Time Is Nearly Here!

Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s such a magical time for our preschoolers. Kids at that age know the markers of Halloween: black cat superstitions, pumpkins carved with creepy faces, darker evenings and chillier air, costumes both simple and grand, and, of course, lots of free candy.

Our children’s excitement is palpable, and as parents and caregivers, we want to ensure their adventure is both fun and safe. We also want to assure those who don’t celebrate it that the holiday is highly malleable to their own sensibilities. You can forgo spookiness and make it all about autumn if you like. You can dress up as historical heroes and villains or characters from books and movies. You can even make it a service day by helping others in your community.

We’re big proponents of Halloween here at Creekside Kids. We think dressing up and adopting new identities is essential for children to decide on the kind of adults they wish to be someday. We recognize that although Halloween was originally a pagan festival called Samhain (pronounced saa·wn), it was co-opted as a Christian observance called All Hallows Eve during the time when the pagans were being converted, allowing the end-of-harvest traditions to pass into Christianity. And, of course, North American children have long served to secularize the holiday into a fun night of ghosts, silliness and a few scares– an examination of our fear of death and the unknown.

We want you, your family, and all those that you encounter to be safe and have a memorable, wonderful time this Halloween. Here are some valuable tips and reminders for different aspects of our Halloween festivities in Colorado Springs.

Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips for Parents

Taking your preschoolers on their trick-or-treating adventure is such a joy! Here are a few pointers to keep the evening delightful and secure:

Hide a Handy Cheat: In cases where the children are still building their walking legs day-to-day, consider incorporating a stroller into their costume. This will allow you to keep an eye on them while they enjoy their trick-or-treating. If your child is old enough to walk but not quite ready for the full-on candy hunt, consider using a wagon or stroller with a handle that can be pushed by an adult. This way, you can keep tabs on your little one and ensure they don’t wander off into danger.

Bright and Reflective Costumes: Ensure your child’s costume is bright or has reflective elements to make them visible to drivers.

Stay Together: Always accompany your little one, holding hands as you walk from house to house.

Have a Plan: Stick to familiar neighborhoods and plan your route in advance. Consider neighborhoods like the Old North End, where Halloween is celebrated warmly, and the community comes together to share candy and fun.

Check Candy: Before letting your child enjoy their treats, check each piece for tampering or allergies.

Road Safety for Drivers

As drivers on Halloween night, we have a responsibility to ensure everyone’s safety:

Slow Down: Drive slower than usual in residential areas, where children may walk or cross streets.

Stay Alert: Be especially alert during peak trick-or-treating hours, typically from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Avoid Distractions: Keep distractions to a minimum and be ready for sudden movements from excited children.

Hosting Trick-or-Treaters Safely

For those of us hosting trick-or-treaters, making our homes safe and welcoming is essential:

Light the Way: Ensure your porch and walkways are well-lit to prevent trips and falls. 

Clear Obstacles: Remove any potential hazards from your yard or porch that could cause accidents. Make sure lighting effects or automaton scares will not send kids into an unsafe place. Beware of causings scares at the top of a set of steps.

Safe Treats: Offer sealed, store-bought treats to ensure safety and accommodate various dietary restrictions. Candy Apples and Rice Krispy treats are fun, but even in a safe environment, they are (at best) unsanitary in a kid’s treat bag and (at worst) potentially dangerous.

Celebrations in the ‘Springs

If your neighborhood isn’t keen on Halloween festivities, Colorado Springs offers particular locations where everyone is welcome. The Old North End is particularly famous for its Halloween spirit, with friendly homes that go all out to celebrate. It’s a beautiful place to create lasting memories with your little ones.

If you have kids in your area, time to devote to the project, and lots of imagination, consider hosting a haunted house with many creeps and monsters for neighborhood children to conquer with their bravery. Check out HauntPay’s Top 5 Safety Tips For Your Haunted House for how to make a spooky event into a safe event.

At Creekside Kids, we are committed to fostering a safe, fun, and educational environment for our children. We hope these tips help you create a Halloween filled with joy and safety. Have a magical Halloween, and enjoy every moment of this delightful season with your precious preschoolers! If you’d like to discuss a place at Creekside Kids for your kids, we invite you to click this embedded link to schedule an appointment. Let’s get to know each other! Like us on Facebook to follow our stories for news and updates. We’re located at 1201 W Cheyenne Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, and we can be reached at (719) 635-9111. Our new hours of operation are 6:45 a.m. until 5:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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creekside building
1201 W Cheyenne Rd
Colorado Springs, CO 80906  
 
6:30 am - 5:45 pm
Monday - Friday
(719) 635-9111

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