Halloween Tips and Tricks!
Boo! And welcome to spooky season! A time when tiny little witches, cute black cats and cheeky ghosts come knocking at your door looking for treats. Where apples are bobbed, pumpkins are carved, spooky stories are shared and giggles echo in streets as the sun goes down.
But oh how different Halloween is now from when I was growing up!
Back in my day (she says trying not to show her age) Halloween wasn’t really a thing. I mean, it was obviously still happening but it wasn’t as big as it is now. Trick or treating was usually a pre-arranged visit to a neighbours house where you’d be handed a lollypop and maybe a Sherbet Dip if you were lucky. Then head straight home to watch the Antiques Roadshow.
So, a few years ago, when the girls asked to go trick or treating, being an absolute novice at all of this, I panicked! What do I do? What’s a good costume? Am I supposed to throw a party? How many sweets do I get? Are there rules to all of this?! How do I know which houses to go to?!
Well if this is also you, then have no fear, because this month’s blog is going to be on this exact topic: Halloween fun and the things I have learnt along the way (mainly so you can avoid the pitfalls I went head first into!).
Trick or Treat Etiquette
When going trick or treating for the first time, my main worry was knowing what house to go to? Growing up, you prearranged a visit so no one was caught off guard. So when you did get a knock on the door you weren’t expecting, everyone dived off the sofa onto the floor and switched the lights off!! Something I definitely wanted to avoid.
Well, did you know there is a very simple set of signals you can give to let trick or treaters know that you are happy to receive them? And here they are:
- Putting a pumpkin outside your front door: It doesn’t need to be carved. Just the placement of the pumpkin will show you’re ready for trick-or-treaters!
- Leaving your porch light on: This one catches so many people out, but if your porch or outside light is on, it will be taken as a signal that you’re happy for trick or treaters to visit. So if you’re not, you’d better remember to turn it off!
- Bowl of treats outside of your door: I used this when the girls were very little as the trick or treaters were coming just as it was bath/bedtime! This way, it shows you’re all for the fun of spooky season…as long as it doesn’t disturb the bedtime routine!
Halloween Costume ideas
Oh you can have so much fun with this one! And they don’t have to be scary. In fact, personally, I don’t think they should be, not for the little people. Over the years we’ve had everything from pumpkins, witches, Wednesday Addams, black cats and ice creams!
The brief is always very simple.
- It needs to be a costume that we can make up at home from things we already have
- It can’t be scary or likely to scare other children (no clown masks thank you!)
- It must be comfy and make you want to have fun!
Here are a few ideas of costumes you can easily pull together at home:
Witches Cat: Black leggings and black top. For the cat ears, cut two triangles out of black card or paper and glue them to an Alice band. For the tail, get an old pair of black tights, fill one leg with cotton wool/old newspaper (anything to fill it out) and safely pin to the back of the leggings. Finish off by drawing black whiskers on their cheeks with either face paint or eye liner (but don’t use your good one!).
Zombie Schoolgirl: Black dress with a white school shirt underneath. Put two plaits in their hair with a middle parting.
Ghost: Grab an old white sheet, cut two eye holes, put it over their head and they are good to go! Just make sure it’s not too long and they’re not going to trip over it!
And if all else fails, just raid your fancy dress box. The costumes don’t always have to be spooky. Let them be pirates, princesses, footballers or whatever else they want to dress up as because at the end of the day, it’s about having fun!
Did someone say street party?
A few years , as my neighbours and I stood shivering in our cul-de-sac watching the kids trick or treating, we started talking about how we could get a bit more involved with the fun (that and keep warm). So the following year, each of us brought something with us, food, drink or treats for the kids. We had such a giggle that its’ become an annual tradition. The kids get dressed up and so do we. Everyone contributes. There’s chilli and jacket potatoes, hot dogs and chips, veggies and dip, and toffee apples. Then whilst the kids are eating their dinner, the adults hide the treats and then send the kids on a scavenger hunt to find them.
I love the community aspect of it. I love the fact the kids spend their time giggling and playing together. I love that everyone gets involved, no matter their age or if they have kids. And I love how it reminds me of a simpler time, when life felt a bit slower and you got to stop and enjoy those around you.
Wishing you all a fun and spooky Halloween! With any luck the kids will share their trick or treat goodies with you. And if not…you can always ‘borrow’ a few when they’re not looking!
Love and strength for the month ahead
Kelly x
