How to Throw a Children's Halloween Party

Halloween is a fun time of the year for kids to dress up in costume, trick or treat, and go to Halloween parties. Halloween can be a fun time instead of focusing on the spooky or scary aspects of it for kids. Here are a few ideas on how to throw a Halloween party.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• pumpkins
• balloons
• crepe paper
• candy
• pinata
• large and short metal container
• apples
• music

1. Create a guest list for the Halloween Party. Invite your childrens' friend to the party. Do not exclude anyone whose feelings might be hurt if they are not invited.

2. Send out the invitations. Be sure to mail the invitations at least two weeks before the Halloween party is to take place. Giving plenty of notice for the party will increase the number of guests in attendance at your party. Include on the invitation if dressing up is an option for the children.

3. Decorate the party location. Place carved pumpkins by the front door of your home. Decorate the outside of the front door with fake spider webs and fake spiders. Decorate the inside of the house with orange, black, and purple crepe paper and balloons. Order enough balloons so each child can go home with one balloon.

4. Put together goodie bags. Before guests arrive, put together goodie bags for the kids. They'll get a kick out of them. In the goodie bags, include candy, stickers, pencils, and other little treats. Don't hand out the goodie bags until the kids have gone home.

5. Dress up in costume. If children are invited to dress up in costume, choose a costume to wear yourself. Stay away from scary and inappropriate costumes (i.e. french maid, zombie) and choose a kid-friendly costume (i.e. Raggedy Ann, Punky Brewster).

6. Serve food. Provide healthy snacks for the children, since they'll be leaving with lots of candy. You can make bite-size peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, sliced apples, crackers, and a veggie tray. Serve the food on small paper plates and provide napkins and water.

7. Play some Halloween games. Play musical pillows (similar to musical chairs) or have a pinata filled with candy that the kids can break open with a bat. Have a Halloween "show and tell" where each child gets the opportunity to talk about his or her costume and show it off. Have the kids bob for apples, using a large, short, galvanized metal pan filled half way with water and apples added. Play music that the kids can dance to.

8. Shut the party down. As parents begin picking children up, thank the children for attending the party and compliment them on their costumes. Give each child a goodie bag and a balloon as he or she is leaving the party.

Tips & Warnings

• You can find good deals on costumes or party supplies online.