It’s time for pumpkins, witches, and spooky décor. While trick-or-treating is an American tradition, you might host a Halloween party this year. It’s fun to bring some of the holiday’s festive spirit to the weekends before or after to extend the fun. Also, children can wear their costumes more than once and be delighted to do so.
Birthday parties may be scheduled at facilities outside the home, but a Halloween party at home can be lots of fun. It’s important to jam-pack a children’s party with lots of activities.
Children love music, dancing, and games. Their attention span is short, so don’t let any one game or activity last too long. If you are inviting the parents as well, their attention span may be short, too. Two hours is enough time for both fun-loving children and busy parents. Don’t overestimate your own ability to manage the party. Ask a friend to assist you when playing games and serving refreshments.
There are endless ways to make a Halloween party fun and festive for children. There’s bobbing for apples if you have a large bin that can hold water and a few apples.
Make sure each child gets to wear a “bib,” or towel so they don’t soak their clothing. Another one of my favorite games is to hang donuts on a string thumbtacked to the top of a door frame. Each child takes a turn to try to eat the whole donut without leaning against anything or using their hands.
Avoid elimination games. When children are left out, they may feel ostracized or sad. Instead, play games where the spotlight is on the winner, or better yet, the team.
For example, you can divide the children into two teams. Use apples, tennis balls, or balloons, and put one under the first child’s chin. That child must pass it to the next child under their chin and so on. The team that makes it to the last child wins.
Another idea is a costume contest where almost everyone gets a prize such as the scariest, the funniest, the weirdest, the bravest, most original, and the most creative. Select inexpensive prizes for each game. Winning matters more than the cost of the prize. All the prizes should be about the same size and cost. You might find some good prizes at a local dollar store, or the prize can be a large size candy bar.
In between games, you might play some traditional Halloween songs and give the children a few minutes to dance or do the “Monster Mash.”
Refreshments, such as cupcakes or donuts, should be easy to handle without forks or spoons. They go well with apple cider. At my parties, I serve pumpkin soup and ladle it out of a real hollowed- out pumpkin tureen.
For many years, I purchased dry ice – be careful, use gloves – and dropped it into a cauldron pot of water so that smoke rose from the cauldron. On the tray, I surrounded the pot with candy and gave the children a choice of dipping into my cauldron for a witch’s “trick” or selecting a piece of candy as a “treat.” They always picked the treat. And, at the end of the party, an easy goodie bag to give to the children, of course, is a bag of assorted wrapped candies.
Before the party, it is a good idea to discuss with your child who the guests will be, the games, refreshments, and prizes. Most importantly, discuss the order of events with your child. Which comes first – the donuts on a string, the dancing, the refreshments, or other games? If you and your child are on the same page, you will avoid tears and disaster.
Now that my children are adults and I see some of their old friends, they often say that my do-it-yourself parties were the best they ever attended. Happy Halloween!
By Maureen Molé
Maureen Molé is a lecturer, product spokesperson, and the author of The Book of Entertaining at Home.
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