We took a trip to Ireland last year, but it was just us. We knew immediately the kids would love it, so this time we brought the kids to Ireland! Day 1 We left the house Monday, August 14th about noon and arrived at Newark International Airport at about 2:30, breezed through security, and sat […]
Entertaining Ways to Keep Younger Kids Safe on Halloween
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As a kid, Halloween is scary, exciting, cool, and fun. For adults, it’s exhausting, cold, and scary. It’s especially scary for parents with younger kids. With so many other people out and rowdy older kids running around, Halloween isn’t just scary; it can be dangerous. But keeping little ones safe doesn’t have to mean saying “No” to Halloween fun!
Tips for Safely Entertaining
Tip 1: Limit trick-or-treat to friends’ houses
Limiting the houses or neighborhoods you go to lets the tikes dress up and be a part of the fun, without the safety issues of crossing streets and going to strangers’ doors. It also gives family and friends a chance to see their favorite little ghosts all dressed up and looking adorable (or scary), and it allows for a shorter night, which is good for both child and parent.
Tip 2: Host a party
What better way to keep track of your kids on Halloween? It’s in your own house, you invite who you want, and you control how long it lasts. The party can be made sweeter by giving out treat bags to parents and kids. Other treats can include themed food, like Jack-o’-lantern cupcakes or bone-shaped cookies. Check out these Spooky Sweet Treats for Halloween!
Tip 3: Host a kid block party
Or you can make the party larger scale and include your (trusted) neighbors. You and the other parents can make it a carnival of sorts. Each house can have a different theme, game and prize. You could even end the night with a projected movie in someone’s backyard.
Tip 4: Tag team trick-or-treating
Get a small group of friends together to go trick-or-treating together. This means more chaperones to watch over the children, and it gives the adults a chance to have fun together too. You can limit the time and/or the homes you go to also. If the grown-ups want to have even more fun, you and your friends can dress up too!
Tip 5: Have a scavenger hunt
Again, you can stay at home. You can hide some things (pumpkins, toys, etc.) around the house and yard, and let your kids run wild to find everything. Prizes can be handed out once everything is found. Adults can participate too. To add more entertainment, have the kids help you make easy Halloween crafts that can double as hide-able toys or prizes.
Tip 6: Attend community events
Throughout the month of October, your town or city may throw Halloween events. Festivities may include: candy villages in the park, trick-or-treat at the zoo, church hayrides and bonfires, pumpkin walks, special showings at the movie theater, age-appropriate haunted houses, pumpkins shows, and pumpkins festivals. Be sure to check the local newspaper or calendar for events, days, and times.
Tip 7: Halloween events at churches
The great thing about church events is that they are open to everyone; you don’t have to be a member to attend. Kids are invited to wear their costumes (nothing too scary), participate in games, trick-or-treat, and go on hayrides. Depending on the church, potluck dinners might even be provided.
Tip 8: Go downtown
Many towns have started providing trick-or-treating at local downtown businesses. One great thing about this is that they are usually during the later afternoon so parents don’t need to keep their children out past their bedtime and have to worry about being out in the dark. This activity provides the little ones a chance to dress up and feel a part of the holiday, while minimizing the danger.
What do you do with your little ones for Halloween?
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