Between the creative costume ideas, hours of trick-or-treating, and copious amounts of candy, there are some kids and tweens out there who think that Halloween is the best night of their entire year. It’s important to remember that those sentiments don’t exist for every child, though.
For some children, Halloween is just far too overwhelming to actually enjoy. Maybe it’s the abundance of people out in the streets and in your neighborhood that creates utter chaos. It might be all of the scary costumes and decorations that make them feel frightened and unable to fully engage in the fun. Or maybe they’re just a natural-born introvert and the entire spectacle and repeated interactions send them into a downward spiral.
Whatever the reason, there are a number of delightful ways you can help your child celebrate Halloween in a way that feels comfortable and fun for them. Let’s dig into some ideas.
Allow the day to be about making delicious Halloween treats and getting cozy.
If you have a kid who loves getting dirty in the kitchen, Halloween is the perfect time to experiment and have some fun together.
You can go the super-easy route and make some festive popcorn balls and decorate them with some of your favorite chocolate treats and adorable candy corn. Or how about some creepy spider cookies? The Halloween recipes here are super easy and will make any kiddo smile.
After you’ve spent a few hours in the kitchen concocting all of your best Halloween-themed food treats, you can light some candles, get cozy on the couch together, and put on an age-appropriate Halloween movie like Hocus Pocus or Casper.
If you feel like reading together, you could always dive into A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.
Get together with another family within your friend circle and have a Halloween candy hunt.
Even if your kid isn’t thrilled by the idea of going door-to-door around your street and asking strangers for treats, they may still like the idea of a small get-together with friends.
If you have a close family friend with some younger kids, even if they’re going out for some trick-or-treating on their own, we’re betting that they’ll likely be interested in a Halloween candy hunt beforehand.
This can easily be set up at one of your houses. You can pool together for candy and set up some spooky kid-friendly decorations in the yard and put candy bars and treats in some tricky hiding spots. Then let the kids just go to town.
There could even be a prize for the child who finds the most candy in the quickest amount of time. Or you could award the most original costume idea. Do whatever feels right for the small group of kids you’ve assembled.
Have a pumpkin-carving contest! Winner gets to choose where to order takeout from.
Just because your child might not get excited about dressing up in a costume and trick-or-treating on Halloween, it doesn’t mean that they don’t love the idea of pumpkin carving.
Again, you can feel free to invite some family and friends over for the pumpkin-carving contest or just keep things super low-key with just your family. The point of this activity is to still feel included in the festivities of the holiday without having to submit to any chaos that makes your kid uncomfortable.
Prior to the big day, you can spend some time online and even print out some cool pumpkin faces or more intricate carving options like a spider web or skull.
And as an added bonus to keep things competitive, the “winner” of the contest gets to choose what kind of takeout you order on Halloween. Hot tip: Pizza on Halloween night never fails!
Have a fall bonfire and outdoor movie night using a projector.
We all know just how good s’mores are in the summertime, but have you ever tried them on a crisp fall evening? Believe us when we tell you that marshmallows hit different come the month of October.
If your kid wants to forego trick-or-treating, you can set up some twinkly lights outside on your deck, grab a few extra pumpkins and lanterns, and have a fall bonfire. You don’t have to just do the sweet treats, either; you can roast a whole feast. Get out the hot dogs and corn on the cob, or even try a baked apple with cinnamon.
If you want to keep the night going with outdoor activities, you could set up your projector and watch a movie under the stars. All you need for this is a ton of cozy blankets and pillows, the snacks you made on the campfire, and some flashlights to keep things feeling at least a little spooky.
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