22 Oct Celebrating a Montessori-Inspired Halloween

The spookiest time of year is almost here! As families prepare their costumes and stock up on candy to hand out to trick-or-treaters, now is the perfect time to plan a Montessori-inspired Halloween.

After all, the way we celebrate Halloween at Sugar Mill Montessori is different from conventional preschools ‒ and we wanted to take this time to share Montessori tips, Halloween activities, and safety reminders for all of our families throughout the Greater Houston area.

If you’re ready to celebrate a Montessori Halloween, read on to discover more! Are you interested in scheduling a tour of our school in Sugar Land, TX? Contact us today.

Montessori Tips for Halloween

Children of all ages love and look forward to Halloween each year. Despite the candy, costumes, and all the spooky fun, it can, however, be a confusing ‒ and often frightening ‒ time of year for young children in kindergarten and preschool.

How can parents navigate the Halloween season and guide their children to have fun AND feel at ease? Here are some suggestions!

Keep Halloween Based in Reality

In Montessori schools, we discourage introducing young children to fantasy all year round ‒ especially at Halloween.

Children 6 years old or younger can’t decipher between what’s real and what’s fake. To a young child, everything they experience and encounter is real. So, the ghoulish decorations outside people’s homes, ghost stories, or the person dressed up as a scary character, will seem real to a child under the age of 6.

Rather than partake in the illusory side of Halloween, we encourage parents to educate their children on the real meaning of the season. Parents should be proactive this time of year, continually pointing out to their children what is real from what is fake.

Dress Up As Literary Characters ‒ Not Fictional Creatures

Dressing up in costumes is an integral part of Halloween. So, how can parents navigate around this while keeping their children based in reality this time of year?

Rather than dress up as fictional creatures like ghosts, witches, fairies, or monsters, we encourage children to dress up as characters from their favorite books. Every Halloween, Sugar Mill Montessori hosts a book character parade, where all of our beloved literary characters come to life.

Parents can also celebrate Historical Halloween by having their children learn about historical figures and dress up as them. Whether your child dresses up as a book character or a historical person, this is a surefire way to celebrate a very fun Montessori-inspired Halloween. If you would like to learn more about Sugar Mill Montessori’s book character parade, get in touch with us!

Have an Open Dialogue with Your Child

There’s no denying it: Children are going to see some scary elements this time of year. As parents guide their children on reality vs. fantasy at Halloween, they can also talk to their children about fear.

Here are some potential scenarios you may experience this Montessori-inspired Halloween:

• You and your child encounter a “haunted house” on your street. After explaining to your child that houses are actually not haunted, talk to them about what they like about their own house and what makes them feel safe at home.

• Your child tells you they are afraid of zombies or ghosts. You explain to them that zombies and ghosts are not real. Ask your child what they can do when they’re feeling afraid, or why they think people are so afraid of fictional creatures.

• Ask your child what kinds of things scare them – and also share with them what scares you. Then, ask them what they can do when they’re feeling afraid and how they can help someone else who is afraid.

Asking our children open-ended questions is an effective way to foster critical thinking and channel their Absorbent Minds. We encourage parents to do this year-round, especially during holidays like Halloween and Christmas, when children struggle to decipher reality vs. fantasy.

Practice Grace & Courtesy

For a Montessori-inspired Halloween, forget about the tricks… because it’s all about being graceful, compassionate, and courteous!

We practice courtesy and manners year-round in the Montessori classroom, as many of our families do in the home setting, as well. However, kids may want to partake in the pranks and misbehavior that the Halloween season so often embraces.

By practicing grace and courtesy this time of year, parents can guide their children to make healthy choices.

Trick-or-treating is an excellent opportunity to practice courtesy and respect for people’s property. Saying “please” and “thank you” to homeowners passing out candy is just the start.

Your family may encounter homes with their lights turned off, but instead of demanding candy, let your children know that some people don’t celebrate Halloween and that we should be respectful of that.

Parents can also guide their children to respect boundaries. Children shouldn’t go trampling across someone’s yard or touch things that don’t belong to them. If a younger sibling or another child becomes upset during trick-or-treating, encourage your child to help them.

Montessori Activities for Halloween

Now that we understand the Montessori approach to Halloween, what are some fun Montessori-inspired Halloween activities the entire family can enjoy?

Here are some ideas you and your child can do together!

• Draw the human skeleton & outline the different parts.
• Carve/decorate pumpkins & cook the seeds for a healthy, tasty snack.
• Count the legs on a toy spider or count candy pieces in a jar.
• Use chopsticks or tweezers to pick up & move candy corn pieces.
• Make Halloween-themed necklaces or bracelets.

With these fun Halloween activities, you can encourage your child to practice their fine motor and critical thinking skills, all while having a fun and festive time!

Let’s Celebrate a Montessori-Inspired Halloween

Halloween is right around the corner! If you and your family will be celebrating a Montessori-inspired Halloween, we’d love to hear all about it!

Contact Sugar Mill Montessori today. We look forward to hearing from you ‒ and we wish you and your family a safe and healthy Halloween!