As the air becomes crisp, the ground blanketed with leaves, and the trees bare, it’s a sure sign that Halloween is around the corner. However, in a season of gore and terror, it’s easy for this fun-family holiday to quickly become unsuitable for our kids.
Your children don’t have to be excluded from the spookiest time of the year! There are plenty of ways to bring the spirit of the season to your home without entirely dialing down the goblins, ghosts, and ghouls that make Halloween so exciting.
Boo a friend!
‘Booing’ is the practice of sending someone, whether a friend from school or a neighbor, an anonymous Halloween surprise. Help your child put together a baggie of goodies. You can throw in prepackaged Halloween candy or make homemade versions. If it’s for a schoolmate, include spooky themed pencils, pens, or funky printed socks to weather the colder months ahead.
Attach a tag that reads, “You’ve been booed!” or use one of the many free templates available. Have your child leave the treat bag on the recipient’s front step before making like a ghost and disappearing!
Watch your favorite Halloween flicks
Transform your living room into a haunted theater, privately reserved for all who dare to enter. There are plenty of wholesome christian movies to choose from that will allow your child to take part in all of the Halloween fun! Stretch out cotton and loose string to create cobwebs over the table and television. Serve spooky snacks like ice cold blood (fruit punch) or creepy crawly bugs on a branch (celery sticks smothered in nut or seed butter topped with raisins). For a more decadent treat, serve this witches brew snack mix for a sweet and salty addition to movie night!
Get inspired by their favorite characters
Turn dressing up into an educational experience. Have your child pick their favorite storybook character to dress up as for the big day. Throughout October, take the opportunity to read the chosen book with your child. This will help them better prepare to really bring the character to life, both in look as well as personality, while you’ll sneakily fit quality reading time into their schedule!
As the day approaches, host a costume crafting party. Invite friends and neighbors over to put their costumes together. To cut costs on your end, make the event BYOSS (Bring your own ‘spooky supplies’). Focus on hosting the main meal, like pizza, and ask each guest to bring their favorite side!
Give back to your neighborhood
You don’t need to wait until the holiday season is in full swing to let your neighbors know how much you appreciate their friendship. On the big night, host a pre-trick-or-treat party for the entire neighborhood. If the weather permits, fire up the grill one last time for jack o’lantern sliders and mummies (cheeseburgers and hotdogs!) as a thank you for all they do. This gives your kids a chance to interact with others in a supervised way, as well as bring you closer to your neighbors! Organize Halloween games to preoccupy the kids while the parent relax before heading out for the main event. Kick off their candy hunt by being the first house they trick-or-treat at.
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