Hosting Halloween
Hosting a Halloween party is a safe way to enjoy the holiday and to make memories in the process. Let’s look at a few tips to make the planning process fun and a little less scary!
Host a Manageable Number of Guests. Here’s a nice rule of thumb; invite one guest for each year your child is in age. For example, if you have a 10-year old, let them invite 10 guests, and so on.
Recruit an A-Team. Co-host it. Imagine how much easier it will be to delegate responsibilities and share the chaperone duties. Create a killer committee with other rock star parents and let the planning begin!
Décor. While Halloween is among the most fun holidays for decorating, second only to Christmas, concentrate on food and activities instead—those elements make the memories. If you really want to create a big impression, shop thrift stores and dollar stores that deliver more bang for the buck. In addition, November 1st is a great day to pick up things you want to use for next year’s party!
Skip Candles. While they set the mood and even add a nice scent to a room, flame-lit candles are a hazard. Costumes and accessories can catch fire if the candles are tipped over, hot wax burns and votive glass can shatter. Battery-operated candles are the worry-free way to achieve the same spooky mood without the stress and mess.
Provide Adequate Lighting. Halloween begs for darkness to complete a scary scene—but resist the temptation and make sure your event space is well-lit and easy to navigate. In addition, make sure that all hallways, pathways, and exits are brightly lit and free of any tripping hazards.
Avoid Nuts. Peanut allergies are among the most prevalent for children today. You could designate that certain food items have nuts in them—but honestly, kids aren’t going to be paying much attention and you may have an emergency on your hands before you know it. When in doubt, leave them out.
Food Safety. Most refrigerated foods (dips, cheeses, mayo-based salads) can be left out for 1-2 hours, so only fill bowls and trays with minimums and replenish with freshly chilled food as needed. Other snacks that require no refrigeration can sit out indefinitely—thank you Frito Lay!
Chokeable Foods. Know your guests. If your party is exclusively for older kids, ages 6+, most foods can be enjoyed without incident, but if the ages are mixed, be aware and select foods that can be safely ingested by all partygoers.
While it’s possible to choke on any food, there are age guidelines for children under the age of 4-5 years.
These foods present potential choking hazards:
- Hard candies
- Hot dogs and cocktail sausages
- Grapes, cherry tomatoes, and olives
- Popcorn
- Marshmallows
- String cheese
Ramp it Up, and Then Cool it Down Have the kids take part in very active and boisterous games at the beginning of the party, and then slow things down as you approach the time for them to go home. Trust me, parents picking up their kids will especially appreciate this!
Okay, that’s about it! Good luck boys and ghouls! Here’s hoping your Halloween party is nothing short of spooktacular!
P.S. If all of this seems like a lot of work, the easiest way to celebrate Halloween is a simple check-in at Kids Quest! There will Halloween fun for everyone at our centers throughout the month of October!