The pandemic sure made things harder this year and it might lead you to believe Halloween is cancelled because of it… but it’s absolutely not! The holiday will happen with all its magic and glory – we just have to make some adjustments.
Holidays and celebrations such as this are particularly important for children. It’s a way we express the passage of time, the changing of the seasons, and it’s one of the last unique holidays before Christmas.
But symbolism and cultural impact aside, for children it should be only one thing: fun! Let’s find creative ways to celebrate Halloween without leaving the house in a way that the entire family will have fun on this awesome holiday.
“Halloween is an opportunity to be really creative. – Judy Gold
Movie night
Halloween is perfect for a movie night with the family. There are many excellent movie options to pick from, all of which are family-friendly while still keeping with the spooky theme.
Here are some suggestions for the perfect Halloween movie night:
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
- Hotel Transylvania (2012)
- Frankeenweenie (2012)
- Scoob! (2020)
- Goosebumps (2015)
- ParaNorman (2012)
- Monster House (2006)
- Corpse Bride (2005)
- Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
Decoration
Decorating for Halloween is an absolute treat (no pun intended). There are tons of spooky DIY crafts you can learn and make with the kids, creating your own unique twist on decoration – whether you like it simple or bold, there’s plenty of options for every style.
For indoor decoration, paper crafts are particularly fun, since you can create ghosts, lanterns, brooms, garlands, window decals and much more with just some paper and a pair of scissors. But customizing mason jars, bottles, light strings and even carving your own pumpkins should also be considered. Most of these are fairly easy and quick to do!
Now for outdoor decoration, I’ll tell you… but you must follow me into this dark dungeon with no lights where you’ll be totally safe and no ghosts will jump out to scare you… And then click here.
Boo!
Creative food recipes
When it comes to food there’s no reason to stick to the norms – it’s Halloween after all!
It’s all about the exaggeration, the glam, the flamboyant. Why make chocolate cookies if you’re not giving them spooky eyes? Why make a tasty dessert if you’re putting a fake spider on top of it?
And the best part is that even a fairly simple recipe can be given a new face with the right presentation, so don’t be afraid to make it look gastly on the outside because it will still be delicious on the inside.
The chocolate spider and the RIP cookie above are just two examples, but people can come up with some insanely creative stuff out there. Be sure to look around for inspiration and you’ll see just what’s possible with a handful of candy and some creativity on the side.
Treats for the taking
Because of COVID-19, the usual trick or treating we’re used to can’t happen in the same way this year. It would not be safe for the children to knock door-by-door, and with most people being so cautious, it probably wouldn’t be that fun either.
But to keep traditions alive, you can invent a new way to enjoy treats at home. For example, one of our favorites is to hide treats around the house and the yard and have your kids dress up and go on a scavenger hunt around the entire lot!
Cocktails
Halloween is mostly seen as a child-friendly holiday despite the imagery and symbolism, but that doesn’t mean adults shouldn’t have a reason to celebrate as well – and in just as much style.
Consider making yourself a fancy cocktail that resembles a witch’s brew (the secret to achieve that hazy poisonous topping is dry ice). This is a simple martini mix, but you can make it any way you like it, just be sure to make it scary!
You can also make alcohol-free versions of cocktails for the kids to join in!
Give your lawn a trim so the kids can play safely and do a scavenger hunt on the yard. Contact a local landscaping pro and request a free quote!
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