Oct. 3 - Oct. 16, 2015
SanTan
FAMILY FUN “An award-winning publication”
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Helping frightened kids get through the scariest of holidays
SanTan Sun News
talk with their son or daughter about the When Hunter Melone was 2 1/2, he was skeleton in a safe place, startled by a Halloween decoration at a local like the home. big-box home improvement store. “Explain why it “This particular scary man was in a is not real, why it is random area by the patio furniture by the used in displays and front of the store and would lean in and why Halloween is scare anyone that walked by,” said Carly celebrated,” he said. Melone, Hunter’s mom. Parents can also try “Hunter was traumatized by this and now showing a picture of the that he’s 7 he will still talk about ‘the scary display skeleton to their man’ as if he’s there every time and not just child while in the safe at Halloween.” environment, or even Hunter’s experience with the spooky bringing it home for the decoration also caused him to be terrified of child to experience while Halloween decorations at the grocery store feeling safe. and other big-box stores, said Carly, who Hunter Melone, left, pictured with mom, Carly, little brother, J.T., and dad, John, “Finally, they can take began to be frightened of Halloween displays in stores when he was 2. Now that lives with her family in Chandler. a field trip to the store to he is 7, he is less scared of the decorations. Submitted photo Dr. Daniel Merrill, medical director of look at the display that the department of psychiatry at Chandler initially caused the fear,” Regional and Mercy Gilbert medical centers, now that he is 7, Hunter is able to calmly he said. said childhood fears of scary costumes point out the Halloween displays in the “Keep in mind that child development and Halloween displays can definitely be stores. is highly individual, so parents should not a typical and understandable response in In some cases, Merrill said, what is force the steps.” young children who are still developing frightening one year to a child will suddenly Ruth Lucas, a professional consultant, neurologically. become fascinating. author and life coach from Chandler, said While adults are usually able to calm “A child may be afraid of zombies parents should also acknowledge their themselves by reminding this year and insist on being a zombie for child’s fear and respond as themselves “I know Halloween next year,” he said. if it’s normal. that’s not a real skeleton And although it can be hard for parents “Empathy and because it’s made from to watch their children being frightened, validation that it’s a normal Lucas said parents should remember that plastic,” young kids’ response is essential. These brains are not quite there like many things in life, this too shall pass. things are designed to be yet, he said. “Don’t make too big a deal out of it; it scary,” she said. “The sense of fear doesn’t last forever.” Parents can also share arises from a part of stories about what scared the brain called the Alison Stanton is a freelance writer who them when they were amygdala, and the lives in the East Valley. She can be reached at younger as well as what soothing thought Alison@SanTanSun.com. they did to feel better. originates from a part They can also take Dr. Daniel Merrill said that gently exposing of the brain called the RESOURCES children to whatever is frightening them advantage of their child’s hippocampus,” Merrill on or around Halloween can help them imagination by asking him Websites said. get over their anxieties. Submitted photo or her to be creative and “Halloween images www.lucasseminars.com suggest things that would may frighten children www.parents.com/kids/development/behelp him or her to be less scared, Lucas said. as they have a well developed fear response havioral/understanding-kid-fears For children who are afraid of Halloween from the amygdala but have not yet fully night itself and trick-or-treating, Lucas said developed the soothing thought response families should feel free to turn off the porch from the hippocampus.” Books light, stay inside playing games and skip the To help children who are scared of “Me and My Dragon: Scared of costumes and candy. Halloween decorations, costumes and Halloween,” by David Biedrzycki Carly said while Hunter never had an more, Merrill said parents can try gently issue with dressing up for trick-or-treating, “Noodles: I’m Not Scared,” and incrementally exposing their child to she is still careful to keep anything scary out by Hans Wilhelm whatever is frightening him or her. of her home. As an example, for a child who will not “Scared Silly: A Halloween Book for “We have a house of cute pumpkins, go near a display of plastic skeletons at the the Brave,” by Marc Brown ghosts and scarecrows,” she said, adding that grocery store, Merrill said parents should By Alison Stanton
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