| Samhain
<LEFT> The Basics 1. Carve pumpkins to light the evening.
2. Talk about Samhain.
3. Read a Samhain story, by "pumpkin light" of course!.
4. Draw some conclusions for the child- Bring it all together.
The Details While carving the pumpkins, talk to your child about the things that happen at Samhain. I've read that turnips are easier to carve and hold a small votive candle well, but I haven't tried it yet.
The Thinning of the Vail and remembering ancestors can be especially important for families who have lost loved ones this past year. It is often surprising how much losing a loved one can effect a little one. Mine still asks after her Great-grandfather, who left us in March. (Although not as frequently as she once did. It is sad to see her forgetting him.)
If your little one is "afraid of ghosts", now might be a time to work on that. Perhaps if he or she thinks of them as people who aren't wearing their bodies (sort of like when we dream), this idea isn't so scary. "Ghosts" is awful close to "monster" to some children. I'm hesitant to use the idea of angel, because of the Christian overtone. Just a suggestion.
Chose a good "Hallowe'en" story! The stories will provide lots of opportunity to point out common Pagan ideas. Plus, they are loads of fun for the kids. Look in the Links & Resources for a list of books we enjoy.
Ask, "Why do you think we do..." Even if the child is way off, respond with the positive. "That's a good idea. Another reason is...." works much better than "No, we do it because..." After all you did ask what the child thinks is the reason. If the children are young, offer explanations first. Let your child guide you. If he or she is bored senseless or disinterested, the ideas may be too hard or not hard enough. Don't lecture, have fun! Be silly with you kids. 
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