Halloween can be such a fun time of year! Dressing up the kids, decorating the house, eating up the candy, and of course, seeing all the ghouls and goblins that come to the door begging for candy.
Here are some tricks to help you get organized for Halloween:
Costume Selection:
Nothing is scarier than waiting until the last minute to pick a costume and getting stuck with the unimaginative and ill-fitting dregs. Don’t let a creativity-block get in your way this year! If you or your kids are stuck, have a family brainstorming session. Grab a big pad of paper, or better yet, a giant post-it pad and generate ideas as a family around the kitchen table after dinner. To get your creative juices flowing, you might try to come up with costume ideas by category such as ‘things that make me laugh’, ‘rock and roll’, ‘scary’, and ‘pop culture’. And remember, no idea is a bad idea when you’re brainstorming – just let your imaginations go and have fun!
Spooky Atmosphere:
Set a spooky atmosphere with a little dry ice. Make trick-or-treaters earn their stripes with a little spooky fog coming out of your jack-o-lantern made with dry ice. Fill a large cup or glass about half full with hot water and mix in a cup of salt and place it inside the pumpkin. Wearing gloves (very important – dry ice can cause instant frostbite), drop two or three large pieces of dry ice into the can of water. Replace the top of the pumpkin.
Get the Candle Effects Without the Fire Hazard:
If you’re not comfortable having a candle in your jack-o-lantern, get the next best thing. The “Artificial Candle Pumpkin Light” from PumpkinLight.com flickers just like a real candle but without the danger of a real flame.
Light Up the Night!:
If you’re looking for something pretty simple and yet different and eerie, try lighting up the sky around your house with glow sticks. Tie small glow sticks to string attached to helium balloons and let them sail over your house or hover in the trees. Make sure to tie off the strings to something solid so they don’t get away.
Be Fun AND Safe:
If you have children that are going to be walking in the streets trick-or-treating, make sure they are easy to see at night. Tie or sew glow-sticks to your child’s costume so they can be seen more easily in the dark. Alternatively, use a little reflective tape. In addition, give them a flashlight to take with them. For older kids, it’s a good idea to add a cell phone so they can check in during the night!
Don’t Forget the Candy!:
You don’t have to spend a fortune on candy when you buy it in bulk. Kids will love whatever they receive! And, just because you and your little goblins are out collecting treats, doesn’t mean you can’t give as well as receive. Avoid being that ‘one house’ that doesn’t give out candy by setting up a treat station by your front door. Instead of putting out loose candy for kids to pick and choose, purchase small paper loot bags, place two or three pieces of candy inside, and tie the bags closed with ribbon. Then place the bags in a bowl or plastic cauldron and cover the top with a few faux cobwebs. All kids will enjoy this trick to get to those treats.
