AAP: Halloween Dress-Up Stirs the Imagination and is a Healthy Part of Child Development

Children posing as rock stars, fairies or superheroes on Halloween enjoy the holiday for many reasons, but the benefits go far beyond collecting candy and entertaining the neighbors.

Dressing up for Halloween is a great way for children to pretend play - something that's essential for the healthy development of children of all ages. Halloween is also a highly social holiday where children get to spend time with friends, often outside while trick-or-treating.

“As adults, it's easy for us to dismiss imaginative play as simply amusement, but children learn through their play,” said pediatrician Irène Mathieu, MD, MPH, FAAP. “It's how they make sense of the world around them and figure out how to negotiate relationships and their role in the world.”

Halloween also can be scary, which provides a safe for kids to experience the thrill of fear while knowing they are safe and protected in reality, she said.

“Pushing the boundaries of their comfort zones is another important aspect of learning in childhood, and Halloween is a great way for children to do this,” Dr. Mathieu said. “Even ringing a neighbor's doorbell and saying "trick-or-treat" can be boundary pushing for shy or younger children, and it's a great way for them to practice simple social interactions in a low-stakes and fun way.”

Before trick-or-treating, here are a few tips to help ensure your child enjoys the experience.

• Talk to your child about their expectations and hopes for Halloween. Some children may want to experience spooky stuff, like a haunted house tour, and some may not feel comfortable with that. Trust what your child tells you.
• Check in with your child throughout the holiday to see how they are feeling.
• Set limits around candy before your child goes trick-or-treating. For example, you might consider creating rules ahead of time, like taking only one piece of candy at each stop, eating their candy only for a few days after Halloween is over or a limit to the number of pieces of candy they'll keep.
• Take advantage of the candy aspect of Halloween as an opportunity to talk with your child about cultivating a balanced diet, enjoying special treats in moderation. This is a good time to discuss the importance of staying active, as well as flossing and brushing teeth.
• Consider talking with your child after the holiday about which aspects of Halloween are most fun for them, (besides the candy!).  Is it dressing up? Experiencing spooky thrills? Spending time with friends? Getting to know neighbors better? Being outdoors in the fall weather?

“Make a plan to do more of whatever they loved about Halloween together over the next few months,” Dr. Mathieu said. “Why wait until next year to enjoy the fun?”

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.