It’s getting close to Halloween, that time of the year where the kids beg to dress up in horrible outfits and go out knocking on the doors of random strangers asking for sweets.
As you might have guessed, it’s not my favourite time of the year. If I’m honest I don’t really get what all the fuss is about, though for the kids it’s obviously all about buckets full of sweets.
I have a bit of an issue with taking my daughter to knock on the doors of people we don’t know – it’s something we would always tell her not to do on any other night so I find it a bit odd.
Little H is 7 and we only started going Trick or Treating a couple of years ago as before that I felt she was too young, plus we were in a flat in an area where none of the neighbours really joined in. We live in a small private development of 15 houses now so are quite lucky that we can just go around our neighbours who we kind of know, so it’s not too much of a double standard.
We usually have a very quick trick or treating trip and then head back home. Our Halloween ‘celebrations’ tend to involve other activities on the weekend or during the day.
Whatever your reasons, if you don’t like the idea of going Trick or Treating with your kids but still want to have some Halloween fun, here are 10 things you could do…
1. Dress up
If you are going to do Halloween then you have to let the kids dress up. Let them put on their outfit, paint their faces, and take some photos. Why not paint your own face too, or let the kids do it for a bit of a laugh.
If you want to dress up without going overboard how about one of these outfits…
Not On The Highstreet Halloween T-shirt
2. Treat hunt
You don’t need to go out Trick or Treating to get sweets. You’ve probably done Easter Egg Hunts so why not a Halloween Treat Hunt?
Hide lots of sweets around the house, give the kids some clues and a bucket, and let them go searching for their treats. If nothing else, it will keep them busy for a bit if you’ve hidden them well!
3. Party with friends
Sometimes half of the fun for children is to see everyone else dressed up too. Get a few of their friends round after school, making sure they come dressed up.
Decorate the house, lay on some spooky party food, play some games, and a maybe organise a treat hunt before their friends go home.
4. Family games night
If you decide to spend the night in on your own you could have a family games night.
There are lots of Halloween games you could play such as apple bobbing, Halloween Bingo, Witches Hat Ring Toss and Halloween Tin Can Bowling.
5. Halloween crafts
Some Halloween crafts after school are a fun way to get the kids in the spooky spirit.
Pinterest has tons of amazing ideas to try, or you could try some of my really easy Halloween craft ideas from last year.
6. Pumpkin Picking
If you haven’t got a pumpkin yet you could head down to a local PYO farm after school.
We always go pumpkin picking the weekend before Halloween and have so much fun choosing our pumpkins.
7. Pumpkin Carving
It’s also fun (but hard work!) to carve them and see who can create the best Jack O’Lantern. We’ve had scary faces, bats, cats and a Minecraft Creeper so far. I’m not sure what Little H will challenge us to carve this year!
8. Movie night
For a quiet night in you can light your pumpkins and sit down in your Halloween outfits with your sweets to watch a spooky film. It’s doesn’t have to be a scary film (I hate anything remotely scary!), there are loads of great family-friendly Halloween themed films you can watch together.
9. Attend a local event
Check out any events near you as you may find a local country park or restaurant is hosting an event. We’re going to be heading to a country park for a spooky evening Halloween trail which will be a nice alternative to Trick or Treating. they’re doing games, a competition for best outfit and pumpkin carving.
Facebook Events is a great way to find out what’s going on in your area.
10. Spooky stories
A nice way to end your Halloween night is with a spooky bedtime story. It doesn’t have to be scary though, there are some fab books that fit in with a Halloween theme. Check out my list of our favourite Halloween books.
What are you going to be doing on Halloween? Do you head out Trick or Treating, or do you prefer to stay indoors?
Mummy in a Tutu
Lydia C. Lee
Was always a big fan of the party. This year the 2 teens have exams the next day (one final year) and so I’ll be on gate duty to stop people distrubing them and off load the other to a trick o treater….so to speak. #KCACOLS