So I know the timing is a little off, but I can maybe make a change for next year. Does anyone NOT celebrate Halloween in the traditional way? I'm looking for some creative alternatives that would still be fun and appealing to my kids. It can involve treats, or not. Dressing up, or not. It can be more like a family event, or not. I'm not really interested in debating whether or not one SHOULD celebrate Halloween, just looking for some H-ween/trick or treat alternatives. If it's easy enough, I can even start this year, as our town re-scheduled festivities for Monday night. TIA!
Ever thought about a scavenger hunt ? Depending on the age of the kids involved, you can make it as simple or complex as you like, what they look for could be treats, clues to a prize, etc,... Just a thought ,but, it would be fun ,and you can choose to have teams or individuals participate, and it can still have a Halloween theme, Fall theme etc.
C. S.
Dressing up and DISTRIBUTING treats at a nursing home. Not sure what treats would be appropriate (prob home made crafts) but the older people would love to see a parade of children dressed in cute costumes!
I personally think Halloween is perfect just the way it is. Why mess with perfection? :0)
Well you can do other fall related activities, like cooking/baking with pumpkins and squash, going apple picking or maple syrup collecting, etc. but I'm pretty sure your kids will want to continue dressing up and going trick or treating!
Unless you have moral or religious reasons NOT to I wouldn't take that away from them.
Why an alternative if you are still doing costumes and treats?
it seems more and more churches are tackling this issue and having a huge carnival. There was one down the street from us that had rides and everything. If I wanted to steer my kids away from the fun of dressing up and going door to door (which I don't, I think it is harmless fun that CAN be twisted to be something evil) then I would try to replace it with something equally as fun.
We celebrate the harvest--so love going to the pumpkin farm, animals, hay stacks etc. fun stuff without any gore or scary stuff. We go to our church harvest party where the kids dress up and then they get to play games, win prizes and trunk-or-treat. All the cars are lined up and you decorate your car and the kids get candy from your trunk-- its safe, fun and not gory/violent etc.
Hope this helps!
Some areas have fall / harvest festivals instead of Halloween.
Any excuse for a party is good enough for me.
We're going to our neighbors Samhain party tomorrow night (was postponed from last weekend due to Sandy) and it's always a lot of fun.
I always plan activities at home to do, and a little party in case the weather is not favorable and the kids cant go out. We are on the east cosast and this year i had one of the kits to make a haunted village, made halloween themed finger foods, and let the kids crate their own pizzas for dinner (encouraging them of course to make monster faces with their toppings). When we were in germany one of my sons classmates had a Halloween party and he had a blast, they did scavenger hunts went on a haunted walk and many activities! They wore costumes to the party also.
I applaud and encourage you to consider Sandy L.'s idea. The folks at the senior center or retirement home would really LOVE to see the kids in costumes and to have them give out a treat. It doesn't matter what the treat is because the treat they're going to remember and love is the presence of the children!
