Spooktacular Fun For All Ages

Few things bring out the child in us like Halloween. It’s the one day a year that you can dress up as someone (or something) else. The fact that you get to enjoy Halloween candy is just the icing on the cake (or the fangs on the vampire, as the case may be). It’s no wonder that Halloween has become such a beloved American holiday.

But how can you make this holiday even more memorable for the kids? With these great party ideas from our American Greetings Halloween experts (and some might say, “fang-atics!”), you’ll be on your way to hosting your own ghoulish ghostfest in no time.

• Host a pumpkin-decorating contest with a modern twist. Paint funny faces on the pumpkins or cover them in glitter. They’ll look great and last a lot longer than their carved counterparts. Awards can be as simple as bags of candy or Halloween decorations.

• An autumn harvest party is an excellent way to share the fall spirit with young children who are still fearful of ghosts and goblins. Vintage games like bobbing for apples, pin the nose on the pumpkin, and guessing how many candies are in a jar are easy games for the younger crowd.

• Want to be the coolest neighbor on the block? Throw a trick-or-treating after party! Invite both neighborhood children and their parents to come over for chips and apple cider and let the kids trade candy for the perfect assortment of treats.

• Get outside to enjoy a crisp fall day by going on a hayride or ghost walk. Oftentimes these events can be found through your local parks and recreation department or community calendar listings in the newspaper.

• Haunted houses can be fun for both adults and older children. Even though you know ghosts and goblins aren’t real, it still can be fun to let yourself get scared by the frightening sights and sounds.

Creating Halloween traditions can become some of your children’s fondest childhood memories, so finding something that your family loves to do together each year is key. While it may not seem essential to carve a pumpkin or go on a hayride, but the time you spend together will be cherished for years to come.