How to Plan a Toddler's Halloween Party

While your toddler may be too young to go on a traditional trick-or-treating trip around the neighborhood, you can still have some Halloween fun right at home. Do this by throwing a toddler's Halloween party. This need not be an expensive, fancy affair. With a little creativity, a simple gathering of friends, family and fellow toddlers can be turned into a fun-filled evening that you will all cherish for a long time to come.

Instructions

1. Get creative with your party menu. It’s a great idea to scare-up a Halloween-themed feast for the party. You can, of course, buy Halloween treats at the store, but it’s much more fun to make them at home. This would also be a great opportunity to get your kids involved, and you can have fun as a family while you prepare. For example, you could buy a Halloween shape cookie cutter for cookie baking. Make a cake in a Halloween-themed pan. Make orange food like macaroni and cheese.

2. Plan some party games. These will help create a fun party atmosphere. It also serves to keep your toddler guests busy and entertained (and keep your stress to a minimum). You can choose regular party games, but give them a Halloween twist. Red Rover can become Ichabod Come Over. Duck Duck Goose can become Duck Duck Goblin.

3. Arrange for other fun party activities, too. A pumpkin pinata would be a great hit. Pun intended.

4. Set up four or five stations with different goodies at each station. Let the kids go trick or treating. Arrange to have an adult or older child man each station. At each station, you can have party favors, candy and small toys.

5. Prepare a goody bag. Kids love to take home a goody bag at the end of the party. Get some bags and treats ready. You could buy Halloween bags, or you could just use ordinary paper bags. Make it a party craft activity for the kids to decorate them with bats and skulls! Load up the bags with Halloween-themed candy.

6. Have your little guests come in their favorite Halloween costumes. Costumes are a great deal of the magic when it comes to Halloween. Hold a contest for the Halloween costumes, but be prepared to give out prizes to each child. A traumatized child can spoil all the fun.

7. Get your kids to create fun, spooky invitations for their friends, with your address, the date and time of the party, and a reminder to wear their favorite Halloween costume. Alternatively, you could use a computer to make your invitations – there are lots of sites on the web where you can download free Halloween graphics (See resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Halloween treats need not be bad for young teeth! Think about having some healthier options. You could give out stickers, temporary tattoos, pencils, or plastic Halloween toys.

• Stay away from Halloween themes or activities that may be too scary for your toddler guests. Focus on creating a non-threatening environment. If you have adults coming over in costume, request that they not wear any costumes that may terrify your young guests.

Resources

• Fun Halloween Recipes
• More Halloween recipes
• Halloween Backgrounds, Borders, Images and Lines
• More Halloween clip art and graphics
• Halloween party favors, candy, costumes and more