Halloween causes many Christians to cringe and wonder what to do. It’s also a time young children feel scared.

Choose to counter the spooky by engaging children in discovering truth, trusting God when afraid, and finding the good things to celebrate fall. From leaves that turn colors and piles of them to jump in to corn mazes and harvests to celebrate there’s a lot to do that’s wholesome fun.

Try these ideas:

• Read Ephesians 6:12 and chat about the reality of the devil and evil.
• Read John 16:33 and Isaiah 41:10. Discuss that Jesus is stronger than anything that might scare them.
• Enjoy local produce like apples. Cut one in half crosswise and look at how the seeds form a star. Discuss how we have more than a star quality in us for we are made in God’s image.
• Discuss the time of year as being a celebration of the harvest. Many churches have harvest festivals so you might be able to participate in one.
• Children like to dress up, so if you want to don costumes consider ones to glorify God (flowers and other creation, saints and symbols of virtues, careers, etc.)
• Play with shadows at night. Shine flashlights to create shadows and discuss what really made them. The unseen can haunt the mind, but light dispels the darkness.
• Enjoy some optical illusions and chat about how our eyes can trick our minds. That’s why we need to walk by faith.
• Use a feely box for children to touch and then see: a wiggly worm is spaghetti, or what seems to be prickly and scary is a pinecone. Uncovering truth lessen fear.
• Children may have friends who tell spooky tales or talk about ghosts. Counter that with reading Mark 24:37 when the disciples thought they saw a ghost. 
• For older children, Read 1 Samuel 28 and discover the trouble Saul had when he consulted a medium. 
• To counter astrology read Daniel 1:20 and Daniel 2. God gives his followers wisdom, even to understand dreams that magic cannot do. Power is not in the stars, but in God who created the stars. Also read and discuss Acts16:16-34.

It’s hard to ignore the pumpkins, masks, and costumes. Many Christians shy away from a day that brings in the occult. Explain some of the history behind the day and attempt to overcome evil. It’s been a problem from its origins.

• Long ago, the Catholic church tried to overcome the pagan traditions by setting up a special day. However, people merged pagan and Christian practices rather than replacing the occult ones. It had been a day non-Christians people believed the dead could roam the earth.
  
• Lutherans worked at observing Reformation Day on October 31^st and choosing truth. This did not replace all the pagan practices either.

• Trick or treating didn’t become popular until the 1930s or 40s. Long ago, druid celebrations used costumes to hide from evil spirits. Over time more and more dark and evil costumes became part of the celebrating.

Consider what you can do to bring light to the world and overcome the darkness. That’s why many churches have harvest festivals or light parties as an alternative.

• Use fruits and vegetables locally grown to celebrate God’s creation and food he supplies to nourish us. Enjoy making centerpieces with them.
• Decorate with lights (stay safe with battery and electric ones). 
• If you don’t dress up or celebrate, be kind and respectful to friends who want to observe Halloween and only see the fun in it. Let them know you avoid the occult but like celebrating other things.
• Pray for safety for those partying and that they will find God’s light.

Be sure to sign up to receive updates of each new post on our Christian Children’s Authors blog. Follow us for new book news, free resources, parenting tips, and encouragement!

#Halloween #FamilyPrayer #fallactivities #christianchildrensauthors #christianbooksforkids