Spooky Fun for Little Ones
You know I love Halloween, and I am counting the days until I can strategically place the fogger in my bushes for extra am-Boo-ance but I’m always reminded that little ones can get really spooked if Halloween party decorations get too scary. My son had nightmares for a week after Halloween because of the scary skeleton that shook and screamed whenever we walked past. Needless to say, that decoration has been retired.
A few less-creepy ideas for your Halloween party:
· Ghosts, pumpkins and cats can be cute and playful if they have the right facial expression. Steer clear of jagged teeth and look for a happy face instead.
· One year I made crispy marshmallow ghosts that were a big hit. Just follow the instructions for crispy marshmallow treats, but mold them into ghost shapes instead of placing them in the pan. Use tiny chocolate chips for eyes and licorice strings for a smiley mouth.
· Make friendly ghost decorations with foam balls, white gauze and black markers. Just draw a cute face on the foam ball with a black permanent marker. Place the white gauze on top of the ball and tie with black and white polka dot ribbon. I hang these in place of my flower baskets outside and from the ceiling inside. They are cute and festive but not scary.
· Invest in a bubbling cauldron with changing colored lights. The kids really get a kick out of the “smokiness” but the bright colors keep it Halloween-friendly.
· Get started with colorful, age-appropriate Halloween party invitations.
If you steer clear from skeletons, gore and loud noises, you’ll likely score big with the little ones. Decorations these days are pretty amazing and kids often have a difficult time determining between reality vs. fantasy. Try to keep this in mind as you plan your event so you don’t have a house full of screaming children.
Enjoy Planning.
Penelope
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