Dear Diary,

Caitlynn and I will go trick-or-treating for the very first time tonight. Last year, my little goblin spent Halloween with her father. And the year before, she was too tiny to know why she dressed up like a cat. This year is different! We’ll celebrate her mini milestone by filling our bellies with lots of sweets and treats. She told me she would share her stash, since I didn’t have my own pink pumpkin bucket to collect candy. To get in some practice, she paraded with other animals, princesses and superheroes at preschool.  Seemed like we all shopped in the same store!

For today’s party, Caitlynn picked out her own costume. Her first choice–a scary monster–was shot down. I don’t think she even knew what that meant! So, she settled on her second pick–a pig. She has been snorting around the house ever since.

Here’s How to Prepare a Toddler to Trick-or-Treat

Watch a Holiday Themed Program

Netflix offers a long line up of Halloween cartoons and family movies. We’ll tune into Curious George A Halloween Boofest, Barney Halloween Party, Disney Spooky Buddies or Jake and the Never Land Pirates’ Night of the Golden Pirate Pumpkin and Trick or Treasure.  Of course, we can’t watch every episode in one evening. Because rain is in the forecast, I don’t plan on trick-or-treating for long. We’ll have a Halloween activity when we return home. What’s more fun than eating chocolate and watching television?

Define What’s Pretend

While watching a Netflix program, talk about what’re real and what’s pretend. Point out that dogs don’t really talk and ghosts don’t really hover above your house. Let your child know that Halloween is a fun time to play pretend. Talk about the different costumes you might see and that a real person is behind what may be a scary mask.

Review Rules

Let your child know that it’s OK to be excited, but rules must be followed. Review your rules, such as holding someone’s hand, looking both ways before you cross the street and keeping up with the group. When they put on their costumes, pretend to put on their listening ears. Also explain that adults must check children’s candy before they eat it.

Hey DFTM Fam–Is your child celebrating his/her first Halloween? Are you going trick-or-treating tonight?

Disclosure: Diary of a First Time Mom is proud to be a member of the Netflix Stream Team! Each month, we’ll share our stories about the shows we’re watching and how we’re making memories.