04 Oct Candy, Costumes, & Montessori

Halloween is typically celebrated with fantasy, costumes, and lots of candy; however, it also has a rich history and fosters learning for children, making it an excellent teaching opportunity for Montessori educators and parents alike!

If you are looking for a Montessori school for your child in the Sugar Land, TX area, contact Sugar Mill Montessori today!

Fantasy Vs. Reality in Montessori Learning

In Montessori education, the absorbent mind plays a crucial role in childhood development. The absorbent mind is the concept that children’s spirit and identity are formed by things a child hears, sees, touches, and experiences. This is especially true when approaching Halloween festivities.

Halloween can be a confusing and frightening time for children. Until age six, small children have difficulty distinguishing between fact, fiction, reality, and fantasy. The absorbent mind can take a negative experience from this time of year and influence their behavior.

For example, imagine a young child who believes in monsters. This belief can make them incapable of being alone and at ease with themselves. Your child may consistently be anxious and fearful, causing a fear of the dark and keeping them awake at night, especially when they should be getting a good night’s sleep. Montessori challenges this through reality-based Halloween teaching and activities.

How is a Montessori Halloween Celebration Different?

There are countless ways that Montessori classrooms and households celebrate Halloween differently. One of the primary differences is celebrating in a reality-based way. We teach small children these differences by using terms like “real or pretend.” Our teaching helps children distinguish whether events, costumes, or stories are make-believe or real.

1. We Encourage Reality-Based Costumes

We encourage children to dress up as significant historical figures or occupation costumes. Allowing kids to participate in the Halloween festivities without the concept of fantasy benefits their absorbent minds. Some examples of what your child may dress as include, but are not limited to:

• Doctor
• Astronaut
• Abraham Lincoln
• Susan B. Anthony

Our school also encourages children to dress as literary characters from their favorite books. Every Halloween, Sugar Mill Montessori hosts a book character parade! Reach out to us today to learn more about our curriculum!

We Don’t Overindulge In Candy

While it is acceptable to have a sugar mill plum, eating excessive sugar doesn’t sound fun or healthy. Here at Sugar Mill Montessori in Sugar Land, TX, we like to focus on moderation and healthy snacks during this holiday. Before trick or treating, agree on how many candies your child can eat that night or during the day.

Donate Costumes & Candy After Halloween

Candy and costumes are fun, but they don’t trump bringing joy to others! We encourage families to donate costumes and candy and brighten the holiday for underprivileged families. Below is a list of charities and programs that help support the troops and children in need:

• Any Soldier
• Operation Shoebox
• Ronald McDonald House Charities
• Treats for Troops
• Halloween Candy Buyback
• ‘Ween Dream
• Halloween Helpers

Creating a Montessori-Inspired Halloween in the Classroom & at Home

There are endless ways we can encourage our children’s creativity without giving into fantasy and confusing the kids. Sugar Mill Montessori compiled a list of three fun activities to complete during this fall and Halloween season!

Read Some Fun Montessori-Friendly Books Together

Reading is a fantastic way to learn about the holiday in a historical and reality-based way, as well as connect children, parents, and educators alike. Finding a book that isn’t focused on scary stories, witches, or other fantasy-based monsters can be challenging. Here are some book recommendations that are not scary, including but not limited to:

• Moonlight the Halloween Cat by Cynthia Rylant
• The Pumpkin Boo by Gail Gibbons
• 10 Tricks or Treaters by Janet Schulman
• From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer

Create a Jack-O-Lantern Sensory Bin

A Jack-O-Lantern skeleton bin is an excellent not-so-scary activity to complete with the children! You’ll need a large container, 4-6 smaller containers with painted jack-o-lantern faces, spoons, food-dye colored rice, sunflower seeds, and dried corn. Set up is easy! Just put the rice, sunflower seeds, smaller containers, and parched corn in the large container. Have the spoons readily available for the children to explore and use their senses to experience.

Make Healthy Snacks During This Sugary Holiday

With all the sugary candy circulating this year, we recommend a healthy fall snack! We highly recommend this healthy and delicious peanut butter pumpkin bread recipe (can be made nut-free)! Before you make the pumpkin bread, make sure to harvest and bake the seeds for a delightful treat for the entire family to enjoy.

Take a Montessori Approach to Halloween

Halloween can be a terrifying time for children! These tips and tricks make it a fun, memorable, and joyous experience in the classroom and at home. Use our Montessori candy and costume tips to ensure your child has a wonderful time during the spooky holiday!

Are you interested in learning more about Montessori education? Contact Sugar Mill Montessori in Sugar Land, TX, today!