Halloween is right around the corner and you need to figure out what you are going to do. Because little Sally and little Johnny keep tugging at your dress wanting to know what you all are going to do this year.
Ultimately, you will have to weigh the pros and cons on what is best for your family.
If you decide to go trick or treating as a family, the CDC offers some guidelines on how you can stay safe this season.
But, if you decide not to participate in “trick-or-treating” festivities this year, you can still make it a FUN and memorable time for your family.
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10 ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN
1. Pumpkin hunt
Do you remember how fun it was to go on an easter egg hunt as a child? If you didn’t do Easter egg hunts, What about scavenger hunts? Those were always fun! The thrill of the search an then finding the item on your list. Try doing something similar and go on a “pumpkin hunt”.
2. Virtual halloween contest
Call up some friends via zoom or FaceTime and have a virtual Halloween contest. Dress up as your favorite book character, movie character or something totally random and unique like my daughters, “jellyfish” costume last year, ha.
3. Carve pumpkins
Now, it wouldn’t be fall if we didn’t have a good ol’ pumpkin carving session, am I right? You can head to your local grocery store OR if you’re super fancy, head to the pumpkin patch and let the kiddies pick out a nice family pumpkin or their own little pumpkins to carve.
“If you’re thinking,no way are my kids carving a pumpkin, they are too young!”. I totally get it! you can carve the pumpkin and they can be the, ‘scooper’.
4. Ghost stories
If you’re cringing reading this title, just bare with me for a moment. I am not a fan of anything scary, in fact, I didn’t watch ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ until 2 years ago, because the trailer scared me growing up.
BUT, If you’re ok with it and your kids are old enough, share ghost stories together either ones you know from stories OR from a kids book like this (this book was ALWAYS checked out of my Elementary school library when I was a kid!)
Are scary stories ok for young kids?
If you still have very young kids that are slightly intrigued by spooky things (for some reason my daughter was obsessed with Nightmare Before Christmas at age 4) when taking turns, make up your own spooky stories! In an attempt not to absolutely terrify your child, you can add some extreme silliness to your story as to not traumatize them into adulthood (thanks, mom).
5. Halloween arts and crafts
Crafting is my number one go to for any holiday or occasion! There is just something so special about creating a beautiful tangible item and then putting it out on display. If you’re looking for some Halloween crafts for your children, here is a great post with “18 fun and easy crafts for kids”.
6. Find a trunk or treat
Ok, so this is almost toe-ing the fence of trick or treating, but I figured it could potentially be an option for some families. Check out your local area (churches, community event pages, social media posts for trunk or treat events). OR host your own neighborhood trunk or treat.
7. Create a Halloween scavenger hunt:
Oh, who doesn’t love a good scavenger hunt? Hide halloween spirited items around the inside of your house, around the outside of your home, around your neighborhood, the park. I mean, the possibilities are endless. You can get real creative here, mama!
Hide jack o’ lanterns, candy, spooky items like fake spiders. You can draw a map, print out a scavenger hunt key, make it a competition, and the winner will get something extra special.
9. Outdoor movie night
Do you have a projector (or maybe you know someone who does)? An outdoor movie night with the crisp fall air sounds like a lovely way to spend the evening. Whip out the inflatable air mattress or the inflatable swimming pool and fill it with lots of cozy blankets and pillows and enjoy an evening under the stars.
10. Cookie decorating contest
We are OBSESSED about baking cookies in our house….Well, at least I am.
I bake cookies once a week. I understand that not everyone LOVES to bake, so as an alternative you can go to your local grocery store and buy actual premade plain sugar cookies specifically for decorating. There is no need to be supermom this year, honestly.
Save yourself the time and energy and buy premade, unless you absolutely want to make cookies with your teeny goblins.Go for it.
11. Pumpkin decorating contest:
Listen, if you don’t want to carve pumpkins, I get it. I leave that up to my husband every year. I cannot carve a pumpkin to save my life. So, if you’re in the same boat as me… Then, sticking to decorating a pumpkin from the outside is much easier. You and your children can use stickers, paint, fuzzy pom poms, glue guns to add extra embellishments. I personally find decorating the pumpkin much more enjoyable than carving it.
12. Family Halloween party:
Now that you’ve read all of the ‘trick or treating’ alternative, this is the big one. One the night of Halloween you could have your own ‘family Halloween party”. You can add a little bit of everything to the party. You can start with a scavenger hunt, cookie decorating, spooky dinner, and top it with a movie night.
What are you planning on doing for Halloween this year? Are you going trick or treating with your kids?
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