With children dressing up for Halloween, little ones may feel afraid., especially when they see monster masks. This is a great time to help children be less fearful and learn about optical illusions. Talk about masks and how the person behind the mask is not so scary. Let children hide and pop out to yell ‘Surprise!’ as you come near. Yell when they startle you. Laugh at the surprise.

Check out optical illusions online and try a few. Talk about how our eyes can be tricked. Read 2 Corinthians 5:7 and talk about how to walk by faith and trust God over our eyes and thoughts. So, shadows that are not really monsters should not scare us as we pray and trust in God.

But, with those shadows, have a little fun. Shine a flashlight or solar light and show how light dispels darkness. Jesus dispels the darkness of fear. Shine the light behind a hand so the shadow shows on a wall. Make a fist with pointer and middle fingers up to form a bunny. Move your hand up and down to make it hop. Let children try it. This is a simple shadow puppet.

Jack-o-lanterns can also seem scary, so go to a pumpkin patch and find a cute little pumpkin. Cut off the top and scoop out the seeds and stringy filling. Then carve a heart or cross and add a light inside it (a small battery operated one is safer). Let them see that’s fun and not something to fear. Talk about how some people carve scary or angry faces but they are sill just pumpkins.

Talk about dressing up in costumes can be fun f we choose a princess or frog or other happy costume. Many children have lots of dress ip clothes they like to use in play.

Discuss praying for people in costumes. When they see someone who makes them smile they can thank God fo blessings and all he made that makes us happy. When they see someone that scares then, they can pray that people will be kind, not angry or scary in their hearts. They can thank God for snakes and scary bugs that help us even if they also scare us.

Read about s’s words after bad things happened. He was kidnapped and thrown in jail, but he kept trusting God. He became a great leader who helped his family and many people. He said to his brothers who caused the big problem, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” Genesis 50:20. God can use everything for our good.

Enjoy autumn and all the fun of the harvest season!

Blessings,
Karen