Trick-or-Treating Milestones and How to Approach Them

Spooky season is here! Halloween is a cherished holiday for many families, filled with fun and traditions. Whether you’ll be heading out with your little ones for the first time, or sending your teens out unsupervised, AOL.com has some tips on how to approach some specific Halloween milestones:

When you're the one greeting trick-or-treaters

“Say, ‘Tell me about your costume’ instead of asking, ‘What are you?’” Sheryl Ziegler, a psychologist and author of “Mommy Burnout,” tells TODAY.com. You don't want to indicate that you have no idea what a kid's costume is because they may have made it themselves. Instead, just ask them to talk about it. “Kids are proud to talk about their costumes.”

According to Dr. Ali Griffith, an audiologist and speech pathologist, that's important when talking to kids with sensory problems whose costumes may have been adapted to their comfort.

“Say, ‘Tell me about your costume’ instead of asking, ‘What are you?’” Sheryl Ziegler, a psychologist and author of “Mommy Burnout,” tells TODAY.com. You don't want to indicate that you have no idea what a kid's costume is because they may have made it themselves. Instead, just ask them to talk about it. “Kids are proud to talk about their costumes.”

When you're out trick-or-treating

“Saying ‘Trick or treat’ and ‘Thank you’ makes people feel good,” Ziegler notes. “Those giving candy are in the Halloween spirit and look forward to making small talk. It’s not a race.”

Older kids shouldn’t step around or trample littles in line. “Teach them patience now so they’ll know how to conduct themselves when they eventually trick-or-treat without adults,” she says.

When it's your first time trick-or-treating

A child's first trick-or-treating experience is a big deal, so prepare them by visiting fall festivals, decorating pumpkins, reading books about trick-or-treating or watching videos about Halloween, suggests Francyne Zeltser, the clinical director of psychology, training and special projects at Manhattan Psychology Group, tells TODAY.com.

Or, practice trick-or-treating.

"Have your kid knock on your front door and say, 'Trick or treat' and 'Thank you for the candy,'" Zeltser tells TODAY.com…

If your child is spooked by decorations, drive or walk by some adorned homes during the day. "You can explain that the decor is just a machine or doll," she says.

Then, on Halloween, trick-or-treat in a local area (around your block or within the school zone, for example) and limit the number of homes you visit: Zeltser suggests about five for a first-timer.

When your teen wants to trick-or-treat unsupervised

Halloween is an opportunity for responsible teens to trick-or-treat with their friends, instead of parents.

"It's a night for kids to have autonomy," Emily Kline, a Boston-based psychologist and author of the book "The School of Hard Talks," tells TODAY.com.

Kline recommends asking teens, "Where are you trick-or-treating?" "Who will you be with?" "What's your buddy system?" "What time are you coming home?" and importantly, "What are you most looking forward to?"

"You'll get the most leverage with your kid if you're excited as opposed to anxious," she explains.

"When kids reach an appropriate age to trick-or-treat alone, they've likely walked around the neighborhood alone during the day," Kline notes. “If they're allowed to use their judgement, they’ll become good at it."

You can read the full article here, including tips on how to support children who have food allergies or are neurodivergent. Halloween is for everyone! With a little planning, you can prepare for any potential scenario you may encounter.