Halloween is right around the corner. Why not throw a party for those little goblins in your life? It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate and Pinterest-worthy (although it can be if that’s your thing), but putting together a kid-friendly Halloween bash can be fun.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Send invitations
Nail down the details for this shindig, like a guest list, a date and a time. Consider the ages of the kids when deciding on a time. A couple of hours is perfect for younger kids. Be clear on the invitation about an end time and specify if adults are encouraged to stay for the party. Older kids would likely prefer a longer party, starting later in the day, and they may even try to convince you to make it a sleepover. If they do convince you, be realistic about how many kids you invite. How many sleeping bags can your living room accommodate? Once you have all the details figured out, get crafty with the kids and make your own invites to send out, or you can find a cute Halloween themed evite if that’s more your style.
- Decorate
If you have kids, decorating your home for holidays is probably pretty standard. So, you won’t have to do much extra to get your house party-ready as far as décor. Just a few jack-o-lanterns and some fake spider webs should do the trick. Cover the table and kitchen island with black and orange table cloths and add a spooky centerpiece to each. Enlist the kids to make some paper ghosts you can tape to windows or hang from the ceiling.
- Costumes
Since it’s a Halloween party, costumes are pretty much a given. If you decide to do a theme be sure to indicate that on the invitation. I like to skip the theme and leave it open. Most kids already have a Halloween costume picked out, and you don’t want parents having to buy another one to fit a party theme. If adults are attending, encourage them to get in on the fun and dress up too. There are some really fun adult costumes out there like this unicorn onesie, if you’re into unicorns. Have a costume contest (adults can play too!) and give prizes for the winner(s).
- Entertainment
The good thing about kids is that they are pretty good at entertaining themselves when they get together, but having a few things planned for your party is always a good idea. Pick up a pumpkin ahead of time for each guest and have a pumpkin-carving (or painting) contest. They can take theirs home at the end of the party and boom! You have a party favor. Two birds with one stone. You can do bobbing for apples, a bean bag toss, or a Halloween version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Have a Halloween playlist (don’t forget Monster Mash!) ready to go and have a dance party. You really don’t have to go crazy trying to keep them busy. Simple party games are great for kids.
- Food
There are so many cute ideas for food! A quick google search will give you more than enough things to try. Pumpkin cupcakes, witch hat cookies, “monster slime” (green Jello) and “vampire blood” (red punch), just to name a few. And of course Halloween’s main course-candy! The sugar high will be inevitable, but be sure to temper it with some healthy choices as well. Fruit and veggie trays and crackers and cheese are good, kid-friendly options. My kids love hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls and baked. Mummy dogs. Keep drinks simple (other than “vampire blood”) and just put out mini water bottles, or a large pitcher of ice water and paper cups. Parents will appreciate getting their kids back with something other than sugar in their systems.
With just a little planning, your Halloween bash will be a huge hit! Remember to keep your cell phone handy and snap some photos throughout the party (or assign this task to a friend who will be there). Your kids will love looking at them and you can email them out to your little guests’ parents to enjoy as well.
