Halloween Party Planning Ideas

“Halloween! Trick or Treat!” that is what I hear once October settles and autumn resides. I remember, when I was a child myself, how we used to wait with impatience for Halloween every year.  The image of us running in the neighbourhood from one house to the other, gathering candies and goodies, still lingers in my mind. When the evening comes, and the sun sets down in the horizon, and our pumpkins are filled, everyone is seated around the bonfire enjoying the crackling of the warm flames.

Costumes, candies, pumpkins, cookies, cobwebs, witches, bats, and the list never ends. Every year, my children and I prepare something for Halloween, where I try my best to have them enjoy it the way I did when I was their age. I want them to learn to cherish these little things that we can do together and have them appreciate it.

Planning a Halloween party at home is simple, easy, and fun, especially when you have your children involved. You will be surprised how responsible they are. All you need to do is organize your time, decide on the number of children you want to have, and have your decoration ready.

Decoration: Decorating the house for Halloween is an amazing activity where all the family members participate in. Here are a few ideas;

·            Black bats can be easily cut out from black cardboards and stuck on the main entrance or walls in the house. It is a wonderful activity that the children love and helps with their fine motor skills.    

·         Black and orange streamers can be done from soft crepe papers.

·         A few black and orange balloons coming down from the ceiling, a few pumpkins, candles, and you are done. You do not need to be too sophisticated. After all it is a celebration for the children and you need a few things just to set the ambiance.                                

  Food: A few can be chosen from the list below;

•      Hotdog fingers can be done as “Dead Men’s Fingers.  Simply wrap some hot dog sausages with puff pastry, bake them in the oven. Add a few drops of ketchup for the final touch.

·      Using cookies cutters, make mini pizzas in the shape of a tombstone, cat, ghost etc…

·      A ball of popcorn and pretzels

·     Graveyard Tiramisu:                                            

                       

For this recipe you will need:     

2 cans of Nestle Cream

2 bags Dream Whip whipping cream

3 Tablespoons icing sugar

1 box Leibniz butter biscuits

1 cup of Nescafe instant coffee

For decoration: HARIBOU worms, Milano cookies for the tombstones, melted dark chocolate for the writing and spiders.

     

• One round cake covered with orange icing with a few licorice candy coming down from the sides.

•     A pumpkin pie. 

·            

Games and Activities: There are many games and activities that you can find online, but I’ll share some of my favourite ones so far…

•      “Treasure Hunt”: Hide different types of candies and treats and have the children find them. You can also hide a scary pumpkin or a skull (depending on your age group) and the winner gets a prize. This activity can be done indoors or outdoors.
•       Do an art craft where children can make a skeleton out of cotton buds.  

·        Have the children listen to a story related to Halloween. For example,   “The Witches” by Roald Dahl, and/or “Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson are both interesting depending on the age group and the time you have.

·       Donut eating race: where several donuts with strings are hanging from a tree branch or a sturdy rod.  Blindfold the contestants and, on the count of three, have each player try to eat their donut — the first one to finish wins!

    v  Last but not least, take instant Polaroid pictures of the guests and everything you did.

 This serves as a great souvenir!

Enjoy!!