How to plan a kids Halloween lock down party
Halloween is fast approaching. With guidelines changing for what we can and can’t do, like a lot of things this year, the traditional trick or treating is unlikely to go ahead. I believe that if the treats need to be at home this Halloween, we should make them extra special. So I’ve prepared a quick article with ideas on how to plan an evening of fun that will create lovely souvenirs for the whole family to cherish.
Decorations: I love going outside and picking up leaves, acorns, conkers and more. I usually add a few different varieties of squashes and the unmissable spider toys the kids got from who knows where. I create small groups in different places and on the table. It looks maybe more autumnal than spooky but when we dim the lights and light up a few candles, it is enough for the kids!
If you fancy going for a bit more of a theme, I recently discovered two lovely brands: Rosie and the Boys who makes gorgeous pumpkin banners and more and Vintage Playing Cards who sell beautiful handmade Halloween glass decorations.
Now we’ve set the décor, let’s turn to what we can do to have a lot of fun!
Spooky games:
- The traditional bobbing apples! I know, nothing original here but if you want to make it more spooky, why not add a few drops of green food colouring in the water? And if you want to take it to another level, check out the tutorials on how to make fog with dry ice. Goosebumps guaranteed!
- Hide and seek: Play the usual game in the dark. I remember playing this at some friends who had a massive attic – I had the fright of my life!
- Wrap the Mummy: Probably my favourite game as it always ends in giggles. 2 players minimum. One person has to wrap another person with toilet roll or crepe paper leaving the eyes, nose, and mouth uncovered to create a mysterious mummy.
- Halloween freeze dance: Play Halloween party music or creepy sound effects and tell the children to dance. When you turn off the music, they all need to freeze. Whoever is caught moving during the freeze is out of the game. The last person dancing wins.
Spooky activities:
- Pumpkin carving: If you’re running out of inspiration on what to carve on your pumpkin(s), check out the 2 sites below. These stencils are very easy to use. Simply print the pattern you like. Tape it onto the pumpkin. Use a marker to transfer it and start carving your pumpkin kitchen knives.
o The Pumpkin Lady has a great collection of free pumpkin carving patterns here. They are available to download as PDF files and then printed. Included are instructions on how to carve the design.
o Better Homes and Gardens has an impressive collection of Halloween pumpkin carving stencils. Besides pumpkin carving stencils, they have a lot of tips on how to carve a pumpkin and how to decorate with pumpkins.
- Crafty activity: no ghosts, monsters or vampires, just lots of fun and learning here! Create ghosts or Jack o’Lantern paper chains as described here or make a pumpkin out of orange card as explained here
- Spooky Halloween madeleines kit: of course our own madeleines kit! Simply melt the chocolate and dip the madeleines in. Wait, then pour the remaining chocolate in the piping bag. Cut the end of the piping bag to create a very small hole. Make lines on the madeleines as if they were tied up! Apply the eyes and sprinkles as hair. Boo! Your madeleines have turned into mummies! Buy Now.
Finally, a party wouldn’t be a party without food and treats! This is my favourite part of any party – as you could have guessed! See below for inspiring ideas on what to eat during this family Halloween party!
Spooky treats
- Spooky Halloween madeleines kit: Yes again! This is the beauty of the kit, they are both a fun activity to do with your little ones and treats to gobble up as soon as they’re done! Buy now
- Spooky drink: Bloody goosebump punch
Orange juice
Grenadine
Green food colouring
Liquorice wheels
Gummy worms or other spooky sweets
Edible black glitter (you can find them at The craft Company or The Cake decorating Company)
Rim the glasses with the black glitter (put water on a plate, put glitter on a plate. Dip the rim of the glass in water let the water excess go and dip the rim of the glass in glitter)
Mix the orange juice with a few drops of green liquid food colouring. Pour into a highball glass filled with ice. Pour grenadine down the side of the glass so it sinks to the base.
Unroll a liquorice wheel, trim and cut the end into a point so it resembles a snake’s head. Use to decorate the glass, along with the gummy worms.
- Savoury snacks:
Mummy frankfurters: Cut strips of puff pastry. Roll around the raw frankfurter leaving a bit of space between 2 strips at the top. Carve 2 dots in the frankfurters for the eyes. Bake in the oven for around 10-15 min at 180C.
Finger hotdogs: you’ll need frankfurters, hotdog bread and ketchup. Cut the frankfurters the same size as the hotdog bread. On the rounded end, carve one inch lengthwise to make it look like a fingernail. Cook as per instructions. Put in the bread with tomato ketchup coming out
Spooky spider: make a sandwich with rounder crackers and peanut butter. Cut crispy chow mein noodles into 2’ pieces and stick 4 on each side of your cracker sandwich to make the legs. Put 2 raisins on the crackers to make the eyes.
I hope that the children have a fun and spooky time whatever they get up to!
If you would like to buy my Spooky Madeleine Kits, then click here.
