If you haven't celebrated it with kids or trick-or-treated before, Halloween doesn't have to involve lots of effort. Children of all ages (and adults too!) can get into the fun of the season with just a little bit of prep. Our Halloween Shop should have plenty to inspire you, but in additon, here are some fun and fiendishly easy ways to have fun with the kids this October 31st.
1. MAKE DASTARDY DECORATIONS
You can browse masses of brilliant ideas for all sorts of decorations from the simple to the sophisticated to transform the house a little or a lot. (If you're running low on craft supplies, stock up from our range of craft kits.) How about an origami ghost garland or a Day of the Dead puppet, courtesy of brilliant crafting resource RedTedArt, or these fab spooky shadow puppets by Mini Eco?
2. HAVE BUCKETS OF FUN
If you're heading out trick-or-treating, they'll need something to carry their stash in. Here's some inspo if you fancy a making your own crafty pail or tote for their treats.
3. DRESS UP
Of course, dressing up's a huge part of the fun and we've got amazing, quality costumes and face paints that'll make great additions to the dressing up box that they'll return to all year round.
Want to make something yourself? You can keep it pretty simple: make a mummy dress-up using bandages or a torn up old sheet. (Even a loo roll aided by some sticky tape will do.) Or dress your child up in black or red, then use facepaint to turn them into a vampire, skeleton or devil.
Course, if you're feeling a bit more ambitious and want to push the boat out creatively, go for it! Here's a rather wonderful Haunted Ginger Bread House Costume, courtesy of ohyaystudio.
4. CARVE A PUMPKIN MASTERPIECE
You can always buy ready-made lit up versions but we think there's nothing like the fun of carving your own pumpkin and there's loads of inspo out there. If you have several kids, or you're hosting a party, it can be fun if everyone has their own pumpkin to carve. But if this seems like a lots of hassle, or you're celebrating with just one toddler, keep the plan simple. (And if you just draw a scary face on a mini pumpkin in black marker pen - we won't tell!)
5. PLAY GHOSTLY GAMES
Spaceships & Laser Beams has loads of brilliant ideas for Halloween fun and games. We especially like the simplicity of Would you rather….? - essentially it's about posing either/or questions, so it's only limited by your imagination - and here's a cool printable you can use to style up your Halloween tea table and get your game going.
6. TELL SPOOKY STORIES
Probably one for older kids - use your imagination and conjure up tales of cheeky goblins, friendly skeletons and crazy haunted houses. If you want to amp up the spookiness, turn the lights down low and hold a torch under your chin for the fullest effect.
FUN FACT:
Jack o'lanterns originated in Ireland and used to be carved out of turnips, potatoes and beetroots. Americans inherited the tradition from Irish settlers, using what they had available - pumpkins - instead.
7. COOK A CREEPY FEAST
Whether you're hosting a Halloween tea, have been invited to someone else's, or you're keeping it nice and quiet at home by yourselves, making or decorating some spooky food can be educational and enjoyable for kids of all ages. Look online for fun-looking but easy-to-achieve dishes. They don't all have to be cakes and sweeties either - you can make a hearty bowl of soup look fiendish with a little imagination.
Here are a few of our fave ideas for a slap-up Halloween supper:
Spider soup and mummy toasties - a delicious recipe we would actually eat all year round.
Eyeball pasta - tasty, wholesome and VERY scary-looking.
Meringue Ghosts - easy to whip up and they look cute even if they go wonky. (That's the kind of cooking we love.)
8. STAGE A ZOMBIE-OFF
Have a talent competition to see who’s best at walking like the undead. We're expecting loud groaning zombie noises too, of course!
9. HAVE A HAUNTED DAY OUT
Maybe now is a good time to get family membership for the National Trust? They have beautiful palaces, castles and houses to visit across Britain, plenty of which have spooky backstories you can learn about on your visit.
10. GO ON A SPIDER SAFARI
This is also the season for marveling at all the incredible arachnids out there and their super natural spidey powers. While you're out trick-or-treating, or on your next walk in the park, look out for some webbed wonders. A torch might help you find them in the garden after dark.
And don't forget
If you're looking for costume, craft or baking inspo we have a whole Halloween section to tempt and terrify you. Whatever you get up to, have a great time! And don't forget, if you need any more guidance, our Live Chat Team are always here to help, 9am-5pm, every week day. Just hit that purple button, bottom right.
Photo credits: Pumpkins: Beth Teutschmann on Unsplash / Meringue ghosts: realfood.tesco.com / Spider soup: coop.co.uk / Spider web: freestocks