Consider these ways to make the most of Halloween:
Use it as an opportunity to encourage creative play. Dress-up is one of the best ways to build kids' imaginations. Even if witches, goblins and dark things of the night are not on your family's costume list, let children choose costumes that bring out their imaginations! Firefighters, princesses, knights, and nurses are perfect costumes for helping kids be creative in their play. Use the costumes on Halloween night, and then keep them for playtime!
Have older children make costumes for others. A great project for teens is to have them make costumes for younger siblings, or neighbors. This is a great way to teach sewing skills, and to let loose their creativity!
Dress up to bless others. If trick-or-treating in costume is not your style, then let the kids dress up to bring joy to other people. Get a group of your friends together and set up a trip to your local nursing home. Bring all of the kids in costume, and have them go around and show their costumes to the residents. This is a great way to help children learn to interact well with the elderly, as it gives them something to discuss. Nursing home residents love having children visit – and the kids get to experience giving on Halloween rather than receiving.
Give out treats without tricks. Put together small candy bags, or bags of toiletry items such as combs, brushes, tissues, or lotion. Bring these goody bags to a nursing home or veterans' hospital to give away. This is even more fun if kids give out the bags while they are in costume!
Make some fall or pumpkin-themed food. It's hard to find a better, or more educational way of celebrating any holiday than letting children help prepare festive food. This is even more fun if you put on a fall-themed party for underprivileged children, such as at a rescue mission or domestic violence shelter, so your kids have a goal toward which to work!
- S'mores on a Stick – Kids can make these mostly on their own, and they're great for a party.
- Roasted Pumpkin Seeds – A variety of recipes for traditional or flavored roasted pumpkin seeds.
- Candy apples – What is fall and Halloween without candy apples? This site includes both caramel apples and candy apple recipes.
- Owl Cupcakes – These cute cupcakes are perfect for the holiday, and fun to make too.
Learn the history of Halloween. No matter your preferences about celebrating the holiday, it is helpful for children to understand the background and history of Halloween. This information can be used for creative writing projects, lapbooks, or a variety of other learning pursuits.
- History.com has information and videos about the origins of Halloween.
- The American Folklife Center includes some excellent information about the background of the holiday.
- Halloween-history.org addresses the history of Halloween, as well as its celebration in a variety of different countries.
Make some fall-themed crafts. These don't have to be specifically Halloween-themed to celebrate the holiday. Teach fine motor skills and how to follow directions, while encouraging creativity at the same time. Then, keep your craft creations out to make your home festive for Halloween!
- 3-D Paper Pumpkins – Older kids will enjoy this pumpkin craft by folding paper circles.
- Waxed Leaves – What says fall more than colorful leaves? Help them last a bit longer with this waxing process.
- Apple Printing – Whether you use paper, a t-shirt, or canvas bag, printing with apples is a great way to celebrate the season and make a festive gift.
- Gourd People – Some gourds, hot glue, and decorations from nature (such as acorns and pine leaves) become gourd people in this adorable craft.
- Falling Leaves – In this cute craft for ages 4 and up, construction paper leaves actually fall from the trees!
- Pumpkin Softies – Older children will enjoy sewing these cute felt pumpkins that can decorate the house when they're done!
- Fall Leaf Coasters – Pretty and functional, these coasters will be sure to bring fall into your home.
- Mr & Mrs. Pumpkin Heads – Kids can really get creative with some pumpkins, felt, markers, and Velcro!
Host a pumpkin carving contest. Get together with some other families, and choose 3 neighbors to be the judges. Each family works together to carve their best pumpkin, and the judges determine the winner! Carvings do not have to be scary in theme.
- Pumpkinglow offers a number of un-Halloween carving templates, such as Christian symbols, patriotic templates, famous American heroes, and more.
- Better Homes & Gardens has many free, printable carving stencils, including many that are not specifically themed around Halloween.
Happy Halloween!
Rebecca Capuano holds a Master of Social Work degree from East Carolina University and is the stay-at-home mom of three children (one of whom is in heaven). She also makes attempts at being a homeschooler, writer, photographer, scrapbooker, and truth-seeker. She has worked in a variety of capacities (including group homes, day treatment centers, and public schools) with at-risk children and staff, including developing a therapeutic and educational day treatment center for delinquent youth in Wilmington, North Carolina. She currently resides in Virginia. Rebecca believes that family is created by God as the most fundamental institution in society, and she is dedicated to helping families nurture their children to become responsible persons of character and integrity.
I have one child in preschool at a local church and my 6 year old is homeschooled. She is jealous because he has fun activities at school around the holidays. Is there something special that you suggest that I could do with her at home that would make her feel special? I am having trouble with this one.
Hi Cari - Do you have neighbors who would enjoy gifts of homemade fall-themed crafts or pumpkin-themed food mentioned in the post? That could be a special project for just you and your 6yo that would bless your neighbors (or perhaps residents of a care facility nearby).