The signs of the holiday season are upon us. The weather’s getting cooler, the leaves are changing color, and the stores stocking up for the holidays! With the beginning of the holidays comes October 31st, Halloween. The holiday where you can dress up and be anything or anyone you can imagine.

If your kids are like my two girls, Miriam and Emma, then they have been trying to figure out what they want to dress up as for Halloween for ages. Just when they think that they know they see something else and change their minds! And I’ve got to say that television programs geared towards our children can be a help in your costume shopping or a hindrance. In our house hold it seems like more of a hindrance as my girls try to figure out what would be the coolest costume. Every show, commercial, and toy they see is the “best” costume idea until the next one comes along.

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF) 2006 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Action Survey all but two of the top costumes for children in the United States last year can be traced back to children’s television viewing.

The Most Popular Halloween Costumes for 2006:
1. Princess
2. Pirate
3. Witch
4. Spider-Man
5. Superman/Disney Princess
6. Power Ranger
7. Pumpkin
8. Cat
9. Vampire

If that list isn’t enough to convince you how much influence TV has in our children’s lives, I’m not sure what will. Now, I’m not saying that watching TV is evil; I just want to offer a word of caution to all parents out there to become aware of what it is that you children are actually viewing on TV. Instead of using the TV as a babysitter to keep the kids out of your hair, know what it is that your children are viewing. Become involved and make it interactive, by asking questions like, “What would be the right thing to do?”, “Is the character doing the right thing?”, and “What do your children think is going to happen next?” These, as well as other “generic” questions, can be used to make TV time a more interactive part of your families’ time together. Instead of a mindless activity that keeps conversation at bay, use the TV as a tool as a conversation starter to encourage learning and spark creativity.

Now, as you and your children are out there shopping for Halloween costumes, use that time as chance to start up a conversation about why they want that costume. Is the character good or bad? What motivates that character? Ask what ever you can think of relating to the costume of their choice. Then use those conversation topics as a starting point to a real in depth conversation on what they are feeling and thinking. Ask about school, play, sports, books, TV, or whatever interests them, and remember the most important role you have in the conversation is to listen. Not lecture or correct them, but really and truly listen.

Happy costume hunting from our family to yours!