Children across the country have been rejoicing for weeks. Halloween is soon more festive than Christmas Eve
– But for some, October 31 has become the worst day of the year, says Johan Kristian Andreasen, a lecturer in pedagogy at the University of Agder.
He asks parents to take on more responsibility.
– Children fall out every day. But it’s very painful not to be included in Halloween, a day with high expectations, she says.
Not too late
– You can still invite someone, says Karoline M. Storbukås, FAU leader at Fagerholt school in Kristiansand
At the Fagerholt school, this year they intervened. All children should have something fun to expect on Halloween.
In the fall, the parental committee asked all contacts in the class to meet. On Mondays, all school children are invited to one event or another.
A group will go to the forest and light a fire, some will open their garage and decorate it with cobwebs and scary things, others will gather for a street party in the neighborhood.
The FAU leader himself invites 13 excited and slightly frightened second grade girls to his home. There is nibble and pinch and lots of scary candy to eat.
Worried
Bullying Ombudsmen in several counties report an increase in demands from desperate parents for children who are being kept out.
At Viken’s Ombudsman for Children and Young People, they also notice an increase in traffic before Halloween.
– Around Halloween, informal groups often form in which we adults are not involved. It is important that management is not left to the children, says manager Bodil J. Houg.
At the same time, UNICEF Norway tells of families moving away so that children don’t have to feel they are not allowed to join.
Andreasen of the University of Agder hopes parents see they can make a difference.
Find out more
– The choices we parents make to include children in their free time can affect how children feel at school. It benefits all children, including yours, she says.
Research shows that an inclusive school environment is crucial for children’s social development and learning and to prevent bullying and exclusion. Parents play a vital role in this.
You can still contribute, he says.
– Send an SMS – post something on Facebook or Spond. It is not too late to guarantee everyone the opportunity to participate.
It will help
When the Fagerholt School Parents Committee told them that Halloween was included in the school’s social action plan, the response was overwhelming, FAU leader Storbukås says.
“I can bake a cake”, “We have decorations at home, I can bring”, “I can trick or treat with the children”.
Many will help ensure this at school students always have something to expect on Halloween. Next year and the following year again there.
– We want to formalize Halloween in line with birthdays, where parents are already good at inviting all girls or all boys, says Storbukås.
He believes that parents tend to think in a practical and limiting way. “We don’t have room for everyone in the class,” she thinks. So it becomes the an excuse not to.
– Inclusion must be further on our agenda and it must not be so violent.
