Join us in the month of October as we discuss ways to make Halloween an enjoyable experience for all!

If you’ve been following along this month, we’ve provided lots of tips for making Halloween “fun” for your child. Our hope is that these tips were helpful or at least thought provoking. But we know everything doesn’t always go as planned. 

So, what can you do when the traditional Halloween to-do doesn’t work out? 

You can create an experience specifically for your child and maybe some friends. Whether it be a party or just a fun night out with a few activities, you can make your home a safe haven for Halloween. Here are some ideas for your night. Choose one, two or all!

• Dress up: As mentioned in a previous blog, costumes can be tricky for some kids. Find an option that works for your child and any others. Keep in mind that one costume can  affect each child in a different way whether they’re wearing the costume or simply looking at it. The number one priority should be comfort. Plan costumes with comfort in mind. If they’re not comfortable, they won’t have fun. And Halloween should be fun!
  
  
• Halloween Games: Playing games dressed in your Halloween costume takes things to a different level. It can be games you always play; board games, card games, family games, etc. or something new. Country Living put together a list of 58 Halloween Party Games for Kids and Adults. Here are a few that might work for you but feel free to choose from the list
• Marshmallow Ghost Stack: Originally created as a STEM activity, this game uses popsicle sticks and marshmallows with carefully painted-on ghost faces. Kids (and/or adults )build stacks of ghosts to see whose stack can go the highest while also being the most creative. Click here to see it in action!
• Wrap the Mummy: Moms, if you’ve had or been to a bridal shower, you’ve seen this game. At the bridal shower, the goal is for a team to work together to wrap a participant in toilet paper to create the best wedding dress. But for Halloween, teams work together and use toilet paper to wrap a teammate and create the best mummy. Make it more fun by seeing who can do it fastest. If that’s too much for your crew, just see whose mummy is the most creative. As always, make sure to create as little discomfort as possible. In this sense that might mean not covering the face or mouth; maybe using softer toilet paper; or choosing a different material other than toilet paper. Click here for more Wrap the Mummy Ideas.
• Pumpkin Roll: This activity can look several different ways. It can be a “Relay race” where kids roll a pumpkin up to a starting line and see who gets there first or which team finishes first. Or make it “Ghost Bowling.” You can create your own bowling pins with household items (cups, bottles, cans, etc) or purchase white bowling pins (buy some here) and draw jack-o-lantern faces on them. Then, use a pumpkin (real or not real) as a bowling ball. Read more about pumpkin rolling here.
  
  
• Pumpkin “Carving”: Parenting Special Needs Magazine came up with a list of fun pumpkin carving ideas that don’t actually require carving. 
• Mr. Pumpkin Head: You dress up a pumpkin head with Halloween costumes, sort of looks like a Mr. Potato Head but a pumpkin head. 
• Fingerprint Pumpkins: This is a cool way to decorate (or pretend carve) your pumpkin. Using tape to create a design–maybe the letter of their name or jack-o-lantern eyes–then finger paint over the design. After drying, pull back the tape and voila! A cool design! See examples here.
  
  
• Watch “Spooky” Movies: There are lots of Halloween movies that aren’t “spooky” or “scary.” Those are the ones I prefer. If your child, and other party participants, can tolerate sitting for a movie, as well as the sounds and the lights, choose from this list of “Not too Scary (or scary at all) Movies.”
• Hotel Transylvania: There are 4 different movies in the Hotel Transylvania series of movies. I personally took my kids to see part 3 of this one in the movie theater. While I did fall asleep, they were highly entertained. I was awakened by the great soundtrack that I still listen to…like I literally listened to it today.
• Monsters, Inc.: This is one of my favorite series. I can watch it over and over again and not fall asleep. While it’s about Monsters who are paid to “scare” kids, the Monsters themselves are the ones scared of the kids. There are two films; Monsters Inc and Monsters University (a prequel).
• It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: What”s  Halloween without The Great Pumpkin?! This classic movie was made in 1966. I have watched it every year that I can remember, and I wasn’t born in 1966. Because it’s a classic, the graphics aren’t as good as most recent cartoon movies, but that might be perfect for your child. 
• Find more movies here!
  
  
• Baking Treats: If your child is sensitive to food-type textures, this might not be as fun. However, if your child is used to textures like slime, sand or play-dough this might be a great activity! Here are some Halloween recipe ideas. Make ingredient substitutions as needed :
• Gummy Worm Halloween Popcorn Balls
• Halloween Trail Mix
• Halloween Bark
• Candy Corn Marshmallows *Not actual candy corn if you’re anti-candy corn*
• Find more here!

So to sum this all up, Halloween is more than the spooky and the scary—It’s about the connection with your children. We hope we’ve helped you find ways to connect with your children this Halloween that aren’t too spooky, scary or even stressful. Have the best time this Halloween season, whether you're out and about or around the house. Let us know if you’ve tried any of these ideas!

Photo: Kids dancing on Halloween party by svetkid