We have compiled a listing of all the Fall Fun & Halloween Activities taking place on Cape Cod and the surrounding areas. If we have missed a few please feel free to email us or comment below with all the information and we will get it added! It takes a community!

Our list is compiled alphabetically by town and then in date order under each town.  We hope you enjoy all the family fun that Cape Cod has to offer this fall!

BARNSTABLE

Barnstable Village Halloween Stroll
WHAT:  Barnstable Village Halloween Stroll
WHEN: Saturday, October 28 at 4 PM - 6 PM
WHERE:  Barnstable Village County Complex
This is the 3rd Annual community event for all. Wear your costumes and join the parade around the County Court House complex. (Everyone will gather on the court house lawn promptly at 4:00) You won't want to miss the dance party by DJ Ben-Jammin, Food, costume contest, and lots more. This year Main street won't be closed, everything will be held in the County Complex. Pets Welcome! This event is sponsored by the Barnstable Village Association.
 
Pumpkin Festival Open House
WHAT: Pumpkin Festival Open House
WHEN: Sunday, October 29, 1-4pm
WHERE: Waldorf School of Cape Cod 140 Old Oyster Rd Cotuit, MA
Celebrate Fall at the Waldorf School of Cape Cod with seasonal crafts and pumpkin carving. School tours available. Enjoy some pumpkin soup and apple cider. All are welcome!
 
The Enchanted Forest
WHAT:  The Enchanted Forest
WHEN: Friday Oct 27 5:30-7:30pm
WHERE: Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary @ 345 Bone Hill Road, Barnstable
For one night only, the woodlands will awaken. A guide will lead you along a lantern – lit trail where you will encounter creatures of the night – some strange, some silly and some who have much to say. All are welcome to come in costume. MA Audubon Member Adult $10 Child $7, Non-member Adult $12 Child $9. Pre-registration is required. For more information call 508-362-7475 or visit website or Tickets

BOURNE
 
Spooky Splash
WHAT: Trunk or Treat
WHEN: Monday October 30, 2017 3:30-7:30pm
WHERE:  National Marine Life Center @ 120 Main Street, Bourne
Join us for our Halloween Open House! Come in costume! Learn about spooky ocean animals! Enjoy arts and crafts and games and refreshments. Tour our Marine Animal Hospital and meet our seal and turtle patients. Admission: $5/person; Members FREE Admissions help care for sick turtles and seals. Tickets: http://nmlc.org/.
 
 
BREWSTER

​Family Halloween Movie
WHAT:  Family Halloween Movie
WHEN: Saturday, October 21 at 2 PM - 3:30 PM
WHERE: Brewster Ladies' Library 1822 Main St, BrewsterSpend your Saturday celebrating Halloween at the Library! We’ll be watching a spooky movie based on the children’s book series by R.L. Stine, and making some monster bookmarks. Library staff will also provide monster blood punch and snacks to get us in the spirit. It's sure to be a hair-raising good time! The movie we will be watching is rated PG. Run time is 103 minutes.  This event will take place on Saturday, October 21 at 2 PM. Admission is free.

Halloween Parade
WHAT: Halloween Parade
WHEN: Friday, October 27 at 10 AM - 11 AM
WHERE: Brewster Ladies' Library 1822 Main St, Brewster
Come celebrate Halloween at the Brewster Ladies’ Library! All ages are invited. Wear your costume! We will have a Halloween parade, walk over to the Brewster Store, stop for songs with Cathy Hatch, and then head to Kinlin Grover Real Estate for snacks. This event will take place on Friday, October 27, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the Brewster Ladies’ Library. Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend.

​CHATHAM
 
Pumpkin People in the Park
WHAT:  Pumpkin People in the Park
WHEN: October 13 – October 31
WHERE:  Kate Gould Park 2377 Main St, Chatham, Massachusetts 02633
Pumpkin People in the Park can be found in Kate Gould Park and the bandstand on Main Street. The creative and innovative Pumpkin People are fashioned by local businesses, organizations or just plain folk. They are on display from October 13 until Halloween! These larger-than-life creations are just the frost on the pumpkin the day of the Oktoberfest festival. Come and see these outrageous displays in October and plan to be at the Oktoberfest in Chatham.
 
Oktoberfest in Chatham
WHAT: Oktoberfest in Chatham
WHEN: Saturday, October 21 at 11 AM - 4 PM
WHERE: Kate Gould Park, Chatham Ma
Pumpkin People in the Park, great beer, bratwurst, music, kids’ games. All these events are just a small part of Chatham’s Oktoberfest in Kate Gould Park. The park is filled with creative and innovative Pumpkin People fashioned by local businesses, organizations or just plain folk. They are on display from October 13 until Halloween. These larger-than-life creations are just the frost on the pumpkin the day of the fest. Get here early because the lines start forming at noon for the old-fashioned games, the tasty German fare and beer, and fun in the park.
 
 
DENNIS
 
Family Fun Saturday
WHAT: Family Fun Saturday
WHEN: Saturday October 7, 2017 11am-4pm 
WHERE: Cape Abilities Farm 458 Main St # 6A, Dennis,
Saturdays in October are for family fun at Cape Abilities Farm! Build a scarecrow, make a cornhusk doll, decorate a pumpkin, or do the farm scavenger hunt. There will be apple and cider tasting too. We will move indoors if it's raining.
 
2nd Annual Dennis Village Halloween Hootenanny Parade
WHAT:  2nd Annual Dennis Village Halloween Hootenanny Parade
WHEN: Tuesday, October 31 at 5:15 PM - 7 PM
WHERE: Village Green, Dennis MA
Safe HALLOWEEN NIGHT Fun for the WHOLE FAMILY! Join us for a Costume Parade down Rt. 6A in Dennis Village followed by MUSIC • DANICING • FOOD • TREATS and FUN at the Dennis Village Green!

FALMOUTH
 
Trunk or Treat
WHAT: Trunk or Treat
WHEN: Sunday, October 29 from 5-6:30 pm 
WHERE:  John Wesley United Methodist Church 2570 Gifford Street, Falmouth 
Carnival games, decorated cars, exotic animals, face painting, bouncy houses, hot cider, hot dogs, candy!
 
Teaticket PTO Trunk or Treat
WHAT: Trunk or Treat
WHEN: Sat Oct 21 3-6pm 
WHERE:  Teaticket School @ 45 Maravista Avenue Extension, East Falmouth MA
Funds raised will benefit the Teaticket PTO.
 
Kids Trick or Treat at the Falmouth BBC
WHAT: Kids Trick or Treat at the Falmouth BBC
WHEN: Friday 10/27/17 4-6pm
WHERE: British Beer Company Falmouth @ 263 Grand Avenue, Falmouth MA
 
Trick or Treat Stroll
WHAT: Trick or Treat Stroll Falmouth Village
WHEN: Saturday October 28 12:30-2:30pm
WHERE:  Village Green @ Main Street, Falmouth MA
 
A Visit from the Night Watchman
WHAT: A Visit from the Night Watchman
WHEN: Saturday October 28, 2017 6-9pm
WHERE: Museums on the Green @ 55 Palmer Avenue, Falmouth,
Strange spirits haunt the town of Falmouth, and those that visit will be treated to interactions all throughout the 1790 Dr. Francis Wicks House as this mildly scary haunted experience comes to life.   Recommended for families with children age 6 and higher. Tickets can be purchased the night of the performance.    Admission Prices: Adults, $ 10, Children (12 and younger), $ 7, Families of 4: $ 25
Reservations NOT required but visitors should expect a short wait before touring. 
Tickets
 
Trunk or Treat
WHAT: Trunk or Treat
WHEN: Tuesday October 31, 2017 5:30-8:30pm
WHERE:  Cape Cod Church 1205 Rte 151 Hwy East Falmouth
Trunk or Treat is a safe, fun, free community Halloween Festival for the whole family.
 Last year, nearly 5,000 people enjoyed the carnival-like atmosphere, which included bounce houses, face painting, refreshments, and of course, lots of free candy!
 At the center of Trunk or Treat are the 50 themed and decorated cars (the "Trunk" in Trunk or Treat) where children receive free candy.  This year's theme for cars is "superheroes"!
 
 
HARWICH
 
Fall Fun Fair & Touch-A-Truck!WHAT: Fall Fun Fair & Touch-A-Truck!
WHEN: Saturday, October 21 at 10 AM - 1 PM
WHERE:  Cape Cod Regional Technical High SchoolIt's that time of year again! Join us SATURDAY OCTOBER 21ST 10am - 1pm at CAPE COD TECH for the 3rd annual FALL FAMILY FUN FAIR AND TOUCH-A-TRUCK!
Games, prizes, crafts, food, and more!
Joining us this year will be:
Nauset Disposal 
Cape Cod Ready Mix
Brewster Sand & Gravel
Harwich Police Dept.
Harwich Fire Dept.
and more!

All donations and funds raised will benefit the Angela Champ Memorial Scholarship Fund. This resource was established in honor of Angela, a 2008 graduate of Cape Cod Tech's Graphic Arts Department, after her passing in 2009. The award is available to a deserving Graphic Arts student pursuing higher education upon graduation. Angela was an artist and a photographer. Every year we have some of her art work on display, and some of her original photographs and hand-designed bookmarks for sale. Angela wrote and produced a children's book entitled "When I Grow Up" for her senior project at CCT, and we also have copies of this available for purchase.
 
ORLEANS

Toe Jam Puppet Band
WHAT: Toe Jam Puppet Band
WHEN: Saturday, October 28 1PM
WHERE: Snow Library

Halloween Stroll
WHAT: Halloween Stroll
WHEN: Saturday, October 28 2:30pm
WHERE: Main Street Orleans
 
SANDWICH
 
Halloween at Heritage Museums & Gardens
WHAT: Halloween Family Festival
WHEN: Saturday, October 28 from 5-8 pm 
WHERE:  Heritage Museums & Gardens, 67 Grove Street, Sandwich, MA 02563 
COST: $5; family maximum of $25; children 2 and under are admitted free Tickets
All visitors will be treated to special Halloween-themed activities, including a dance party hosted by DJ Ooch, tractor-pulled hayrides around the grounds, and create a Halloween themed craft. Halloween-themed drinks and snacks will be available at the Magnolia Café, as well as free rides on the vintage carousel.  Visitors can also enjoy performances of Thriller by Sandwich Soul, Sandwich High School’s award-winning show choir. Guests can support Sandwich community partners by participating in special ticketed activities.  Play carnival-style games and get your face painted with festive designs to support the STEM Academy/Sandwich High School PTSA.  Join in on a cake walk to benefit Sandwich Soul’s national competition fundraiser.
 
YMCA Fall Festival
WHAT: YMCA Fall Festival
WHEN: Saturday Oct 14, 11am-1pm 
WHERE:  Camp Lyndon Sandwich, MA 02563 
Join us at Camp Lyndon and come dressed in your Halloween costume to get a free spin on our special prize wheel! Activities include crafts, games, healthy snacks and pumpkin carving. 
 
6th Annual Pumpkin Fest
WHAT: 6th Annual Pumpkin Fest
WHEN: Saturday Oct 21, all day
WHERE:  Sandwich Glass Museum @ 129 Main Street, Sandwich, Massachusetts, 02563
Enjoy a pumpkin patch filled with hand-blown glass pumpkins of all sizes crafted by prominent local and national glass artisans. Wander the grounds of the Sandwich Glass Museum and admire a dazzling array of one-of-a-kind pumpkins designed to reflect nature’s brilliance in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. No two are alike! They are perfect for decorating for Halloween and Thanksgiving and make a lovely gift.
 
YARMOUTH
 
Fall Festival
WHAT: Fall Festival
WHEN: Saturday October 7, 2017 at 10 AM - 4 PM raindate 10/8
WHERE:  108 Bray Farm Rd N, Yarmouth Port, MA 02675-1550,
Pumpkins, hay rides, visit with the animals, tour the restored farmhouse, refreshments will be available, apple cider, hotdogs! please no dogs the day of the festival
 
 
WELLFLEET
 
Trunk or Treat
WHAT: Trunk or Treat
WHEN: Sunday, October 31 from 4-7 pm 
WHERE:  Wellfleet Drive In
http://trunkortreatfestival.com/

Surrounding Areas
 
NEW BEDFORD
 
Boo at the ZooWHAT: Boo at the Zoo
WHEN: October 14 – October 30 6pm
WHERE:  Buttonwood Park Zoo
425 Hawthorn St, New Bedford, Massachusetts 02740
BOO AT THE ZOO – slightly spooky fun that cannot be missed!
Grab your favorite costume and join us at BOO AT THE ZOO for an evening of Halloween fun! There’s enough thrills and chills for all ages at BOO AT THE ZOO! Climb aboard a spoooooky train ride, stroll down the Trick or Treat trail, take a spin on our wild carousel, and enjoy Halloween themed activities plus animal encounters! Thank you to our presenting sponsor Bristol County Savings Bank for collaborating with the Zoological Society to bring Halloween fun to the Zoo for all to enjoy!
Save time getting into BOO AT THE ZOO by purchasing a Bat Pass. A Bat Pass is a single use, non-refundable pass and must be surrendered at the separate Bat Pass entrance upon your visit.
Rides are included in the price of admission. Children under 3 are free. BOO AT THE ZOO runs Saturday October 14, Sunday October 15, Saturday October 21, Sunday October 22, Friday October 27, Saturday October 28, Sunday October 29, and Monday October 30
6:00pm-9:00pm
 
WAREHAM
​Cranberry Harvest CelebrationWHAT: Cranberry Harvest Celebration
WHEN: October 8, 2017 10am-4pm
WHERE: The Cranberry Harvest Celebration is a great way to see and learn about the picturesque cranberry harvest while enjoying some old fashioned family fun. Watch as we harvest the crimson berries continuously each day. You can even put on a pair of waders and step into a corral of berries!
Visit educational and historical displays, view the spectacular landscape and harvest by taking a helicopter ride, enjoy live cooking demonstrations by some of the area’s finest chefs and culinary professionals, shop the marketplace with over 40 juried exhibitors from around the region, listen to local musicians, and peruse the farmers' market and food concession areas for the best fare around. 
Children’s activities include pony, paddle boat, train, live entertainment, wagon rides and much more.
The event is held rain or shine. No pets are allowed. Last bus to the cranberry bog departs at 3:30 p.m.
For more information or for vendor applications please visit our website at www.cranberryharvest.org.

Cape Cod Moms has compiled a listing, from reader submissions, of all Halloween events taking place on Cape Cod and the surrounding areas.  We have organized it alphabetically by town.  If you know of an event that is not listed, let us know by commenting on this blog or by adding it to our community calendar so that we can get it added here!  It takes a village and there is a lot of information out there-we often miss things!

Happy Halloween!



​
Brewster Events
 
Halloween Parade
Oct 30, 10-11am
Brewster Ladies’ Library
Come celebrate Halloween in style with the Brewster Ladies' Library. Parents and kids are asked to arrive promptly at the library at 10am, in costume. We'll march to the Brewster General Store for snacks and songs with Cathy Hatch. And then we'll keep marching to the Brewster Kinlin Grover Real Estate Office (all along 6A). Happy Halloween! No registration required.
 
 
Brewster Trunk or Treat
Cape Cod Bible Alliance Church and Brewster Baptist Church, Main St, Brewster, MA
Oct 31 1-3pm
Join us for Trunk or Treat at two locations on Main St. in Brewster. Cape Cod Bible Alliance Church and Brewster Baptist Church welcome you and your friends & family to stop by on Saturday, October 31st from 1-3 pm.
 
 
Green Halloween
Oct 31 11-3pm
Green Halloween 2015 - No Tricks. All Treats. Last Admission 2:30pm Please note: no other coupons or discounts apply today! All children pay $5 each for their activities punch card. 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
 

Buzzards Bay Events

​Spooky Splash
Wed Oct 28 3-7pm
508-743-9888 www.nmlc.org
Come in costume-learn about spooky creatures, enjoy arts and crafts, stories and refreshments. All proceeds will be used to care for sick animals.
Admission $5 person members of NMLC FREE
Hospital tours available

Carver Events
 
Pumpkins A Glow
October 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 & 30  6pm- 10pm (Fri-Sun only)    
Edaville Railroad, Carver                                                                                 
Back by popular demand, come see the garden of endless jack-o-lanterns. Dress in your Halloween costume and join the costume parades. You can trick or treat at your favorite ride, and go for a ride on our famous Edaville Railroad, with Thomas the Tank Engine. Edaville is a safe and fun environment to celebrate Halloween with the whole family. Includes admission into the park from 10:00 AM-10:00 PM Pumpkins Aglow begins at 6:00PM.
 
Chatham Events
 
Official Oktoberfest Beer Garden tent.
Fun activities for all ages.  Oktoberfest food will be available from the vendors next to the park, music in the bandstand, Pumpkin People viewing, bobbing for apples, doughnuts on a string, face painting, pumpkin bowling, games for kids of all ages.
Saturday, October 24, 2015 
12:00PM - 4:00PM
WHERE 
Kate Gould Park, Main Street Chatham
DESCRIPTION 
Oktoberfest 
Kate Gould Park 
Main Street, Chatham 
Saturday, October 24 
12 noon – 4 pm 

Fun activities for all ages. Oktoberfest food will be available from the vendors next to the park, music in the bandstand, Pumpkin People viewing, bobbing for apples, doughnuts on a string, face painting, pumpkin bowling, games for kids of all ages.

 
 
Falmouth Events

 A Visit with the Night Watchman
October 30, 2015
at 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Falmouth Museums on the Green
What better way to get into the spirit of Halloween than mingling with the spirits of Falmouth’s past? Falmouth Museums on the Green invites the community to the 7th Annual “A Visit with the Night Watchman” on Friday, Oct. 30 from 6 to 9 PM. 

Ghosts and memories will come alive at this mildly spooky, family-friendly event. The evening is geared for adults and children over six years of age accompanied by an adult. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for children and $25 for a family of four. 

The event weaves together local history, folklore, and fun, and will feature a ghoulish gaggle of characters portrayed by talented and enthusiastic members of Falmouth Theatre Guild. The omniscient Night Watchman will lead a spine-tingling tour, throughout which visitors will find themselves looking around every corner for the unexpected!

Proceeds will benefit Falmouth Museums on the Green's educational programming. Sponsored by Chapman, Cole & Gleason.
https://www.facebook.com/events/580411825431443/
 
 
Harwich Events
 
Spooky Treat Workshop for kids
Oct 24, 2015 10:30-11:30am
Brooks Free Library, Harwich, MA
Make spooky treats like pretzel bones or Booo-nana ghosts. All ages of children are welcome. If you have a food allergy, please contact Ann at acarpenter@clamsnet.org
 
Safe Halloween Party
Friday Oct 30 4:30-6:30pm Harwich Community Ctr
A safe Halloween celebration.  Fun for all!  Trick or treat, food, crafts, games, prizes
 

Hyannis Events

Cape Cod Mall Trick or Treat
Oct 31 1-3pm
Kids of all ages are invited to participate in frightening fun, as a Boo Bash takes over Cape Cod Mall on October 31st, 1-3 pm. 
The Haunting fun will include: Halloween arts & crafts, Ghost Stories in the Haunted Store @ 1:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m., Mystery Box Guessing Game!
Come dressed in your Halloween costume and receive a treat! 
 
 
Mashpee Events

Polar Cave Halloween Treats
Come by Polar Cave Friday October 30 or Saturday October 31, 2015 to enjoy a treat for kids in costume!


Mashpee Commons Events
October 24th:

• Free Kids’ Cooking Class at Williams-Sonoma: Mashpee from 10am-12pm
• Halloween Parade for Kids & Dogs presented by Mashpee Commons & Hot Diggity from 1-4pm (Parade at 2pm with trick or treating after; includes costumes, doggy costume contest, music, refreshments, giveaways, local performers, and trick-or-treating;https://www.facebook.com/events/1635544883364682/)
• No Studio Fees for any/everyone in costume at Color Me Mine: Mashpee all day

October 31st:

• Trick or Treat for Books (all ages, all day) at Mashpee Public Library

 
 
Orleans Events
 
Orleans Elementary Halloween Stroll
Oct 31 2:30-4:30pm
Main St Orleans
Come one come all to the annual Halloween sidewalk stroll on Main Street in Orleans and East Orleans.  Put on your costume and join us on the green located next to Snow Library at 2:30 pm on Saturday, October 31st, 2015.  The stroll continues from 3:30-4:30 pm in East Orleans where there will be hayrides, treats, games, and more fun for all our ghosts and goblins.
This event is rain or shine and as always, please thank all of the businesses who provide the treats!
 
 
Osterville Events

Osterville Halloween Parade
Oct 30, 2015 4:00pm
Main Street 
Come join the parade or watch!

Wareham Events


Wellfleet Events


HALLOWEEN BOO BASHOctober 24, 2015 10-4pmHalloween Event at Wareham Crossin

WHAT: Halloween Boo Bash at Wareham Crossing
Bring your family to our Halloween Boo Bash! Enjoy children's musicians, Josh & the Jamtones, horse-drawn hayrides, trick or treat, pumpkin decorating, a photo booth & more!

10am - 11am: Trick or Treat starting at the Beach Pad
10am - 12pm: Horse-drawn Hayrides (at Casa Cancun), Face Painting (At the Beach Pad)
11am - 12pm: Josh and the JamTones & Pumpkin Decorating at the Beach Pad
 


Wellfleet Trunk or Treat
Wellfleet Drivein Oct 31 4-7pm
http://trunkortreatfestival.com/
Our Trunk or Treat Festival is open to families who reside in the towns of: TRURO, WELLFLEET, EASTHAM and ORLEANS.
Trunk or Treat is a fun and safe way for children of all ages to trick or treat on Halloween night.  We host our Trunk or Treat at the Wellfleet Drive-In and Cinemas in Wellfleet. We line up vehicles in the wooded parking area where families can bring kids to trick or treat from trunk to trunk. All trunks are decorated and are excited to see all of the local families having a great time on Halloween night.
We welcome trunks from all 4 towns.  Anyone interested in registering a trunk can visit out Registration page for more information.

Various Locations Cape Wide and Surrounding Areas: Plymouth, Wareham, Carver

Michael's Stores: Monster Bash
All Michael's Kids Club Locations
Oct 31, 2015, $2
9-3pm
Decorate a trick or treat bag, FREE Face Painting, Hourly Costume Parades

Halloween Health & Safety Tips
By Heather Grocott

Autumn holidays like Halloween are fun times for children of all ages, who can dress up in costumes, enjoy parties, enjoy fall fruits and vegetables, and eat yummy treats. These celebrations also provide a chance to give out healthy snacks, engage in physical activity and focus on safety.

Check out these tips to help make the festivities fun and safe for trick-or-treaters and your party guests:

·         Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.

·         Avoid trick-or-treating alone with your child. Walk in groups with friends.

·         Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you and your child.

·         Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating

·         Encourage your children to always WALK during trick or treating

·         Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.

·         Dress your children in well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.

·         Do not allow your child to enter homes

·         Carry a cell phone with you

Treat safety tips:

·         Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before your child eats them. Limit the amount of treats your child eats.

·         Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.

·         A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.

·         Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils.

·         Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.

Expecting trick-or-treaters or party guests?  Follow these tips to help make the festivities fun and safe for everyone:

·         Provide healthier treats for trick-or-treaters such as low-calorie treats and drinks. For party guests, offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, and cheeses.

·         Use party games and trick-or-treat time as an opportunity for kids to get their daily dose of 60 minutes of physical activity.

·         Be sure walking areas and stairs are well-lit and free of obstacles that could result in falls.

·         Keep candle-lit jack o'lanterns and luminaries away from doorsteps, walkways, landings, and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables, keep them out of the reach of pets and small children, and never leave them unattended.

·         Remind drivers to watch out for trick-or-treaters and to drive safely.

With Halloween just a couple of weeks away, unless you are staying home and keeping your lights off, there is a very good chance that your child will see something that would be classified as scary. 

This is a perfect time to assess your own, and whoever is raising your child with you, view on “scary.”  In my psychotherapy practice I have come to understand that some people actually like things that are scary.  Since I don’t fall in this camp AT ALL, it has led to me being very curious about what is happening at the intersection of fun and fear.  But since most probably aren’t interested in the physiology of it all, let’s just hit on a few highlights.

Scary things that lots of people like and lots of people don’t like:


·         Horror movies

·         Horror costumes

·         Haunted house tours

·         Ghost Hunters – TV

·         Documentaries about violent crimes

·         Being startled during a peaceful shower

·         Horror pranks (anyone seen the one with the alien in the elevator??)

·         Ouija Boards

·         Many video games

·         The news

Hmmm…what have I left out?

Some people get an adrenaline rush and it feels really strong and really good.  Others get a rush that feels really bad.  It is no different for children, EXCEPT this.
 
Some children fall into the category of the feeling being really bad, but….the person they are with at the time sends either a direct or indirect message that either, (1) they are acting like a baby, (2) tries to convince them that it’s just a joke and it is really funny, (3) gets mad at them…..

I’m not necessarily referring to a young child seeing something “horror.”  I’m referring to the “regular scary,” a child who sees another child with a mask on, even if the mask is not a “horror” character.  Next, the child gets a lecture that goes something like, “This is Halloween.  If you want candy you just have to deal with it.  It’s not that bad.  We can’t go (i.e. no fun for you) if you are going to act this way.”

Many readers might be saying, “Not me.  I’m not that kind of parent.”  That’s great.  I hope everyone will take the opportunity to think about how they are going to handle this Halloween with their child, whether they love scary or scary scares them.

For those loving scary, I’ve seen some parents get a real kick out of their child who gets a real charge out of scary.  Of course, parents love to give their child things they know the child likes, and for some fathers and mothers, having a child who isn’t scared by scary is a real sense of pride.  “My kid’s not scared.”  “Tough as nails that boy (or little princess) of mine.  Just like me.”   Just think it through, what liking scary looks like through the years and stages of development, particularly in our increasingly scary world.

On a more “common” level…how are you going to handle scary parts of a Disney movie.  Here’s my best example.  Around the time that Finding Nemo came out, I was teaching Kindergarteners and First Graders Sunday school.  In a spare moment, I asked if any of the children had seen Finding Nemo.  Of course, they all said yes.  I asked, were there any parts that you thought were scary?  There was a brief silence while the children waited for someone to reply and then they all chimed in with their proud, “No. I wasn’t scared at all.”  I said to myself, “A Sunday school class full of liars.” 

The makers of all things scary, especially Disney, are packaging it so well, with amazing animation that even very conservative adults when it comes to exposing children to scary will overlook the fact that that scene nearly made them jump out of their pants!

The most common response of parents, “(S)He wasn’t scared.  He didn’t act scared.  He didn’t say he was scared.  He seemed fine.”  This is from parents who bring their children in to counseling with me with anxiety and fears that can’t be explained.

Let me tell you why.  The most common response for a child watching something scary is to sit (or stand) motionless, staring at whatever it is.  Sure, some children run away, cover their eyes, cry, or let you know in some other way that they are uncomfortable.  But MANY children look as if in a daze and just take it all in.  They were almost as if in a daze, so really there is nothing to talk about after.  The image has just been etched in to a neat and tidy place in the brain.

It is a good idea to teach your child, if you are scared, turn your head or cover your eyes and tell someone.  A sensible adult will fast forward the scene to turn it off altogether.  If your child is at a friend’s house and the older sibling wants to “show them something on YouTube, your child should be instructed to say, “I’m not allowed to watch anything on YouTube that my mom or dad hasn’t already seen and said I can watch.”  The same goes for movies or TV shows.

The numbers of children 10 and under who have seen all or parts of “Walking Dead,” played “Call of Duty” WITH headsets online, and the like is simply appalling.  Mix that with some of the real life war news, even uplifting stories about soldiers who have been wounded and lost limbs, or the real life horrific beheadings in the news….I’m voting for “less scary is better!”  I’ve worked with children who have blown off countless heads or limbs or entire bodies on video games, who have come into therapy because the thought of our people being involved in a real life war scares them to death.

Here is the recipe we used:

3-4 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup salt

2 tbsp vegetable oil

2 tbsp cream of tartar

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

2 tsp. cinnamon spice blend/pumpkin pie spice

1 1/2 cups boiling water

8-10 drops red food coloring

5-7 drops yellow food coloring

Directions: 

Mix flour, salt, cream of tartar, oil, pumpkin pie spice and pumpkin puree together.

Add boiling water slowly and mix with a spoon until everything is combined.

After mixture has cooled, take it out of the bowl and knead on the counter.  Add flour as you knead it to make it less-sticky.  (I added quite a bit of additional flour to make it a nice consistency.  Just use your best judgment!). 

We let our play-doh cool and settle over night and then had some fun with it the next day!  We decided to use construction paper to cut out shapes to make play-doh jack-o-lanterns.  My daughter also made a giant “pumpkin cake”, which she then served to all of the stuffed animals in the house!  

Here are some ways to incorporate speech/language skills into this fun activity. 

·         Talk about all of the terms related to following the recipe and explain what they mean, in child-friendly terms:

o   Measure, pour, scoop, measuring cup, stir, knead, ingredients etc.. 

·         Have your child help you measure out the ingredients and have them help you find the correct numbers on the measuring cup

·         Once the play-doh is made, incorporate some pretend play into the play-doh.  You can make jack-o-lanterns like we did or have your child come up with his/her own creations!  You could set up a bakery and form the play-doh into some yummy baked treats or use the play-doh to form leaves.  Whatever you decide to do, talk through it with your child.  Help your child explain his/her ideas and encourage creativity! 

·         If your child is targeting certain speech sounds, hide small objects that start with their sound in the play-doh and have them practice the sound when they find the item. 

I hope you and your child enjoy this fun fall activity!