Plenty of parents understand the value Halloween can bring to their children's lives, though it actually goes a little further than padding their annual collection of candy.

Parent-child activities associated with the holiday incorporate core developmental exercises for children, plus the season help nurture important social skills during the school year, according to one psychology professor at the

.

Ansley Gilpin

, UA associate professor of psychology and lead researcher at UA's "Knowledge in Development Lab," says that parents should seize the opportunity to be creative, get outside and spend time with their children. The developmental benefits might surprise you.

"Halloween is age-scalable, too," Gilpin said, according to UA News. "A baby is happy to go out and see things, touch a pumpkin, crumble leaves in their hands - it's an enriching experience. For toddlers, they get to taste things they haven't eaten before, experience a new art project, get to dress up and pretend.

"Preschoolers and early elementary-aged children are in the height of the pretending stage, where they learn to take other people's perspectives, which is the basis for empathy. As silly as it sounds, dressing up and pretending to be someone else helps them learn to take another person's perspective and be more empathetic."

According to UA, Gilpin said the most beneficial aspect Halloween provides for children is the time spent with parents, which can help form positive family connections and serve as a reward for good behavior and a substitute for typical rewards, like toys.

"And, it doesn't have to be expensive," Gilpin said. "You can play at a local pumpkin patch. You go walk around in the park and pick different colored leaves for a craft. It doesn't have to be related to spookiness or a Halloween theme. Simply enjoying the nice weather together is a healthy, fun and enriching family activity."

The impact stretches across age ranges. Gilpin said older children also benefit from Halloween activities, particularly in peer development that further benefits their social skills during a school year.

"Learning how to socialize with friends is really important for kids as they enter high school and college," Gilpin said. "Fall activities are a good opportunity for parents to help arrange a fun time with friends."

A little more than a year ago, Gilpin received a $200,000 grant from the Imagination Institute, based at the University of Pennsylvania's Positive Psychology Center, to advance our understanding of the benefits of imaginative play for children.

UA says the study will determine if engaging in imaginative play boosts cognitive functioning, which is vital between the ages of 3 and 5 because children rely on these skills in school. Gilpin hypothesizes that imaginative play helps children learn to pay attention, have self-control, and remember information better to facilitate learning.

The study could have an impact on preschool and early elementary curriculum for both typically developing children as well as those who are delayed.

"The good news is that exercising cognitive function through imaginative play may be an easy, fun, and virtually cost-free way to help children be ready for school," Gilpin said.

Have you seen Halloween's benefits on your kids' social skills over the years?