Halloween celebrations are fun for any age, but the party you throw for a group of children will probably differ in more ways than one from the party you throw for your friends. Although you may have to leave some of the more gruesome decorations and boozy drink options out of a children’s party, Halloween is an exciting time for kids.
From decorations to games, here are some ideas for planning a Halloween-themed party for your children.
Spooky Decorations That aren’t “Too” Scary
One of the great things about Halloween is that there are seemingly endless theme and decoration options, and certainly plenty of ways to keep things spooky without being too terrifying. Depending on the age of your children and their friends, you will probably want to stay away from any decorations that are super gruesome.
Keep it light and fun with decorations that aren’t going to scare anyone. Jack O’Lantern, spiderwebs, bats, and witches’ brooms are all great ideas for where to start. You can also add orange and black balloons, plates, cutlery, and napkins to add to the theme.
Another decorating option is to center the party around one idea or character. For example, you could have a Frankenstein theme, keeping the colors green and black. Witches, mummies, and ghosts are all great kid-friendly options as well.
Halloween Foods
Along with the obvious must-have candies and treats., there are a lot of ways you can get creative with food for your party. From appetizers to desserts, you can create fun dishes that are sure to please children and adults.
Caramel apples are a classic dish for fall, however, a good way to make this treat less messy and more shareable is to cut up your apples first. Lay the slices on a baking sheet and spread caramel sauce over the tops of them, then you can add whatever toppings you like.
What child doesn’t like mac and cheese? Grab some orange bell peppers, cut out a few triangles and a mouth and you have the perfect “jack o’lantern” edible bowl.
Rice crispy treats are also easy, child-friendly desserts that can be shaped into anything you’d like. Go classic with squares that you can decorate to match your theme, or shape them into something creative like a witch’s hat. As your party favors, offer Halloween candy gifts.
Crafts and Games
When you’re throwing a party for kids, it’s a good idea to have some activities lined up to keep them entertained. One fun game option is the “mummy race”, all you need is some toilet paper and the kids can race to make a mummy out of their teammates.
Crafts are a good activity to keep kids busy, and it also gives them something to take home as a memento. Miniature scarecrows can be a fun and easy activity and can be made with a bit of straw, popsicle sticks, fabric, and glue.
Halloween Costumes
No children’s Halloween party is complete without costumes, and what kids don’t like a little competition? You can inform your guests beforehand that there will be a costume contest, then you and other parents can vote for who the winners are. A great way to get everyone involved in this is to award winners for categories like “scariest costume” and “most creative costume”. Once you have picked the winners, there is no better way to reward them than with more candy!
Thank you for reading.
Jenn Walker is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beach goer operating out of Southern New Jersey.
