Parenting / Jan Faull
Why children love Halloween costumes

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When it comes to holidays, Halloween really suits children.

While the littlest kids need protection from scary witches, goblins and ghosts, as children move into the preschool years their minds and emotions are ready to take on the imaginative fun of Halloween. Children are naturally drawn to dressing-up and donning costumes.

Wearing a variety of outfits particularly suits the imaginative life of preschool-age children. Most preschools provide a corner of the room with a box filled with attire for children to put on and take off as the play situation dictates.

If an adult wanted to learn what a firefighter does, he or she would read about the responsibilities and challenges of the job or interview a firefighter. A young child must play about it. A child-size firefighter's hat, hose and jacket can help the child step into and take on the firefighter's persona and therefore learn about the profession.

So now comes Halloween. The child gets to choose just which character, animal or imaginative person he wants to turn into on this much anticipated occasion.

If a girl insists on a princess costume, should parents fear that their daughter will grow up expecting to live the life of a princess? If a boy decides to be Superman, does that mean he'll think he will always have extraordinary strength?

Wearing the costume will have little to do with it. It's just a way of being that character for the time the costume is on the child's body.

If parents always treat their child as a princess or Superman, the child may turn into that character, causing problems. One day wearing such a costume doesn't indicate children's future personality or occupation.

A child's choice of costume does reflect the culture in which he lives.
 
According to an article in The Seattle Times (Sept. 12), "pimp and ho" costumes are selling briskly in some areas of the country — but thankfully not here.

The parents whose child asks for one of those costumes had better look carefully at the child's life to see where that interest is coming from. Whether from TV, DVDs or video games, the parents need to ask if they really want their child taking on one of these personas and playing about these occupations. It would be time for parents to look at what the child is being exposed to in the media or in their real life and make some changes.

A last caution regarding costumes. If a preschooler witnesses a parent putting on a clown or witch costume, once the costume is in place, the child no longer sees a parent in a costume but a real-life clown or witch. For preschoolers, there's a fine line between fantasy and reality, so be cautious. Only offer as much Halloween costume exposure as each individual child can manage.

A large person in a scary or unusual costume sends many youngsters over the imaginative edge.

Once Halloween is over, keep the costumes out. Not only do children learn as they play about the characters they're pretending to be but, ultimately, as they put costumes on and off — whether a shark, ballerina or Dracula — they realize that people stay the same on the inside no matter what clothes they're wearing on the outside.

Jan Faull, a specialist in child development and behavior, answers questions of general interest in her column. You can e-mail her at janfaull@aol.com or write to: Jan Faull, c/o Families, The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111.