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Halloween is approaching and there are plenty of activities for kids from pumpkin picking to visiting scary haunted houses and of course, trick-or-treating on October 31. But how do you know what are the best kid friendly activities are? Here's a helpful guide to things that are sure to delight.
If you trick or treat, please supervise your kids and remember to put glow in the dark reflective tape on costumes and give your kids glow sticks so that they can be seen by drivers. Sadly, it is necessary to check the candy that your kids collect. Here's a YouTube that shows you how.
Pumpkin Decorating
Many people carve their pumpkins but that is usually a parent do and kid watch activity. Let the kids get in on the action by decorating their own pumpkin. You can use permanent markers – water based doesn't work on pumpkins – puffy fabric paint, glitter glue, acrylic paint and you can use a variety of age appropriate material like eyes, beads, yarn, and other craft materials online or at a craft store.
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Bake Halloween Treats
Kids love to help in the kitchen. Even little ones can help mix ingredients and everything tastes better if they are involved in the process. Bake cookies and decorate them with orange colored sugar or make cupcakes decorated with Halloween colors. You can make caramel apples and let the kids do the dipping. Older children can make homemade chocolate using Halloween molds.
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DIY Your Kids Costumes
Costumes do not have to be store bought. Let the kids decide what they want to be and figure out together how to make it work. If you sew, let the kids help you pick out the material. If you don't, look for items at home that can be repurposed or take a trip to a thrift store. Accessories like crowns, hats, wigs, and makeup can be found in dollar stores.
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Watch a Halloween Themed Movie Together
Everyone can enjoy watching It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, or Disney's Toy Story of Terror. The Olsen twins have a classic Double, Double, Toil and Trouble and there are many non-scary Halloween movies to watch together with a big bowl of popcorn and some homemade Halloween treats.
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Go Pumpkin Picking
Do this to pick out pumpkins to decorate. Many farms feature hayrides, petting zoos and fresh apple cider so this is a perfect fall weekend activity for the entire family.
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Recreate an Old-Fashioned Halloween Party
Bob for apples, have a Halloween themed scavenger hunt, have a costume parade, play pin the spider on the web, and make sure there is plenty of seasonal food and drinks.
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Check Out Local Halloween Offerings
Some zoos – like the Bronx Zoo – have Boo at the Zoo activities, there are fright fests at amusement parks – like six Flags – for older kids, community parades, trick or treating at a local mall, school parties, Halloween story time at your local library for little ones, and a host of activities for kids of all ages.
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