Parents Talk: Why is Halloween so Scary for my Preschooler?

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Please take a moment to weigh in with your comments below.

This week's discussion topic:

We moved into our neighborhood a few years ago when it was brand new. Last year was the first time there were enough houses around for our kids to trick-or-treat at and we were thrilled to give them the chance to meet our neighbors and make new friends.We were wrong. Our girls did great but our youngest son, he's 4 now, was totally frightened by all the people in masks and even some of the neighbors' decorations. It got so bad that he would wait on the sidewalk while his sisters collected candy door-to-door.That's no way to spend Beggar's Night.

My question is, how can we make this Beggar's Night a more pleasant one for all of us? My girls are really looking forward to trick-or-treating in the neighborhood this year but my son has already started talking about the "scary houses" on the block. How do I make him feel more safe and protected from all the things that scared him last year? Is there some way to make a sneering jack o'lantern a little more friendly to my 4 year-old?