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It’s that time of the year when ghosts, cats, Jack-O’Lanterns, spider webs, and every other spooky thing you know walks the street at night playing trick or treat! Halloween is such a fun, festive holiday, one that children absolutely love. This year, make the best out of Halloween by going all out with your celebrations. Luckily for us, Halloween this year falls on a Sunday, so you have the entire weekend to start prepping. We’ve listed a bunch of ways to make this a fun experience for you and your family, especially your kids. Read on to find out what we’re talking about:
What’s Halloween Without Its Decorations?
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One of the best ways to celebrate any festive holiday, Halloween included, is by decking up your home! Get everyone in your family involved in the decorations. You can include spooky decorations of ghosts, spider webs, and skulls, so they align with Halloween. Most importantly, don’t forget your own Jack-O’Lantern! You can use real pumpkin to carve out a Jack-O’Lantern or buy mock ones from a party store. Some people also use turnips and other root vegetables as an alternative. Your child will enjoy making party decorations for Halloween, so get some colored paper, paints, and sketches for them to get creative.
Spooky Treats, Anyone?
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We know how Halloween is associated with tricks or treats, but we’re guessing that treats have always been the best choice — especially for kids. So, take some time out to make some spooky treats for your family and friends. A Halloween themed-cookie party, for instance, is a brilliant idea to celebrate this holiday. You can get hold of cookie cutters that come in Halloween-shaped themes such as cat, ghost, or pumpkin-shaped cutters. In addition to these interestingly shaped desserts, you can also play around with surprising tastes. How about some spicy sweet and sour candies that tingle the taste buds? You could fill them up in a pinata for the kids to break and get their treats. And lastly, don’t forget the red strawberry or mixed fruit jam for some gory details!
Morbid Movie Marathon!
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What better time to binge-watch those horror movies than during Halloween? There are plenty of spooky films you can choose from, including those that are okay for kids to watch. Assemble on the couch, get everyone together, bring out the Halloween munchies, turn off the lights (except for the Jack-O’Lantern, of course), and get started on the spooky movie choice for the day! Be mindful of the movies you choose, though — you want the kids to enjoy the time they spend watching these movies, not freaking out and having nightmares. A few lovely films that you can watch with your family and kids include Beetlejuice, The Haunted Mansion, The Little Vampire, Monster House, and even Scooby-Doo!
A Halloween Scavenger Hunt
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We are in the middle of a pandemic, so you might have reservations about letting your kids go out to play trick-or-treat around the neighborhood. What you can do instead is have your own scavenger hunt at home with your family. Hide candy and chocolates in innovative places around the house. Then let your children and other family members lookout for these treats with the help of clues that are placed one after the other. The final clue will lead to the biggest prize, which can be something special for the kids. If there are many kids in your house playing, make sure all of them receive some gift and be able to enjoy it without feeling left out.
Pumpkin Decorating Contests
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If Halloween had a mascot, Jack-O’Lantern would be it! So, get a few pumpkins and hold a pumpkin carving and decorating contest at home for everyone. Bring out all the paint, glitter, paper, and every other prop necessary and get the creative juices flowing. What’s a contest without its winner? The winner, of course, will get a generous treat in the end! Carving a pumpkin can be a little challenging for the kids, so you could either help them with it (nothing better than teamwork, right?) or get them to carve turnips instead. At the end of the day, you will have many carved pumpkins to decorate your house with, and some to share with your neighbors as well.
Enjoy The Moon
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This year is special when it comes to Halloween — it’s a full moon night. The last time this happened was in 2001, so you have all the reasons to celebrate Halloween this year by watching the moon. Get everyone outdoors and spend some time watching the moon. This also makes for the best time to share a few fun, spooky stories of your own. It’s also a great time to give your kids a little history lesson about why Halloween is celebrated across the world. And not to forget that the full moon is eternally associated with werewolves. Make sure to have a howling at the moon session for the ultimate fun!
Halloween-Themed Costume Party
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The cardinal rule for every party is that you dress up for it! You can take “dressed to kill” to a whole other level when it comes to Halloween! Get your kids to dress up like Jack-O’Lantern, ghosts, or their favorite spooky movie character. Make it a point to get creative with the way you dress up so you’ll have a lot more fun. Finally, don’t forget to take as many photos of everyone as you can so you can look back fondly at what a great Halloween you had!
Halloween is an exciting time for kids; it’s often coupled with a sense of fun and fear. The whole idea of ghosts and spooky creatures may scare your child a bit, so be mindful of their concerns. Make them understand that it is a festive holiday and the whole idea is to have fun. Celebrating this day with the above-mentioned ideas can help eliminate the discomfort associated with Halloween. Do you have any other creative ways to celebrate Halloween? Let us know in the comments below!
