How to Throw a Kid-Friendly Halloween Party

By Lenore Ravenwood Lenore Ravenwood
Level: Basic

Lenore Ravenwood is passionately interested in the fall season, Halloween, gardening and landscaping; and creating fine handmade beaded jewelry. She is a wife, mother and ...

When I was a wee tot, I loved Halloween, even the scary side of it. When my friends were dressing in princess costumes for trick or treating, I was looking for the scariest costume I could find for a little girl.

That was decades ago. I'm now a grandmother to a wonderful grandson who loves Halloween, but dislikes the scary stuff. Witches, skeletons and scarecrows all give him nightmares. This got me thinking about creating a kinder and gentler Halloween party for little kids, say preschool age to about second grade--one that is heavy on the fun, but light on the fright.

If you're planning a Halloween party for a group of younger children, and you don't want to scare the pants off them, these ideas will come in handy:

Host a party for little ones during the day. This is naturally less scary, and if parents have plans to attend their own grown-up Halloween party in the evening, this won't interfere. If the weather is nice, you can have the party in the back yard.If you want to have a party later in the day, arrange to take the children trick or treating early in the evening as a group (you'll want the help of a few parent volunteers). Then have all the kids back to your house for an hour or two after gathering treats throughout the neighborhood.Encourage everyone to come in costume, but don't make the party about the costumes. Wearing a funny hat or a colorful wig can be just as much fun as wearing an elaborate costume.Decorate for fun. Smiling pumpkins and happy ghosts are more fun for little ones than ghouls and goblins. Crepe paper in orange and black can be hung or arranged on tables. A table cloth in a fun motif, such as candy corn, happy jack-o-lanterns, or falling leaves will help set the tone and get the kids in the mood for Halloween fun. Or just go to the fabric store and buy some inexpensive orange fabric to cover your table with it. Disposable plates and napkins can easily be found in Halloween colors to complement your decorations.For food, keep things simple. You can do anything from ordering in or making pizza, to creating a sandwich smorgasbord, to grilling hot dogs and hamburgers. Don't worry about making the food look gross or scary. If you want, you can call the pizza something catchy and Halloween-ish like "petrified pizza", or the hot dogs "horrifying hot dogs". Don't forget about the "screamingly scary sandwich smorgasbord". Serve punch that is "frighteningly fizzy". You get the idea.Play Halloween music in the background--fun Halloween music. The Monster Mash, The Purple People Eater, Ghostbusters, and The Addams Family theme song are good examples of fun and friendly Halloween music. Let the kids make up their own funny dances to the songs, or teach them the words and let them have a Halloween sing-a-long.For additional entertainment, you can have the kids play pin the nose on the pumpkin, or the tail on the black cat. Or purchase or make your own Halloween pinata and give each child a try at whacking the filling out of it. You could also have your young guests decorate Halloween cookies to take home. Just use Halloween cookie cutters to make a batch of sugar cookies before the party. Have orange, white and black frosting ready for use, and let each child decorate a few cookies.If you want to give party favors or goodie bags to your guests, avoid the cheap plastic toys and more candy. Instead, give a small box of crayons and a coloring book, or a small package of Play Doh to each child.

For young Halloween revelers, keep it light and keep it playful. The scary and spooky stuff can wait a few years.

This article has been viewed 2 time(s).
Article Submitted On: September 07, 2010

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Scary Halloween Costumes Are a Must for Halloween!

Scary Halloween Costumes are an important ingredient for any successful Halloween party or Trick or Treat night. Ever since this holiday came on the calendar people have been intrigued by spooky outfits such as the mummy Halloween costume and the skeleton Halloween costume.

Kids in school have a strong interest in mummies as they study these scary creatures in school. Even the term "mummy" has an interesting meaning. Did you know it is an Arabic word that stands for black gooey stuff?

Also modern day wrapping of a broken limb comes from the wrappings of a mummy. How cool is that for a kid. They can become a mummy with the aid of a cool costume!

Skeletons have been spooky for as long as anyone can remember. Even the mention of a skeleton brings up thoughts of old abandoned graveyards with fog and spider webs.

Skeleton costumes have been a favorite of the young and old for years and show no signs of slowing down!

If your child loves to dress up, you may want to consider a spooky Halloween costume that doesn't have all the blood and guts of the modern day outfits. I don't know about you, but I would rather treat a Trick or Treater who is wrapped up like a mummy or who looks great as a skeleton, than one of these masked characters with blood oozing down their face.

I think mummies and skeletons are a nice compromise between the kid who wants to be spooky and the mom and dad who don't want to go overboard into gross.

Of course big boys and girls like to dress up for Halloween as well and there are mummy and skeleton costumes for big guys and girls as well. Have fun!

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Haunted Houses, Halloween Not Morally Wrong

Home haunting, owning a haunted house or simply enjoying the Halloween season is not against Christianity or morally wrong.

I have encountered people in life who feel that if you enjoy Halloween, haunt your home, own a haunted house or watch horror movies, you are evil. I remember one man who lived a few doors down from my family in the early 2000s. One evening, he started yelling across the quaint suburban yards that I need to "find God." (Ironically, I am a member of a Methodist church but he didn't bother to ask.) I am sure he got on this soapbox because 1) he had been drinking and 2) my wife and I run an online Halloween prop store and also decorate our home for Halloween. Enjoying the Halloween season is morally right, not wrong.

Owning a haunted house (or Halloween store) is a way to make money and enjoy the Halloween season. Many people also "home haunt." This is where Halloween lovers decorate their homes and yards, turning them into suburban haunted houses. This is done because dressing up in creepy costumes and jumping out at neighbors and children tripping through your garage or professional haunt is fun. It is fun for the actors and for the patrons. Haunted houses and home haunts are not built for the devil and love of death. They are created because the owners and actors love life.

Furthermore, simply decorating your home with spider-webs, creepy skulls and scary bats for Halloween parties is okay, too. I can honestly say I have never thought how pleased dark spirits will be when I decorate my living room for a party. I have never wondered if the devil will be happy I picked out the vilest horror movies for a get-together. I often think, "am I doing enough to entertain party guests? Will this decor please family and friends?" Yes, dark spirits can sit on the curb. They are not invited to my Halloween parties and, I am sure, to none of the parties home haunters and haunted house owners I know prepare.

What about trick-or-treating? Is it wrong? Will it taint the minds of children? I say no. I know many other Christians who agree. Some of my best memories of childhood are trick-or-treating with my parents throughout our neighborhood and even traveling to the homes of other relatives to beg for that sweet candy. I remember approaching my paternal grandparents' home multiple Halloweens. Grandpa could be found sitting on their front steps passing candy out to the roaming trick-or-treaters. I remember him smiling, enjoying the happiness the candy brought the bright-eyed kids. I remember how much fun it was to approach him, and other relatives, hold out my plastic pumpkin and say "trick or treat!?"

No, there is no evil in loving Halloween, home haunting or owning a haunted house. Halloween is fun and a way to bond with friends and family. It is way to enjoy life (and nab some good candy)!

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Top Halloween Costume Party Themes for 2010

There are a lot of hot Halloween costume and party themes this year, many of which are taken straight from the year's top movies. For example, thanks to the Twilight series of movies, vampires are popular for 2010. Vampires are easy to dress up as for both men and women and it is a fun theme for a party as well.

Comic Heroes

Other popular movies that have a strong presence in the Halloween costume aisle include Ironman 2 and Wolverine. You can find various costumes depicting these movies.

Superheroes are always popular for Halloween and there is a great selection of superhero costumes. Superhero costumes can be sassy or sexy or can just accurately portray the hero you've chosen. You can also dress these up with whatever weapons the superhero uses. There is always a ready supply of masks, capes, and weaponry to add to the look.

Comic book heroes like Batman and Superman are always popular and if you want to borrow from the movies, the Incredibles line of superhero costumes are a lot of fun. Using superheroes for a party theme would bring out a variety of comic book and movie heroes, which would give guests a lot to choose from.

Pirates

Pirates are popular for 2010 too and you can find a wide variety of pirate costumes. Putting together a party using the pirate theme is fun as you can ask guests to dress in a variety of pirate costumes.

Pop Stars

Another fun party theme is pop stars. Asking guests to dress up like their favorite pop stars is sure to bring out a whole slew of Michael Jackson's and Lady GaGa's. In fact, you'll find a variety of sexy Lady GaGa costumes. Michael Jackson costumes are easy to find too, with or without the white glove.

Famous Celebrities

People love to dress up like famous people and there will always be those who favor Marilyn Monroe and Elvis. Characters from classic movies always find their way into costume shops during the Halloween season.

Add Ironman 2 costumes and the Incredible Hulk to the superhero lineup and you will have quite a diverse set of heroes for your party. Leave it to your guests' imagination which heroes they want to dress up as and you can have a lot of fun decorating for the party with the wide variety of superhero party theme items on the market.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Western Outfits for Halloween

If you're bored with dressing as a witch, a ghost or the Grim Reaper at Halloween, then why not choose one of the many available Western outfits?

Whether you're a man, a woman or a child there are Western outfits to suit all tastes. You could even go partying as a family group with matching costumes.

Available Western outfits for women include the famous Annie Oakley brown suede dress. You'll need to accessorise with boots, hat and a gun.

If you're feeling a bit daring you could transform yourself into Goldie Rush. This costume comes with an off the shoulder black dress with gold trim, a neckband, a garter, feather headpiece and boa. All you need to complete the ensemble is a black petticoat, black fishnet stockings and the highest heeled black shoes that you can still walk in.

Madame Can Can is another of the most popular Western outfits for women with its pink, black and red dress trimmed with lace and a matching neck band.

Get the glamorous cowgirl outfit and wow your friends in the cow print vest, chaps and scarf. Trimmed with pink and a white fringe, you'll shoot 'em dead! Fringed gloves and a black hat with a pink band are included too. You'll need jeans, boots and a gun to complete the look.

For the men and the kids there are plenty of cowboy and Western gunslinger costumes to choose from. With capes, embroidered waistcoats and neckerchiefs you can't go wrong. A fantastic selection of cowboy boots, hats, guns, masks and even spurs mean that you've no excuse for not looking authentic.

Alternatively, be on the opposing side and dress as a Native American Indian. A leather jerkin and a feather headdress will certainly look convincing. Don't forget your tomahawk.

If you're the one giving the party, give your lounge or garden a makeover too with barn sidings, outhouse doors or even a complete desert scene. There are table covers, napkins and party lights too to give that authentic Western feel.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Be a King This Year in a King Halloween Costume!

Who doesn't want to be King? Little boys and big boys alike enjoy the power of being King and this can make for a lot of fun this October with a King Halloween Costume.

You would have to say that the King Halloween Costume made a come back over the past few years thanks to the Burger King commercials. Who doesn't think of that goofy looking King peeping into a window or showing up at the oddest places?

Yet today, men are moving away from the silliness of the Burger King character and getting back into the majestic figure.

This is a really easy costume for a man as the main feature is a cape. It can be dressed up with gold jewelry, boots and of course a sword can't hurt. Let's face it, every girl wants her man to be Prince Charming and sweep her off her feet!

But what if you have a little boy who gets carried to a fantasy world with Kings and Queens and Dragons! Little guys love to play make believe and slay dragons and this doesn't just happen at Halloween.

A King Halloween Costume for a little boy can have appeal that lasts long past October. There are countless opportunities for backyard playtime when you are King! In a robe and a crown, your little man will be strutting with confidence all while looking so cute.

Whether you have a grown-up boy who is your Prince Charming or you have a little boy who dreams of ruling the neighborhood, a King costume is sure to mean fun and adventure.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Some Fun Costume Ideas For This Halloween

Everyone would be donning the best, the cutest or the spookiest outfits this time around and so would you. If you are looking for an interesting costume idea for yourself, consider choosing from some characters that have made comic and story book interesting since the early nineteen hundreds.

We all have heard of the famous story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, well you could dress up like him and show the folks around that being different indeed is being beautiful. Who knows you may find your beautiful princess at the party that night, but for now let us focus on how to get you making that costume for the party. All you need is an old coat and a wig with some droopy make up and a tone that mutters to make you look like the famous character himself.

Or you could try being the Pirate, and capture all the good looking pretty young things around this season by donning a fake leg made of wood and wrapping the other with a felt in brown. Sailor pants are a must with a top that comes in stripes as a design. Don't forget to add a bandana and an eye patch and yes an empty liquor bottle.

For a more modern character, you could dress up like a crash test dummy. We suggest making it yourself rather than spending hundreds over one. Get a pair of sweats and a tape to begin with and have bandages immersed in blood (fake blood, of course) to decorate the ensemble. Use webbing as a fashionable belt and a buckle which is rusted to keep the pants up and right where it needs to be, on your waist.

Halloween can be fun if you can go Toot Tooting being an engineer for trains. Don yourself with a pair of jeans and a jacket made from denim and couple it with a bandana in the shades of red or maroon and a hat which is in white and blue. Don't forget the whistle and the lantern to make that character come alive from within you.

There are more ideas only if you are ready to let your inhibitions take a walk and let your creativity unleash with your wild side in toe. The moot point is to have loads of fun and make the party a memorable one, not only for you but for others as well. Who knows looking at all these ideas as costumes on your family members and you would make others want the same for the next year and place orders with you. Business venture in the making we see and you would surely love that little extra right in time for the upcoming thanksgiving and Christmas feasts later in the year.

Another fun idea might be to be Mother Nature this Halloween, dressing in flowers and leaves made of silk in various shapes, sizes and colors. Get a nice face mask to suit the ensemble, and for the hair decorate a wig with twigs and a nest (fake) with a bird (made from foam) sitting on the wig, and you will look like the Mother Goddess herself.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.