Halloween is
one of most kids' top two favorite holidays. Some children plan their Trick
or Treat costumes months in advance. So what happens when your child is too ill to go trick-or-treating? Or maybe you have a child with dietary restrictions or allergies? Or, what if you don't observe Halloween as a family, but don't want kids to miss out on the fun.
Why not plan a Halloween party at home? Here are not-too-scary Halloween
activities for an at-home party. Use these tips if you can't or don't want to
do door-to-door trick-or-treating. These Halloween party ideas are homemade,
easy, cheap (or free) and flexible. Adapt them to your needs. Anti-Halloween parents, bypass it by throwing a fun fall party. Either way, these ideas are great workarounds.
Trick
or treat indoors or have a backyard candy hunt. Kiddies too sick to go out? Maybe
it's raining on Halloween? Or perhaps you live in an area that isn't
kid-friendly. No problem. Hide candy around the house, apartment, patio or
backyard, as you would at Easter with Easter eggs. Or skip candy and hide little toys. Children can still put their
costumes on if they wish. Or let them help pass out candy. Take videos for happy family memories.
Make
a mini-scary family movie. There are plenty of Halloween movies to rent, but
why not make your own at home? Narrate a Halloween story or act out a play.
Make silly commercials for Halloween candy to accompany your funny,
not-too-scary Halloween film. Ask kids to write the script. Older kids will
love playing filmmaker, makeup person, special effects gal and stunt
coordinator. The sick kid can be the director and tell everyone else what to
do. Make spooky sounds: rattle popcorn in an aluminum can for rain. Run the
vacuum over the floor for thunder. Turn the lights on and off for lightning.
Have kids incorporate their costumes into the plot.
Put
on a puppet show. Here's where the recycle bin comes in handy. Children can
decorate old socks, cardboard cereal boxes and paper bags as puppets. They
might write their own spooky story and act it out. An overturned card table
covered with a cloth makes a great puppet theater.
Check
out these links for free printable
Halloween crafts. Print out Halloween
masks, spooky origami, kirigami (cut-paper crafts), cut and paste paper hats
and toys, coloring pages, mazes, puzzles, word search, crossword, Sudoku and
hidden pictures. Make an activity booklet for the sick kids. Fill a shoebox
with scissors, glue stick, crayons, tape and printed craft projects. He can
make "couch crafts" at home. Make cards for senior citizens.
Serve
fun Halloween party treats at home! Bob for apples. Toast marshmallows over the
stove. Make popcorn and cocoa. Serve donuts and cider. Make a family pizza.
Decorate Halloween cookies. Invent funny monsters from cut veggies. Share some
with a lonely next door neighbor or senior friend (when the sick kids are
well!)
Carve
your pumpkins! Here are free printable pumpkin carving stencils. Your Halloween party at home may be the most
memorable ever. Your kids may demand to nix Trick or Treat and do a party every
year!
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