Halloween Preschool Activities

A Halloween preschool activities page with a difference ...read on.

As adults we often forget how terrifying to children some scary things can be.

Consider the following, before planning any Halloween preschool activities:

I know a 2 year old who kept waking from nightmares until a mutual friend suggested to his mom that she stop allowing him to watch what was his favourite cartoon movie at the time, Ants.
After that he started sleeping much better.

My own son, at age 6, would not watch our video of The Lion King because he didn't like the hyenas. He said that they were too scary. He also asked me to stop our read-aloud of The Wizard of Oz as the wicked witch frightened him.

Finally, I got this email from a mom on my preschool egroup:

"We went into [a supermarket chainstore]...There were two tall ghoulish statues that move and are terrifying to young children.

When Miriam saw them, she screamed out, "No!", and had a look of terror on her face. It broke my heart and then made me extremely angry that my family could not go to the local grocery store without being terrorized!

Since that time, Miriam has not been able to sleep in her own bed. She is deathly afraid. She's even been talking about scary things during the day."

I wonder how many little ones there are out there, who are being exposed to things that are too frightening for them...and some of them are not yet able to express their fears, like my son was able to do.

I am so glad that here in South Africa, Halloween is not generally celebrated. If it was, we would not participate.

Because it is a holiday that is not entirely familiar to me, I recently started researching its history and origins online. If you do an online search, like me, you will find that Halloween is rooted in pagan practices.

As a Bible believer, there is no way that I will promote this tradition by having Halloween preschool activities on my website. Instead, I intend to challenge those who think it is just a little harmless fun.

Consider the following Scriptures before you decide to plan Halloween preschool activities for your little ones:

Romans 16:19 "I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil."

1 Corinthians 10:11 "Everything is permissible" - but not everything is constructive."

Romans 12: 2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of you mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good pleasing and perfect will."

1 Thessalonians 5:21 "Test everything. Hold on to the good."

Deuteronomy 18:9-12 "Let no one be found among you who ...interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord..."

One family's Halloween 'journey' ...

"As this time of year rolls around, it brings back memories of the journey the Lord has led Steve and me on concerning Halloween. I thought it might be appropriate to tell you this story. I hope it will encourage those of you facing decisions in this area, and bless those who have already made them.

As a young mother, I wanted my children to enjoy the same positive Halloween experiences and memories that I treasured from my past..."

Click to read the rest of the article in the Halloween Issue of The Whole Child

And here is another challenging one: Halloween and Halloween Alternatives