[UPDATE: THRILLED to share that this story was given an Honorable Mention for Great Read for Younger Readers!]

It’s one of my favorite times of year: Susanna Leonard Hill’s Halloweensie contest for children’s writers! I love these contests. They challenge my brain to think in new ways and almost always inspire multiple stories. Plus, this year, they are the best kind of happy distraction from… you know… everything else.

The challenge: write a halloween-themed children’s story in 100 words or less and include the words skeleton, mask, and creep.

Without further a-boo, here is my 2020 Halloweensie story:

PUMPKIN HUNT (100 words)
By Nicole Loos Miller

Hello, little Skeleton. What are you doing?

I’m going on a pumpkin hunt.

A pumpkin hunt?

A pumpkin hunt!
I’m going on a pumpkin hunt. I’m gonna pick a big one!
Tiptoe. Tiptoe.
Ooh, a white pumpkin!
NO! IT’S A GHOST!

Don’t worry, little Skeleton. It’s just a mask.

Oh, um, I knew that.
I’m going on a pumpkin hunt!
I’m gonna pick a big one!
Creep. Creep. Creep.
A green pumpkin?
ACK! A MONSTER!

Mask again, little Skelton.

Oh, whew! 
Back to the pumpkin hunt.
Skitter, skitter, step.
Oh! Nice mask.

Uh, little Skeleton… that’s not a mask! 

AHHHHH!

Another deviation from writing for fun but very necessary things. Some of this is copied and pasted from my school social work blog (you’ll probably pick up on that vibe).

Big things are going on. Big things that are terrifying and overwhelming. As adults, when we can’t wrap our minds around them, how can we be expected to talk about them with little kids?

But the thing is, little kids notice. They notice when the grown ups they love are distracted or scared or worried.

So… now what? 

Try to avoid having the news on around young children right now. Not because they should be hidden from the information but because you know your child best and it can be very helpful for you to be able to regulate the type of information they receive and the rate at which they receive it. That way you can support them as they figure everything out.

Based on your child’s age, exposure, and developmental level, decide how deeply you want conversations to go. 

Use books and shows created specifically for young children. Today’s Parent has a list of picture books here. Even though the library is still closed, many book read-alouds are currently available on YouTube and author sites as a result of the pandemic. Preview the book before you read it with your child so you can anticipate questions they (or you) might have.  

Maybe sure you have another adult you can talk to about your own feelings and thoughts. That way, when you talk with your child, you can follow their lead. 

If you want to talk to your child about protests and racism or if they are asking questions about the protests and you aren’t sure where to start, read this article for tips from pediatricians and other child health experts. 

You might need some space to sort through everything. Take that space (even if it’s only available after they are in bed). Listen, engage, and do your best to model the conversations and morals you want to see in your children as they grow and begin to shape the world around them. Check out resources for yourself too. There are so many wonderful ones in this google doc about engaging in anti-racist conversations.

Sometimes raising human beings feels like a much bigger and more important job than other times. This is one of those crucial times. Let’s show them we can do and be better. 

Sometimes I like to think that there is a parallel universe where parallel-universe-Nicole is still going to work and interacting with extended family members in person and grocery shopping without a mask while listening to news updates about our first female president. I hope she’s happy. She has a lot to be grateful for.

And, honestly, in this universe and, specifically in my little bubble, I also have a lot to be grateful for – even nine weeks deep in a statewide shelter-in-place! OBVIOUSLY – the health of my family. Also, jobs. And food. And sunshine. And on and on and on. I have been surprisingly focused in the scraps of spare time I have been able to carve out for writing too. Uh, recently, at least. Which definitely counts.

But, still, a global pandemic can be intimidating, to say the least. So, I wanted to share NPR’s lovely illustrated guide to showing up for yourself.

Please make sure you are taking care of yourself. Even if you have a lot to be grateful for, it’s still very okay to feel scared and unsure and anxious and guilty and mad and confused and frustrated. All your feelings are very valid. But, if you can, try to find ways to increase your favorite ways to feel and decrease the ones that leave you feeling hollow. I think that guide can help.

You may or may not know that I am a mama to two toddlers and a school social worker currently working with Early Childhood/Preschool-aged children. I know this blog is supposed to be about writing but if there was ever a time for a crossover-episode, this is it.

So here goes:

How are you supposed to explain coronavirus/COVID-19 and the closure of schools, libraries, and everything else to young children?

First, breathe. This is new and rapidly changing territory. That can be scary for grown ups and kids. Make sure you can appear calm and collected when talking with your child about the current state. Take a break if you need to. Avoid having the news on and avoid talking about it around children. 

Need help breathing? Sesame Street has you and your kids covered with a video.

Need a social story about COVID-19 that is simple and to the point? It was created for children with Autism but the direct approach paired with visuals makes it ideal for Preschool-aged and young elementary children as well.

Does your child need more? NPR has an article/comic for explaining coronavirus to children. It’s geared toward children older than preschool-aged but might give you some good ideas and visuals you can use. It does not talk about school closure but could be followed up with a conversation about how another way to keep everyone safe is to stay home to stop the spread of germs: 

And finally, here is NASP article with advice for parents.

You won’t have all the answers. Honestly, your kids don’t expect you to. Wash your hands. Love the people close to you – whether in your house or via video chat. Donate money to food shelters if you are able. Feel free to post links to national food banks or charities helping provide childcare for healthcare workers in the comments.

And when you have the mental and emotional capacity for it, let’s be ready to talk about what we learned from all of this and what big things need to change to make things better for the future.