Halloween is often a fun holiday for kids and parents alike: choosing a costume, decorating the house and canvasing the neighborhood to build up a candy bounty. For some kids, however, the ghost stories, tombstone decorations and spooky music are simply too terrifying. Here are some great ways to turn Halloween from frightening into fun:
1) Think Whimsical… Not Witches
Avoid the plastic spiders, cobwebs and fake blood. Instead create fun, festive decorations together like a candy corn banner or a corn wreath and hang them around the house.
2) Pumpkin Painting
Who says pumpkins have to be carved with ghoulish faces? Let your kids design and paint smiling faces and fun characters on their pumpkins. And don’t forget the accessories! Hats, earrings, yarn hair – the possibilities are limitless!
3) Light The Way
No matter how old you are, the dark can be scary. Add festive lighting outside your home like glow stick pumpkin jars. And if your child feels brave enough to go trick-or-treating, make sure to bring a few flashlights. It’s empowering for a kid to have his or her own light! If the darkness is altogether too much, venture out in the late afternoon and stay close to home.
4) Comfort Costume
No matter how non-scary a costume is, the outfit itself is unfamiliar to your child. Consider alternative costumes you can make together at home, out of your child’s existing clothing. A familiar sweatsuit can be much more comforting—and comfortable!—than a completely new outfit. A black sweatsuit can easily be transformed into cat or a butterfly with a few accessories. Or have pair a white shirt with dark pants, add a chef’s hat, and Voila! You’ve got yourself a Halloween chef!
5) Host With The Most
If staying home on Halloween night seems like the way to go, get your child involved by having him or her help distribute candy to the night’s revelers. Halloween fun from the comfort of home: the best of both worlds!
6) Fun (not Fright) Fest
Community-hosted Halloween events are generally fun, but not too spooky. If you want to avoid the parade of costumes in the neighborhood and unfamiliar faces at the door, consider one of these events, like iPlay America’s Not So Frightening Fridays!
Wishing you and your family a safe, happy and fun Halloween!