"On top of spending $30 on bite-sized candy and trying to make it to the thousands of Halloween events happening from now until the end of October, there's also the tricky business of helping your kid navigate the social stressors of Halloween costumes. What are they going to be? Can you get away with making a costume versus spending $100? There's also the messy world of friend groups and group Halloween costumes."
"My daughter, Sophie, has been planning a group costume with her friends for Halloween. They all want to go trick-or-treating together. I just heard from another mom asking if her kid can tag along, so a mom outside the group that was invited, I guess. My daughter was so excited to just be with her crew. What do I do?"
Families face financial and social challenges around Halloween, including candy and costume costs and multiple event commitments. Children negotiate identity, peer acceptance, and group participation through costume choices and coordinated plans. Group costume arrangements can produce exclusion when additional kids request to join, creating discomfort for both kids and parents. Some parents choose to step back and let children resolve conflicts, while others fear being seen as overstepping within parent social hierarchies. Mom culture can include unspoken rules, norms, and hierarchies that complicate decisions. Clear communication, empathy, and attention to inclusion can reduce holiday social stressors.
Read at Scary Mommy
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