Halloween is Just Around the Corner…
Halloween is just around the corner, and there are so many fun things you can do to celebrate! Whether you’re a mom with young children, or someone who is just a kid at heart, the following ideas and projects should keep you busy during this Halloween season…
Pumpkin carving is a tradition that is fun for everyone. If you’re hosting an adult party, consider having a blind pumpkin carving contest. Purchase a few pumpkin carving sets, basic handkerchiefs, and stock up on newspaper to keep the mess at bay. Once you set up an area, sit back and laugh as your friends try to make Jack-O-Lanterns without being able to see- the results are hilarious!
If you’re looking to entertain children, gather the same tools (minus the blindfolds) and pair up each child with an adult to help supervise. Let the kids draw their ideas on the pumpkin using a bold marker, then teach them to carve out the design they created. When carving is done, line up all of the pumpkins and place a basic tea light candle in each. The kids will light up when they see their finished Jack-O-Lanterns glowing!
After all of the fun with pumpkins, making roasted pumpkin seeds is simple and another way to entertain the kiddos. You will need 1 ½ cups raw pumpkin seeds, 2 teaspoons melted butter, and a pinch of salt tossed together in a bowl. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Spread the seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes or until golden, and be sure to stir them occasionally. This is a fun treat to share after the work of pumpkin carving is done!
Costume contests are another great way to gather people of all ages on Halloween. If you’re hosting an adult party, the costume contest can include awards for best couple, best group, most disturbing…the ideas are endless. Have fun prizes for each category, and allow everyone at the party to put in votes for the costumes. Costume contests help to encourage everyone to participate, and people who don’t know each other are more likely to interact.
With children, a costume contest is a fun way to start the evening before they head out to trick-or-treat. You can set up your home as a designated meeting place for the group, which eases the stress for other parents and guarantees that your child will have a well supervised group to trick-or-treat with. Lining the children up to show off their costumes is also a prefect photo opportunity! Small prizes or loot bags can be awarded to each child as a way to start the festivities. Once everyone is gathered and ready to go, it’s a good idea to have them trick-or-treat your door first. This is a chance for the smaller children to practice walking up to a door and saying, “trick-or-treat” at a home that they know.
For Halloween there are endless games, craft ideas, and recipes available. Whether you’re throwing a large party or just entertaining your child’s closest friends, it’s an easy holiday to be creative with. Whatever your plans include, have fun and be safe on this Halloween holiday!