In this week’s Parenting segment, a family worries that their son has started to worry about ghosts as Halloween approaches.
Child psychotherapist Joanna Fortune answered this and other questions from Moncrief.
question
“My 5-year-old son is very excited about Halloween and wants to dress up as a wizard,” they said.
“I was instructed to make a wand for him. However, some of the Halloween-themed children’s shows I watch on streamers feature ghosts.
“He keeps asking about them. He’s a very sensitive and curious boy, so we’re worried that he’s obsessed with ghosts.
“At some point he’ll mention them and say, ‘It’s okay because they’re not real.'”
“But he clearly wants affirmation of this.
“Other days, he seems scared and asks us, ‘What would we do if we found him?’ How should I handle this situation? ”
advice
“I would just keep saying, ‘You’re right, ghosts aren’t real,'” Joanna Fortune said.
“When he’s telling himself, ‘It’s not real, it’s okay,’ you just say, ‘Absolutely, it’s not real, so it’s okay.'” They’re just for Halloween. ”
“So give him that affirmation.”
Joanna said it was worth focusing on the less scary but fun aspects of Halloween.
“I think we should start talking about Halloween. This time of year symbolizes change and the cycle of life, the seasons are changing, the leaves are falling on the trees, and we are starting to prepare for winter,” she said. said.
“Let’s talk beyond dress-up and beyond witches, wizards and ghosts.
“Don’t forget to be playful this Halloween…and I think games that focus on the fun aspects of Halloween, like carving pumpkins and making fun decorations, rather than the scary ones, will be a lot of fun.”
Children in Halloween costumes trick-or-treating. Image: MBI/Alamy
Joanne added that there are “lots of books” about Halloween that kids can enjoy.
“I personally know Patricia Toth’s ‘Pick A Pumpkin,’ Michelle Robinson’s ‘Witch in Training,’ and Flavia Z. Drago’s ‘Layla the Perfect Witch,'” she says. said.
“I took my small child to read the book aloud at a nearby store, and it was a wonderful book.
“‘Tom and the Pumpkins’ is one of them. It’s a good time to pick up a few books and play with them because they’re easily available.”
Main image: Ghost in the forest. Photo credit: Alamy.com
