Halloween tips for parents and homeowners from What To Do With The Kids®
What To Do With The Kids® is not only the website parents go to when they want to know what to do with their kids but also a popular place to visit when planning your Halloween festivities. The fun can be found at www.whattodowiththekids.com.
Our Halloween collection includes tips on how to create a haunted house, throw a spooktacular Halloween party featuring party invitations and Halloween crafts to entertain the kids. The kids can have their faces painted easily with a simple yet creative design and your jack-o-lantern will be the envy of the neighborhood when using one of our unique pumpkin stencils.
We have also developed two separate trick-or-treat tip sheets for parents taking their kids out and for the homeowners who hand out the goodies.
Here are a few tips that will hopefully prepare parents for make the evening fun for everyone.
- Encourage the kids to use facial make up instead of a mask.
- Spend the extra dollar and purchase quality make-up. You don’t want your kid to have that same look weeks later.
- If possible, design the costume to accommodate a sweater or even a jacket underneath depending on the weather.
- Make sure all costumes and accessories are flame resistant.
- Keep in mind how much walking they’ll be doing for their age. You don’t want to have to carry your little ghoul home.
- Carry extra bags to dump candy in so the kids don’t get overly tired.
- If you have more than one kid to supervise, try bringing a wagon or cart to unload the candy in as they go door to door.
- If you’re taking other kids with you, set out the rules before you leave and make sure they understand.
- Instruct the kids to stay with you and off the lawns and out of the gardens.
- Remind the kids to say thank you, even if they get crappy candy.
- Be prepared to carry their props after a while.
- Inspect all candy when you get home. Throw away homemade, unwrapped or open candy.
- Let them have one piece of wrapped candy while on the walk as a treat/break.
- Bring a flashlight and give them glow sticks to wear.
- Don’t let them walk in the middle of the streets. Cars will still travel on roads Oct. 31.
- If the front light is out but they have Halloween decorations, there is a good chance they have no more candy.
- If the lights are out and don’t have any decorations, the people are most likely hiding in the back and have no candy to give.
- Carry a small, portable first-aid kit for those little cuts and injuries.
- Many people bring their dogs with them and dress them up in costumes such as a hot dog or a devil. Instruct the kids to ask the owner if they can pet the animal before they do. There is a good chance the animal is embarrassed to be in a costume and may want to take it out on a kid.
- When the kids go to the door, stay close by and watch carefully.
- Set a strict curfew for older kids that go out on their own.
- Kids are never to go into the house unless you know the people inside.
- If you have to drive, slow down more than usual.
- Give the kids a snack before they go out. They won’t complain about being hungry and want to eat the candy.
- Take half the candy and place it in the freezer for use in the summer.
Here are a few tips for homeowners on Halloween:
- Keep the path to your door clear of all obstacles and well lit.
- Don’t terrorize the kids. It’s all about fun and not making them wet their pants.
- Be extremely careful with the candle in your pumpkin so nothing bursts into flames, including a kid’s costume. Consider using a battery-powered light or glow sticks.
- Use flashlights, glow sticks or electric lights with the power cord safe and secured.
- If you have a dog, keep it in another room and away from the door.
- If you’re going to give candy, give only storebought and wrapped items such as chocolate bars, chips or other. Loose candy will be thrown out by the parents.
- Alternative giving can include pencils, erasers or stickers with a Halloween theme.
- If you’ve spent a lot of time on your Halloween display, you may want to consider putting some sort of safe fencing around it so everyone can enjoy it without it being trampled.
- Halloween candy is magically calorie- and fat-free on Oct. 31 so feel free to use the “one for you, one for me” rule.
- Check out our website for more tips and special effects.
Discover what to do with your kids at whattodowiththekids.com.