How to Celebrate Halloween Without Trick-or-Treating

Many parents prefer not to let their kids go trick-or-treating on Halloween but still want to celebrate the holiday. Luckily, there are many safe alternatives that will provide lots of fun for everyone.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Halloween Makeup Kits
• Halloween Invitations
• Halloween Candles
• Halloween Decorations
• Halloween Light Sets
• Jack-o'-lanterns
• Halloween Baking Supplies
• Halloween Sound Effects CD
• Halloween Party Packs
• Kids' Costumes

1. Call your local community or recreation center. Many of these places offer safe Halloween gatherings for various age groups as alternatives to trick-or-treating.

2. Ask at the shopping mall. Some shopping malls stay open on Halloween after the stores close so that kids can trick-or-treat store-to-store rather than door-to-door. Some malls even hold costume parades and provide children's entertainment.

3. Go to the pool. Some community swimming pools offer Halloween-themed evenings to keep kids busy and safe.

4. Go to a family Halloween dance or concert. Most towns offer at least one all-ages Halloween event.

5. Visit a haunted house. These are often presented as community fundraisers and offer varying "scare levels."

6. Have a devilish dinner party. Put on your best vampire robes and serve your family and friends "blood soup" (tomato soup), "spaghetti and eyeballs" (spaghetti and meatballs), and so on.

7. Throw a costume party. Kids can bob for apples, carve pumpkins, play pin-the-skull-on-the-skeleton, and enjoy other fun activities. Make caramel apples, and have some treats available as game prizes so the kids don't feel too candy-deprived!

Tips & Warnings

• If you are going to have a party at home, make sure you have something ready to offer trick-or-treaters who come to the door. Or, turn off the porch lights when all the invited guests have arrived.
• Try to keep the kids as busy as possible during prime trick-or-treating hours ' this means that they won't have the time to feel they are missing out on anything.
• Be sure to prepare your kids for the alternatives well in advance if they are used to trick-or-treating ' a sudden change of heart isn't a good idea.
• Even if your kids aren't going trick-or-treating, many of these activities still require costumes, so plan ahead.