Did you know American families dropped nearly $10.6 billion on Halloween back in 2022? That is a colossal amount of candy! October is coming, and finding costumes, planning parties and figuring out trick or treat routes might feel like a lot. I have been there. Do not worry! I wrote this guide to help you make the spooky season and Halloween for kids a safe, fun and memorable experience. I will tell you everything from throwing great parties to creating costumes and keeping Halloween night safe.
Throwing the Best Halloween Kids Party
A Halloween party is often the best part of autumn for youngsters. But how do you make an exciting party that you can actually manage? Plan and know your audience. I have picked up some tricks from throwing parties. One year, pin the spider on the web was a smash hit. Another time, my homemade haunted house was way too scary for the really little ones!
Halloween Party Themes
Themes simplify party planning. I suggest these ideas:
- Monster Mash: Sweet monsters, bright colors and goofy decorations.
- Pumpkin Patch Party: Celebrate pumpkins by carving them and eating delicious treats.
- Spooky Science: Mix Halloween with science experiments to add learning to the party.
- Superhero Halloween: Have the kids dress as superheroes with a Halloween spin.
My daughter had a Monster Mash when she was little. We served monster snacks, decorated and had a dance contest. The children had a blast!
Halloween Entertainment
Entertain the little goblins with these activities:
- Pumpkin Carving or Painting: A classic for good reason. Older children can use stencils and safe tools to carve. Younger children can paint.
- Costume Contest: Let the kids show off their costumes. Award prizes for the scariest, funniest and most creative costumes.
- Halloween Bingo: Make bingo cards with pictures or words that have to do with Halloween.
- Spooky Scavenger Hunt: Hide Halloween items. Give the children clues to find the hidden objects.
- Craft Station: Put out paper, googly eyes and glue so the kids can make decorations.
I once did a scavenger hunt with clues written in lemon juice. The kids were so excited when the clues appeared and they discovered the hidden treats!
Halloween Food and Drink
No party is complete unless you have treats. I recommend these kid friendly food and drink ideas:
- Mummy Dogs: Wrap hot dogs in strips of dough.
- Ghost Pizza: Use cookie cutters to make ghost pizzas.
- Pumpkin Quesadillas: Cut quesadillas to look like pumpkins.
- Witches Brew: Mix green punch with gummy worms and eyeballs.
- Spiderweb Dip: Layer dip and make a sour cream spiderweb on top.
How you show food matters! Use plates, cups and napkins that have a Halloween theme. I once made graveyard pudding with crushed Oreos and gummy worms. It vanished quickly!
Halloween Costumes: A Creative Adventure
Store costumes can be expensive and all look the same. If you make your own, you save money and get to be creative. Making the costume is just as fun as wearing it.
Easy and Affordable Halloween Costume Ideas for Halloween kids
- Ghost: A classic that never gets old. Cut holes in a white sheet.
- Mummy: Wrap your child in strips of white cloth or paper.
- Superhero: Get an old shirt or cloth for a cape and add a mask.
- Black Cat: Wear black clothes and add cat ears and a tail.
- Pumpkin: Wear orange clothes and add a pumpkin hat or paint your face.
My son wanted to be a robot once, so we used cardboard boxes and foil. It was not comfortable, but he loved it!
Halloween Costume Tips
- Use what you have: Look around your house for materials to make costumes.
- Keep it simple: Do not make complicated designs.
- Get your child involved: Let your child help create and design the costume.
- Try it on: Make sure your child can move and see without problems.
- Add accessories: Accessories make the costume better.
I plan a costume brainstorming session weeks before Halloween. We use old clothes, craft supplies and magazines. It is a fun family activity that builds excitement.
Halloween Safety
Halloween is fun, but children need to be safe. Keep these tips in mind:
Trick or Treating Safety for Halloween Kids
- Watch your children: An adult should go with young children.
- Plan the route: Pick a route that is well lit and familiar.
- Use sidewalks: Walk on sidewalks. Do not walk in the street.
- Cross streets safely: Use crosswalks and look both ways before you cross.
- Be visible: Wear bright costumes or tape that reflects light.
- Use a flashlight: Take a flashlight or glow stick.
- Check treats: Look at all treats before you eat them. Throw away anything that is unwrapped or looks suspicious.
- Set a time: Know how long you can trick or treat.
I stay in areas that are well lit, do not go inside houses and check all candy when we get home.
Costume Safety
- Buy costumes that resist fire: Make sure the costumes are made of materials that resist fire.
- Do not use masks: Masks make it hard to see. Paint your face instead.
- Wear comfortable shoes: Children need to wear shoes that are comfortable for walking.
- Do not wear long costumes: Long costumes make it easy to trip.
- Be careful with accessories: Swords, wands and other accessories should be soft and bendable.
My daughter got blisters from new boots once. I learned that shoes need to be comfortable. Now we always try shoes on beforehand.
Home Safety
- Clear walkways: Remove anything that might make people trip on your porch and walkways.
- Turn on the porch light: Turn on your porch light.
- Keep pets inside: Keep your pets indoors.
- Make decorations safe: Put decorations where they cannot hurt anyone.
- Think about allergies: Give out treats that do not contain allergens.
I make sure my porch has good lighting, has no obstacles and that my dog is inside. I also give out treats that children with allergies can eat.
Beyond Trick or Treating
Trick or treating is great, but children can do other Halloween activities. This is really helpful if the weather is bad or you want to do something different.
Halloween Movies
Watch a Halloween movie. Make sure it is appropriate for the age of the children. Here are some movies I recommend:
- It is the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
- Hocus Pocus
- Casper
- The Nightmare Before Christmas
- Hotel Transylvania
I love watching Halloween movies with popcorn, blankets and Halloween decorations. It is a relaxing way to celebrate.
Pumpkin Patch or Corn Maze
Many farms have pumpkin patches and corn mazes around Halloween. You and your children can pick pumpkins and walk through the mazes.
Halloween Festival or Event
Look at local listings for Halloween festivals, parades and events. These will often have costume contests, games and other activities.
Halloween Arts and Crafts
Do Halloween arts and crafts. Some things you can make are:
- Halloween masks
- Halloween decorations
- Painted pumpkins
- Halloween slime
I set up a crafting space with all the supplies. Then I let the children use their imaginations. I have seen paper plate spiders and handprint ghosts.
Spooky Stories
Tell spooky stories. Be certain the stories are not too scary for the children.
My dad told my children a haunted house story when they were little. They were scared, but they loved it! We tell spooky stories every Halloween now.
Make This Halloween the Best
Halloween is more than candy and costumes. You can make memories that will last forever. I have some tips to make this Halloween special:
- Start early: Begin planning weeks before Halloween.
- Get your children involved: Let your children help with the planning.
- Make traditions: Do things every Halloween.
- Take photos: Capture memories with photos and videos.
- Have fun: Make sure everyone has a good time.
The secret to having a great Halloween is to embrace the Halloween spirit and encourage your children to use their imaginations. Have a party, make costumes or trick or treat, but remember to make memories. Halloween should be fun and safe. With careful planning, you can make this Halloween the best one yet for your Halloween kids!
