Halloween provides us with a unique opportunity to look into the emotions surrounding fear and into the children’s understanding of what is real and what is fantasy. In preparation for our Halloween parade, the children explore the neighborhood in small groups. These walks provide us with opportunities to practice safely navigating sidewalks and roads as well as a chance to see the evolving decorations of our neighborhood as the community embraces Halloween.
Jacob: There’s a spider.
Ozzie: Look, little black widows. It’s a black widow but it isn’t real.
Jacob: Jenn, there’s so much spiders everywhere. Look!
Teacher Jenn: Oh my goodness, they’re climbing on their house.
August: There’s spider webs over there!
Ozzie: Don’t worry.
Teacher Jenn: Oh my goodness, they’re climbing on their house.
August: There’s spider webs over there!
Ozzie: Don’t worry.
Isla: I see a skeleton!
Teacher Jess: Is that real?
Everyone: No!
Ozzie: There’s spiders but don’t worry. They’re not real black widows, they are just stuffed.
Isla: I know that.
Ozzie: I’m telling all these guys.
August: He’s pulling his web!
Ozzie: Don’t go close to it, it might be real.
Teacher Jess: Do you think it might be real?
Ozzie: Yeah, I think it is real.
In reassuring his peers, Ozzie seemed to be attempting to work through his own emotions surrounding the decor. This neighborhood walk, along with other experiences in both the classrooms and atelier, provides children with an opportunity to process their feelings. Whether or not the trigger stirring up the fear is real or fantasy, the emotion is valid and children need an opportunity to explore the many feelings that may arise. -Teacher Jess