Six Ways to Prepare Your Timid Preschooler
October Events
by Dr. Gayle Peterson
Wednesdays
QUESTION: I have always enjoyed holidays and Halloween is one of my favorites.
I decorate the house and yard, get dressed in costume and have “scary” treats for
trick-or-treaters. All the neighborhood kids love my house. My problem is that my
four-year-old son is petrified of anything Halloween. Does this mean I can’t continue
with my traditions or can I do something to help him get over this?
ANSWER: Your son can definitely learn to overcome his fears with preparation and
proper pacing. If this is one of your family rituals, he will no doubt come to love it
as much as you do if his needs for reassurance are met.
Consider the following points in preparing your four-year-old for Halloween:
Storytime on the Ridge
Storytimes for young children on Wednesdays at 10am in the Resource Center at the
North San Juan FRC on the Ridge. Phone:
292-3174
Toddler Gym Time in Truckee
Wednesdays from 9 to noon at the Sierra
Mountain Community Education Center
(the old middle school). Free open gym play,
including riding and climbing toys. Phone:
582-2583
Thursdays
1. Engage him in playful exercises. These will help desensitize him to what he
will be seeing on Halloween: Start with face painting. Paint his face with a
mask and/or other decorations. Paint yours as well. The painting process slows
things down. He can get used to looking at himself in a mirror and at you
with a painted face. Practice making “scary” faces at each other. And happy
faces, too! Perhaps you both could try on some wax vampire teeth. Also, consider wearing costumes around the house during the week before the big day.
Play Group on the Ridge
Playgroup for young children on Thursdays
at 10:30 a.m. at the Lodge on the Oak Tree
School Campus (next door to the Resource
Center). Explore creativity through music
and movement. Phone: 292-3174
2. Anticipate his fears. Clearly explain or demonstrate the pretend nature of
scary objects that you believe may frighten him. For example, if you construct
a realistic looking witch, goblin or monster for this event, tell him you are
doing so. Let him feel the texture of the rubber and remind him that these are
just dolls. Even play peek-a-boo with a scary, realistic mask until squeals of
pleasure replace a tense or worried expression. Pace your playfulness, however, do not force it! Be sure he is in on a similar wavelength. Leave the mask
off longer if he looks tense before putting it on only briefly again. Then give
him the mask and let him try to scare you, too!
Toddler Gym Time in Truckee
Fridays from 9 to 11 at the Sierra Mountain
Community Education Center (the old middle school). Free open gym play, including
riding and climbing toys. Phone: 582-2583
3. Visit stores that display Halloween costumes and decorations. Browsing will
help desensitize him to what may appear at his door on Halloween. In fact,
he may be relieved to know where these “monsters” really come from! Also,
discuss with your child what his friends are going to be for Halloween.
4. Create a quiet place for your son to escape festivities. This allows him to
withdraw from too much stimulation, if necessary. Anticipate that he will
need some downtime while the event is going on. (Naturally, he should have a
parent with him for company and comfort.) Likewise, if he does any trick-ortreating, be sure he is not overwhelmed by parades of goblins that never stop.
Make his trip a “short and sweet” success.
5. Involve him in giving out treats. Also, ask him what kind of costume he would
like to wear to help you with this year’s Halloween ritual. By having a job he
Fridays
Saturdays & Sundays
Bierwagen’s Donner Trail Fruit 17th
Annual Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Offering pumpkins, apples,
fresh-pressed apple juice, farm animals and
animal demonstrations, a corn maze, play
area, craft fair and more. 17437 Lower
Colfax Road, Chicago Park; visit
www.bierwagens.com or call 477-5992.
October 11, 2008
Loma Rica Ranch Organic Farm Harvest
Festival and Pumpkin Patch
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Offering local and organic
food, micro-brews and local wine, live music
with local bands, a hay fort, corn maze,
haunted house, wagon rides, games and
crafts. Proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big
Sisters. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors
Little Steps, published by First 5 Nevada County. www.first5nevco.org
can master, it is likely that confidence will replace fear.
6. Always include safety awareness in your Halloween preparation. Let your son
know that he must check with you before eating anything given to him. And
don’t forget to bring along a flashlight to help light your way.
Have a safe and happy Halloween!
Gayle Peterson, MSSW, LCSW, PhD is a family therapist specializing in prenatal and
family development. Visit her website at www.makinghealthyfamilies.com
Annual Halloween Book Giveaway
The Annual “Read to Your Child Halloween Book Giveaway” is just around the
corner. This event will take place on Friday, October 31 st from 10:00 am to 1:00
pm at the Center for the Arts, 314 W. Main St. in Grass Valley. This event is part of
the Grass Valley Downtown Safe Trick or Treat Celebration for preschoolers, which
happens on Halloween every year. Merchants will be dressed in costume and handing
out treats to the children. At the Center for the Arts, children will be able to choose a
free book to take home. Grass Valley School Readiness will be providing bookplates
to each child personalizing the book they have chosen. Information and treats will
also be provided by Sierra Nevada Children’s Services, the Nevada County Library,
Kare Crisis Nursery and other family service organizations. This is a wonderful event
for preschoolers and their families. Last year nearly 1,000 free books were given out.
Put this on your calendar and please join us on Halloween!
For more information about Grass Valley School Readiness please contact Amanda
Scheerer at [email protected]
Harvest Time
by Tulum Dothee
The harvest is soon upon us and this is the time of the year when your children will
be “harvesting” all the great growing, experiences and learning they did over the
spring and summer. Expect tantrums, melt downs, back talk, power struggles and
general weepiness, both from yourselves and the little ones...
For the complete article please go to http://www.first5nevco.org/littlesteps/2008october.html
Tulum Dothee is a credentialed and certified educator and counselor, with 30+ years
experience teaching and working with families. For more information visit her website at www.asktulum.com.
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and children 11-17; children under 10 are
free. 10980 Brunswick Road, Grass Valley;
visit lomaricaranch.com or call 274-9059.
October 19
North Columbia Autumn Shindig
11 a.m. to dusk. An old-time harvest fair at
the historic, one-room schoolhouse, with
bluegrass music, cow milking contests,
crafts, local farmers market, homemade
tamales, carnival booths and free admission. North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural
Center, 17894 Tyler Foote Crossing Road,
north of Nevada City.
Phone: 265-2826 or 530-265-8141.
October 29
Annual Community Health Fair
Presented by Sierra Presbyterian Church;
Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital; Nevada
County Department of Health & Human
Services; and the American Red Cross. Get
your yearly flu shot for $10. Free screenings. Over 30 Health Vendors. Healthy
cooking & exercise demonstrations. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sierra Presbyterian
Church, 175 Ridge Road, Nevada City.
Phone: 265-3291
October 31
Safe Trick or Treat
A downtown Spooktacular! Bring your
ghouls and gobins (ages 5 & under) to Mill
and Main Streets in downtown Grass Valley
from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Merchants throughout the downtown dress in costume and
hand out candy to the children, while providing a safe environment. FREE. For more
info email [email protected]
Annual “Read to Your Child Halloween
Book Giveaway”
This event will take place from 10:00 am to
1:00 pm at the Center for the Arts, 314 W.
Main St. in Grass Valley. This event is part
of the Grass Valley Downtown Safe Trick
or Treat Celebration for preschoolers. FREE.
Phone: 273-4059
Visit www.first5nevco.org
Enter your e-mail address in the box on the
home page and you will be e-mailed an edition
of Little Steps at the beginning of each month.