Halloween is a popular holiday celebrated on October 31st, with roots in ancient Celtic festivals and Christian traditions. In an early years setting, educators can introduce young children to Halloween and its significance in a fun, age-appropriate, and non-scary manner.
Halloween Themed Word Cards for Vocabulary Building – Download
Here are some ideas for understanding and celebrating with young children in early years settings:
Pumpkin Decorating: Provide small pumpkins or paper cutouts for children to decorate with paint, stickers, or other craft materials. Discuss the tradition of carving jack-o’-lanterns and the role of pumpkins in Halloween celebrations.
Circle Time Discussion: Talk about Halloween traditions, focusing on the fun aspects of the holiday, such as dressing up, attending parties, and trick-or-treating. Encourage children to share their own Halloween experiences or family traditions.
Games and Activities: Plan games and activities, like pumpkin bowling, a spider web obstacle course, or a “pin the nose on the witch” game. Ensure the games are suitable for the age and abilities of the children.
Crafts: Organize age-appropriate craft activities, such as making paper masks, creating Halloween-themed collages, or decorating trick-or-treat bags.