Comments on: Halloween Play Activities?

By: Miss Giss

Miss Giss — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:29:17 +0000

Lets not forget that many children have experienced very real and different kinds of horror. Bereavement, domestic violence, alcholism and drug addiction, bullying, neglect, emotional and sexual abuse. If they haven’t then the chances are that they will know someone who has. Children are more than capable of distinguishing between spooky silliness and real fear. Particularly if they get the chance to play with these concepts and themes in a safe and familiar environment, in a space where they can control and dictate their level of participation, supported by kind and supportive workers (and the toy Library is blessed with some of Nottinghams finest).

By: ellie

ellie — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:14:35 +0000

There’s two issues here.. first sanatising children’s play in case we scare them.. as already said it’s all about balance. Secondly the real reason for Halloween – Samhain (meaning summers end) is a pagan festival celebrating the year and the end of summer.. Paganism is the most ancient british faith and should be understood along with all the other cultures and faiths children are taught in school. It’s time that myths surrounding witchcraft were dispelled once and for all and that can only happen if children experience and learn about these through school and play.

By: mark

mark — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:30:30 +0000

whats the first game that most of us play with our babies- peeka BOO!.Are we going to ban this as they might be scared!Children need risk in play to develope their skills and push boundaries, I do not beleive that this only means physical risk but emotional risk as well. Most of us like to do things that scare us, surely Halloween activities fall into this category, as do fairy tales( most of which are much more grusome in origin than any activities that take place on 31st October). The key issue is that children have the choice whether or not to take part in these activities as they should have in taking part in anything else in a play setting.
Unfortunately most people are no longer aware of the origins of Halloween activities and see the masks, pumpkins and costumes as glorifing evil.Most of these activities actually have origins in protecting the home/ community from evil not inviting it in. Halloween or Samhain marks the end of the harvest period and the end of the celtic year- thats why all the pumpkins and apples etc.
The issue for play settings is first and formostly one of the child’s right to be able to direct and choose their own play activities. perhaps the debate we should be having should be even farther reaching – do ANY religious/ cultural activities have a place in a child’s play setting if they have not been chosen by the children who attend. What would happen if we banned christmas trees and egg hunts?

By: nicole age 8

nicole age 8 — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:05:34 +0000

i think halloween is importont to me because i like getting sweets n scaring people.i was dressed as an oringe punpkin with an oringe face. also my friend was dressed as an dead bride and her sister was an witch with wings and there sister was an dead person.after all that we all went to a lights party at the comunity senter light verses dark it was really good because my favorty bit was at the end when we all danced.

By: sardia skelton

sardia skelton — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:13:40 +0000

i think children should choose for themselves what they believe in.halloween is a big part in their lives it is up to us adults to explain why we celebrate it.my daughter went trick or treating for the first time tonight and was only scared when other older children showed her these things were classed as scary.i myself enjoy the trick or treaters coming to my door seeing their excited little faces shining up waitng for their sweeties bless’em.it’s all down to what you believe as long as your believing in the children they are our next generation give them time to express themselves in the way they NEED !

By: Sarah Sinclair

Sarah Sinclair — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:13:27 +0000

We have a diverse society and we should allow our children to explore and embrace it.
I believe we should give our children the opportunity to have a wide range of experiences. Children’s understanding and perceptions of the world develop massively up to the age of 8 play is paramount in their lives! By supporting children’s play we can help them to become informed individuals.
Society today has lost touch with some core values children though out history have been introduced to the concept of death in various ways. In some communities it is not unusual for bodies of loved ones to be in the home for a wake. Children should be encouraged to except death as a part of life and that this is NOT a frightening thing.
Are we becoming so politically correct that we are incapable of keeping the fun aspect of Halloween?
If we are going to question the celebration activities surrounding Halloween then we have to question the celebration of ALL traditional festivals, Christmas, Diwali so on so on!!!

By: Helen

Helen — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:38:42 +0000

After what seems like the 100th time of seeing children at my door tonight with faces full of excitement and joy i was taken back to memories of my childhood and how much i enjoyed it.

In Briton today we try to recognise that people and society are diverse. We celebrate and recognise religious festivals and try to inform children about the wide variety of beliefs and traditions that exist in our diverse communities. By doing this we encourage children to except that people have different opinions and beliefs. Arts crafts and games inspire children spark imagination and individuality. We should support them in their development and help them discover their own individuality.

Why can’t children just have fun?

Grow, develop and take what they need from their experiences though play!

By: Chris snell

Chris snell — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:19:53 +0000

Firstly and most fundamentally we should be able to to distinguish between evil and the tenets of other religions. Many religions beleive in the after life and the presence of ancestral spirits, to dismiss this as consorting with evil is to deny any semblance of religious tolerance. I would consider religious intolerance to be the greater evil, as the cause of much suffering and death in the world.

Secondly, I would wholeheartedly agree with the previous post that children must be considered as individuals. Having said this, millions of children (and for that matter, adults) around the world play with fear and the unknown. That, for many, being scared and scaring is fun is as simple as jumping out and saying BOO!That fun in itself should be reason enough, but that in playing with fear in a safe environment we enable children to develop resilience and coping strateguies when real-life scary situations arise. We deny them this at our and their peril.

By: Stephen Rennie

Stephen Rennie — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:18:01 +0000

There has always been a tendency on the part of adults with strong beliefs to impose those beliefs on others, their childen especially. Some go further and try to impose their beliefs way beyond their families, even their communities.

It is not sensitive respect for these people to collude with them by limiting children’s freedom of expression. It is a denial of the right of each child to make up their own mind about what they believe and which value systems they wish to adhere to.

By: Curtis aged 8

Curtis aged 8 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:22:06 +0000

I like haloween activityies at the after school clubs and would be sad if they didn’t do them.