Halloween 2010: Top 10 Activities You Can Do at Home

In the 1990’s, I was just 10 years old then.  I remembered not looking forward to the dawn of November 1, that being October 31, when it was said that the spirit world would be more in sync with our world.  

Being a frail scared little girl that I was then, movies like Shake, Rattle & Roll scared the hell out of me. These days, Halloween parties are no longer limited to what we see in movies or on TV. When the calendar hits September, toy stores and shopping malls from all over are starting to adorn their store windows with Halloween themes.

Costumes during All Hallow's Eve are traditionally those of monsters such as ghosts, skeletons, witches, and devils. They are said to be used to scare off demons. In time, costumes are also based on themes other than traditional horror, such as those of characters from television shows, movies, and other pop culture icons. Dress your little ones either in a Do-it-your (DIY) outfit or your ready-made commercial costumes available from stores.

Start off by picking a theme or a character. Early on, parents would probably decide the costumes to adorn their little ones. Eventually, they would want to decide for themselves. I can’t even make my son to repeat a costume. Hence, better be creative, think, and plan ahead! You would be probably looking at a minimum of 10-years outlook of what they will be on this momentous dress-up day.
 
Shoo away the bad spirits and make the day an event truly scrapbook-worthy. Laugh and bond with our little ones with these delightful & heartwarming activities you can do at home besides the usual trick or treating.

1. Do it Yourself (D.I.Y.) Halloween Art Activities!
• Print out pumpkins, ghouls, monsters, spider webs, and cat and help your little one in coloring, cutting, and decorating. These DIY decors will be very useful in a lot of other activities.


2. Hold a slumber party ala post trick or treating party! It can just be with dad and mom, or make it extra fun by inviting your child’s friends over. They can sleep over or just “camp out” until they have their fill of fun, thrills and food. Adults can join in too! Either way, sleep with your child ala slumber/camping party way. Bring on those tents or blankets! Let them hang around the rooms and the walls.
• If you will invite other kids, send invites ahead of time.
• Option to decorate your kid’s room by D.I.Y. decors or store made decors.

 

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Read on for more Halloween activities you can do at home.

3. Have an in-house Trick or Treat
• Dress up doors of your bedrooms, or go all out by dressing up the whole rooms. Let your child help out.
• Dad, Mom, and Other love ones stay in assigned rooms, as your little ones knock!
• Prepare a Trick or a Treat


4. Play Games – Halloween Game Ideas
• Mummy Wrap Contest – Use toilet paper, take turns or divide in teams in wrapping one another!
• Treasure Map Adventure – Inspired by my son’s fascination of Pirates and Treasure Hunting, let your child find his ultimate loot bag by going through the maze and map you prepared early on. Draw a map of the house or area; identify significant decor or symbols. Let him go through some challenges like dad making him identify numbers, letters, do math etc. to get the next clue, or to go to the other part of the map.
• Tag Games – Your typical hide and seek games.
• Charades. Imitate a silly, scary, funny or any character of your choice. And let them guess!


5. Feast on a Spooky-fun Boo-ffet! Label them and talk about them to your child. Let your imagination run wild!
• Red Bloody Punch ( Choose from Strawberry or Cherry)
• Wormy Spaghetti
• Fruits:  Red Apples (Think of Snow White’s Witch Grandma) and Grapes (as makeshift eyeballs)
• Cookie Monsters
• Wiggly Jell-o (Think of Bloody Brain)
• Spirit of Halloween Barbecue Night– option to try and to introduce to your little ones Filipino’s exotic grilled treats that because it’s Halloween they might want to try them out (e.g. blood, liver, etc.)!


6. Movie and Popcorn Fright Night
• Choose from: Hocus Pocus, Casper, The Ghostbusters, The Adams Family, Monster House, The Haunted Mansion
• Munch on: The Claw Popcorn - serve popcorns in see through hand gloves

 

Click here to learn more about Halloween activities you can do at home.

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Read on for more Halloween activities you can do at home.

 

7. Sing & Dance Silly Songs
• Dance to the tune of Michael Jackson’s Thriller
• Sing along to a Halloween Rhyme

Trick or treat, you're so neat.
Give me something good to eat.
Nuts and candy, fruit and gum.
I'll go away if you give me some.
 

Trick or treat, smell my feet.
I know you'll give us lots of treats.
Not to big, not to small,
Maybe the size of Montreal.
 

Trick or Treat, Trick or Treat,
Give me something nice to eat,
If you don't we don't care,
We'll put money in your underwear


8. Face Painting - Everyone can join in the fun of exploring one’s creative talent on one another!
• Get face painting supplies from book stores or party stores, or bring on one’s make-up already unused and can just be thrown out just in case,  (e.g. lipsticks, mascara, eye liners, eye shadows etc.)
• Paint each others!  The most creative, either scary or original, gets another treat! The losers get to perform a task! The winner’s wish is the losers’ command!
• Don’t forget to take pictures!


9. Bed Time Silly Story Telling - Tell or weave make believe stories! Let your child’s favorite characters come to life, as they embark on a Halloween adventure.

Let Thomas the Train join in the trick or treat, let Disney’s Lightning Mc Queen dress up as a vampire, or let Dora meets Casper! Possibilities are endless!  


10. Lastly, but not the least, Halloween can also be a perfect time to instill sharing to your little ones! Give out treats to those who are less fortunate or kids who you know will not have access to a Halloween Party. Regardless how big or little, this act of kindness will surely go a long way.

Choose a number of recipients. Make this more significant and sustainable to your little ones by preparing give-away loot bags by choosing a number like his age, give out 5 since he is 5 year old, and so on. Make it a lasting Halloween Activity and a lasting act of generosity.

Involve your child in making loot bags for them. Do cutting and drawing activities together. Use brown bags and decorate or draw on plastic bags.

 

Photo from sxc.hu

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