Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Health Watch, we're talking about health and safety issues related to Halloween. Adults and older kids may look forward to all the spookiness associated with Halloween, but smaller children may find Halloween more scary than fun.
Dr. Pete Stavinoha, a child psychologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says some children may not be able to trust that everything that seems scary will actually turn out okay. If a child is afraid of trick-or-treating or other Halloween activities, don't push. It could turn into a true panic situation. You can make trick-or-treating less scary by going along with your child or going out before dark. Or you can find an alternative to trick-or-treating, like a party or movie night at home.
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October 2006
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