Quote: “A person should always choose a costume which is in direct contrast to her own personality.”

Source: Lucy Van Pelt from It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Commentary:

Halloween is a wonderful time of year for kids.  They get to dress up, make-believe, and eat lots of candy.  It’s also the holiday that begins the holiday season.  What better time of year than Halloween! But, what should Halloween be about? What we love about the quote above is that Lucy makes a great point to make Halloween about make believe.  Most kids love to dress up regardless if it’s Halloween or not, but this is the time of year when they can really show the world (a.k.a. their neighborhoods) their awesome costumes.

Is it all about the costume? Yes and no – many kids have a hard time picking out costumes.  They don’t want to have the same costume as everyone else, but they also don’t want to have the costume that everyone asks – “Who are you supposed to be?”  So, for this Halloween, we are suggesting that you start by brainstorming what kind of costume makes them feel comfortable and helps them feel confident.  It’s their time to be a little different, brave, and just have fun with it!  We also posted on Instagram some great places to shop for your costumes – new and used.  Check it out if you haven’t already.

Now for the events, you might get overwhelmed with the numerous events families can attend this season.  Halloween isn’t just about October 31st! Families might already have traditions, but take a look at some of the new events or try something different this year that might suit your children’s age groups.  Also, planning your events ahead of time allows your family to feel like they aren’t missing out.   Most of the events are held at the library branches, parks, shopping centers, county fairgrounds, and churches.  The Zoo, Botanical Gardens, and Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary also offer outdoor fun!  Board & Brush and A&R Workshop have some great craft events as well.  And of course, most of you know about the popular Halloween Spooktacular on 5th.  Check out the full list on our Halloween/Fall Events 2018 page.  Look for a Giveaway coming soon on our Instagram account for free tickets for a family admission to one of the events!

Safety is an important topic around Halloween.  The Collier County Sheriff’s Office provides some great tips for families this year.  Dressing safely in short costumes that are flame-retardant is key.  Wearing make-up instead of masks helps children see better.  Light colored costumes or reflective tape helps children be more visible to traffic.  They also suggest that children should trick or treat while it’s still light outside.  Parents should accompany young children and older children should travel in groups.  Also, teach kids how to approach houses only if their light is on.  Finally, have kids refrain from eating any treats until parents have had a chance to examine them.  We appreciate these great tips from the Sheriff’s Office.

Now, what do you do with all that candy?  Kids get more candy the more events they attend.  We all love the fun, but we don’t love all that candy.  Naples dentists have come up with a great solution.  Yes, we’re sure you will let your kids keep some candy, but the extra candy can be bought back by the following two dentist offices:

• Brace Place buybacks will be held from November 1st through the 6th between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. The office is located at 5641 Naples Blvd., Naples, (239)592-6300
• Children’s Dentistry will buy back candy starting November 1 from 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and between 8:00 a.m. and noon and 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday from November 1,5-8. Their office is at 3021 Airport Road, Naples, (239) 262-3898

Thank you Brace Place and Children’s Dentistry for offering this great candy buy-back program!

We hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Halloween this year!  We loved posting all the exciting events this season in Naples.  Let’s have fun letting our children make believe again.  Happy Halloween!