Dr. Amy Stark

Child Psychologist, Author & Speaker

Specializing in:
Teaching Families How to Live Divorced
and Self-Esteem for Girls and Boys

Food For Thought

Food For Thought

Trick or Treat Tips for Kids

Halloween is so much fun. I am sure that you have been thinking about what you want to be for at least a month now. It's so much fun to dress up and go door to door to get candy with your parents and friends. I'll bet that you can hardly wait.

Because your parents are divorced you must wonder if your Halloween will change...especially if your family used to celebrate the day together when your parents were still married. That must make you a little uncertain about how this Halloween will go.

There are some things you can do to make the night go better for you.

1. Talk to both of your parents about your costume. Plan both the costume and the make-up. Both parents should be able to help you get what you need to dress up...even when they can't get along about other things they can help you with this.

2. Find out where you are going to be. If your parents share the holidays they should be able to tell you who is going to take you trick or treating. If you are older you should know where you are going to be and if you are passing out candy or helping your siblings to trick or treat.

3. Share the night with both parents. If you don't get to see both parents, make sure that you speak with your other parent and tell them about your evening. You can even take pictures of you in your costume to share with them later.

4. Take a night off from the divorce. If you want to, you can make a list of your worries and leave the list in you room. That way every time you think about them you can tell yourself that for tonight, you left your worries behind.

Make sure that you help get things ready at your parent's house. Helping with the decorations and getting the candy ready to pass out will make you feel good. If you have a dog, make sure that you don't leave your candy out because chocolate kills dogs. Put the candy up where they can not get it. Also remember that all the kids dressing up in costumes sometimes scares dogs, who must be wondering why all those people are coming to the door in scary masks and costumes. Tell your dogs its okay and give them a hug or a pat. That sure works for Rita and Jimmy.

Happy Halloween!!!

* Disclaimer:
Dr. Stark's Web site is not intended to take the place of a court-ordered advice or the advice of another professional. Although you may use the input found here to your best advantage, we recommend that you do so in conjunction with the work that you are doing with your individual therapist. Remember: this Web site is not therapy; it's knowledge and support.

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