If there are candy apples in your kitchen, and small orange faces seem to be staring back at you everywhere you go, it’s getting close to Halloween. Children, more than anyone, look forward to this time of year. The fancy of dressing up in costumes that represent their favorite story characters and superheroes is overwhelming. The mere idea that they can walk from door to door and accept an abundance of candy is the highlight of their evening. However, while so many children celebrate Halloween, there are those that are not, often for religious reasons, allowed to celebrate the tradition.
As an educator and mother, I understand the importance of including all children, since acceptance and understanding are the building blocks of confidence for growing minds. Having a sense of belonging helps strengthen character and allows a boost to the child’s self-esteem. If we keep this in mind, it makes sense to suggest an opportunity for all children, regardless of their views on Halloween, the chance to celebrate their friendships, and the season together.
Taking advantage of nature is a great way to start because it allows children to enjoy spending time outdoors, while playing games and getting treats as a part of the fun. Picking apples and turning them into caramel apples, or raking piles of leaves to jump in are ways of showing a younger generation that you can still come together and enjoy the simplest of things.
Instead of having a classroom Halloween party, plan a class field trip to an apple farm where students can experience making apple cider. If you are accustomed to hosting Halloween parties for your child, make sure you are including all children by planning, instead, a seasonal party that takes everyone to a pumpkin patch and hayride. If you are feeling that this proves to be tougher to accomplish with teenagers, arrange an autumn themed school dance, or because Halloween leads us into Thanksgiving, take students to a shelter or food drive to show them that making a difference feels good.
One might argue that making adjustments from what you have taught your children about traditions, beliefs, and values is too much of a compromise. We cannot always assume that every child will openly share his or her religion, or the customs that are different from their own. Focusing on inclusion does not mean taking away the things encompassed in the tradition; rather it is a chance to broaden the experience of the season.
Often times, we are very guarded with how we celebrate, how we live our lives, and whether or not, things should be questioned. But, if we use celebrations like Halloween as an opportunity step outside our norm, it is a first step towards bridging a gap that is too often forgotten.