How To Throw A Spook-tacular Halloween Party For Your Little Fiends

Are you “afraid” of hosting a gang of little devils whose “blood” sugar is at a yearly high?  Do you want to give your munchkin a fun-filled and fang-tastic monster blowout party?  Here are a few ideas and suggestions from local vendors and businesses to ensure that your Superhero costume is appropriate and that your party is a success. 

Games & Crafts

 Executive Director Heather Hoadley says that a fun and easy project for all ages is to make a paper bag pumpkin. 

“You take a brown bag (sandwich-size works best) and the kids can stuff it full of bunched up newspapers.  The top gets tied closed with green ribbon.  Then they paint the bottom of the bag orange and tie the top with a tie ribbon,” she explains. 

The center's age four class plays “pin the Oooo on the ghost.” Hoadley says, “Just like pin the tail on the donkey, but you draw a large shape of a ghost with two big black eyes.  Then make a separate black circle for each child.  Roll tape for the back of the circle and put the name of the child on each one.  Whoever gets their circle closest to the mouth wins.  (A pencil outline where the mouth is located should be drawn on the ghost.)”

Another easy game is based on "Duck, Duck, Goose."  You play the same way, but make up Halloween words such as “Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Witch” to say instead. 

“We also have a plastic black cauldron that we use to play a bat toss game.  The children take turns trying to toss a plastic bat into it while standing at a distance,” Hoadley said.

Ghost lollipops are a cute classic and super easy.  The guest takes a round lollipop and covers it with a square of white fabric which gets tied on with a piece of white yarn.  Next, draw two black eyes with a black marker. 

You can also make a scarecrow using an old shirt, old pair of gloves, an old pair of jeans, an old pair of boots, an old straw hat and an old pillowcase.  To do so, stuff the clothes with newspapers.  The pillowcase is used for the head. Draw a face on the head with markers, and then use rubber bands to close the arm and leg holes and to attach the gloves.  

Goodies

While candy, cupcakes, donuts and anything having to do with sugar are synonymous with Halloween, your treats don’t have to be all about sweets.  

For the daycare crowd at Clinton Child Care Services, candy and sweets are limited.  

“The children do a little parade and we hand out little toys or trinkets instead of candy.  The Oriental Trading Company usually has some neat things for a low cost.  We usually give our infants stuffed animals (like a bear wearing a witches hat),” Hoadley said.

The food served can be based on a color theme.  That is, if the theme is pumpkin colors, you would serve only foods that are orange or green.

“It helps to make the healthier food fun.  For example, carrot sticks, green grapes, celery with dip, bell peppers, sugar-free orange jello, etc.," she said and then fessed up, "But it is a party after all, so we usually do one sugary treat like a cupcake decorated as a pumpkin.” 

If you’d like to serve extra special candy or offer a treat or two in a goodie bag,  is perfect for supplies. "We pride ourselves in getting unique and unusual things here," says Manager Karen Pappas.

Among the seasonal sweets found are Pumpkin Spice Malt Balls, Coconut Ghosts, Jelly Belly Fall Festival, and Ultimate Pretzels with Reese's Pieces. 

Decorating

Halloween, or All Hallows' Eve is the second most popular holiday (after Christmas) for decorating in the U.S.  At , "you'll find plastic bags shaped liked skeleton hands that can be filled with popcorn, lots of decorations, costumes, masks and makeup," says sales associate Mary Marszalek.  "There's also cupcake papers, cookie cutters, and plastic silverware shaped like bones and witches!"

A Few More Tricks of the Trade

After years of preschool parties,  Director Lynn Pionke has picked up a few tricks to keep the young children's Halloween party happy.  

"Preschoolers can have difficulty separating fantasy from reality.  A simple mask can be very scary to a young child.  Light makeup or no face covering is usually the best.  Toy guns and swords usually end up getting a child in trouble. The child may poke or hit another child in fun and end up making that child cry," she warns.

"Another no...no is forcing a child to wear a costume.  Some children do not want to be the center of attention.  They have lots of years to dress up.  Keep the smile on," Pionke advises. 

She adds that wrapped treats are best: "They allow parents of children who have food allergies to make safe choices for their child."

Another consideration is how much movement the child will be doing at the event, she says. "For active events safe shoes and costumes that allow the child to move are a good choices."

Last but not least, preschoolers enjoy parties that are kept simple and happy.  Parents do too!