By

Halloween

Dear Subscribers:

If you have limited time to read through the entire blog, here are a few play-based activities focusing on activities to enjoy together as you support your child’s growth in feeling and expressing gratitude as Halloween rapidly approaches. This is a perfect time of year for children to have opportunities at home and in the classroom to reflect on the importance of sharing and giving to others, as they thoroughly enjoy dressing up and eating all of their sugary loot. When children feel and express gratitude, relationships are stronger; resilience is enhanced; forgiveness is more forthcoming; physical health and sleep improve; positive feelings about school and accomplishing better grades can occur; and they are happier and more satisfied with life. 

1.  Read and Sing together 📚 

Hopefully, the following books will spark children’s curiosity and encourage them to share and be thankful for their Halloween bounty. You can locate these books at your school or public library or click on the link below and share the stories.

  • Pig the Monster by Aaron Blabey. The world’s greediest Pug returns — and he wants ALL the Halloween treats! Don’t even think about being stingy with the goodies, because this candy-fueled glutton has some terrible tricks up his sleeve. This laugh-out-loud, rhyming story about Halloween is perfect for the haunting season!  
  • Monster Trouble! by Lane Fredrickson.(4:01 mins.) Enjoy this humorous book as Halloween approaches. Nothing frightens Winifred Schnitzel—but she DOES need her sleep, and the neighborhood monsters WON’T let her be! Every night they sneak in, growling and belching and making a ruckus. Winifred constructs clever traps, but nothing stops these crafty creatures. What’s a girl to do? Read and find out!
  • Creepy Pair of Underwear! by Aaron Reynolds. (9:40 mins.) Jasper Rabbit is NOT a little bunny anymore who’s afraid of the dark, and he’s definitely not afraid of something as silly as underwear. But when the lights go out, suddenly his new big rabbit underwear glows a ghoulish, greenish glow in the dark. Jasper thinks his undies are creepy but he is not scared obviously, he’s just done with creepy underwear. But after trying everything to get rid of them, they keep coming back!
  • Enjoy singing this variety of Halloween songs

2. Create together:  Crafts & Carving 🧩 

3. Explore together 🌍

Interested in Halloween-themed trains? Although the Stanley Park Ghost Train is cancelled this year, check out the Halloween Pumpkin Express  or the Bear Creek Park Train in Surrey loaded with seasonal decor, creepy music, live actors, and lots of spooky special effects 

Want to be seriously scared? Visit Reapers – a haunted house attraction open select dates between October 1st and October 31st. It’s open on all Fridays andweekends, plus most weekdays in the second half of the month.

4. Engage and Interact: 👭

  • Take a walk around your community to appreciate the fall colours and enjoy the Halloween decorations.
  • Share this video and discuss with your child  What does it mean to be Thankful? (2:01 mins.)
  • Modelling practices such as donating and volunteering involve children and show them how to help others. After Halloween, consider involving your child in decisions of what toys or clothes they no longer use and could donate to others. Volunteering as a family is another great way to show that it’s important to make time to help others and so they see gratitude in action. See what opportunities there are to volunteer and help others that are close to home – such as elder care facilities or food banks. 

5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day about Outdoor Play and Learning 💭