Halloween is one of those days kids circle on the calendar. They start thinking about it weeks, sometimes months, in advance. With all that excitement orbiting around the event, it’s only natural that a stay-at-home dad want to experience as much of the kids’ joy of Halloween as possible.
From pumpkins to costumes to ghouling up the house, use some creativity and ideas from the kids to get into the spirit of the holiday.
Costumes on the BrainKids obviously like the candy aspect of Halloween, but no doubt, especially younger ones, they get consumed with figuring out what they are going to be when Oct. 31 rolls around. It’s not unusual for them to start brainstorming ideas as soon as Labor Day ended.
So this is an easy place to start the fun. Brainstorm with them, show them pictures on the Internet or when they are watching a favorite show ask them what they think of becoming the star character.
If you have the time and ability, think of creating the costume yourself. Involving the kids in the process could make it even more enjoyable.
But many of us just aren’t that handy with the sewing machine, and many costumes these days are too elaborate anyway. Unless we wanted to start the process in June.
Nothing to worry about, though, as any more, pretty much any store that sells clothes sells Halloween customs. But make an event out of getting that costume.
Try to avoid the Targets and Wal-Marts of the world and hit up a party store or seasonal Halloween shop. The selection will be wider, there will be lots of Halloween decorations everywhere and it will be impossible to escape the anticipation of the holiday.
Once the decision is made, the next step will be to see if you can get the kids to wear anything else until the big day.
House HauntsCostumes aren’t the only thing that gets kids excited. Halloween decorations rival Christmas, and kids certainly soak up the lights, scary noises and plastic bats.
Take a day or two coming up with a plan on how to dress up your house. Figure out what you have laying around the house that can be used as decorations. Gather the supplies with the kids and then create the decorations together.
Cotton turned to cobwebs, construction paper can become bats and spiders, fallen leaves in the yard combined with an old flannel shirt and jeans can become a scare crow – imagine what haunts you can create.
Then don’t forget pumpkins.
Get at least one per kid and have them design what they want their jack-o-lantern to look like. Doesn’t matter if it just becomes a bunch of holes, if it is their idea, it makes the carving worth all the while.
Once the family’s crazy pumpkin designs are complete, take those pumpkin seeds and bake them for a different kind of treat.
Halloween Party OnOutside of the house be sure to hit as many different Halloween events in the community that you and the kids can handle. There are always plenty of kid-appropriate spooks out there during October.
Check out what the local mall or library has to offer. There are story times and special trick-or-treat sessions that often take place. Most zoos also have an event with crafts, animal involvement (want to see an elephant eat a pumpkin?) and of course candy.
There may be community events at the park or in the neighborhood as well. Schools and preschools will surely have fall festivals and other seasonal-themed events. These also offer plenty of more chances to get into their costumes.
And once October is over and the house is overflowing with candy, it will probably be about time to start thinking about Christmas. At least on the kids’ calendar.