Celebrating Halloween with the Family

Organize a Scavenger Hunt

Make your kids feel special this holiday with a festive activity created just for them. Hide some candy and create a scavenger hunt around the house with clues about different locations written on orange cardstock. Once the kids are in costume, hand them the first clue and watch as they collect the hidden candy or prizes in their trick-or-treat bags. Another idea, write out clues and place them all around the house, starting your kids off with the first clue that eventually leads up to a grand prize at the end. The prize could be candy, another fun treat, a new Halloween book, or anything else that your kids would enjoy.

Have a Virtual Costume Party 

If your little ones are bummed about not going trick-or-treating at the park, have them dress up in their DIY Halloween costumes and plan a virtual costume party so they can show their friends their new look. To make sure the virtual event goes off without a hitch, coordinate the details the week before. Find a time that works for everyone then send out email invitations with a link to the Zoom or Google Hangout meeting. Depending on how much time you want to fill, you could also plan a virtual game for the kids to play together when everyone has presented their costumes.

Hang a Halloween Advent Calendar 

Make the month leading up to Halloween extra special with a spooky countdown calendar. Halloween advent calendars exist, and they’re the perfect way to get your whole family in the spooky spirit. Fill each drawer or pocket of your calendar with candy and small prizes that the kids can discover each day. 

Send Halloween Cards 

Halloween typically isn’t a greeting card holiday, but then again, nothing about holidays this year has been typical. Since the kids won’t be able to go out and see their friends while trick-or-treating, have them craft some homemade Halloween cards from cardstock, markers, and glue, then mail them off to all their friends. You can even attach a piece of candy to each card—just be sure to attach an extra postage stamp to the envelope. 

Decorate Holiday Cookies

You may not be handing out candy this year, but you sure can bake with it! Whip up a festive Halloween dessert that use Halloween candy, or make a batch of Halloween cookies and spend Halloween night decorating cookies with the family.  

Eat Halloween Candy 

Most kids’ favorite part about trick-or-treating is the candy—and even though you might not feel comfortable taking your child trick-or-treating, it doesn’t mean candy is canceled. Add a bag (or two!) to your next grocery pickup order and let the kids have fun sorting, counting, and eating the treats.

Make Halloween Crafts

Social distancing is hard enough for kids who just want to run around with their friends, but add cold October weather to the equation and they’re sure to be looking for new indoor activities. On Halloween night, set up a craft station and set them loose to create whatever they like—while in costume, of course!

Tell Ghost Stories

Older kids will get a thrill out of this family activity. Light up the backyard fire pit and gather around it with enough hot apple cider and s'mores ingredients for everyone. As you roast your marshmallows, go around the circle and tell age-appropriate ghost stories and spooky tales. If you need help getting started, the collection of Dark, is a favorite among older kids and pre-teens.

Make Individual Treat Bags

Whether you're organizing a scavenger hunt, eating candy straight out of the bag (no shame), or rationing it out during the virtual costume party, individual candy bags will bring a familiar touch to the evening. These creative candy bags and containers are easy to put together, and kids will appreciate the feeling of carrying around a treat bag full of chocolates, even if they aren't going door-to-door. Dress up a paper bag with markers and stickers.

Have a Family Halloween Party

Even if you're only two people, a party is a party! Get out the decorations, make all of the themed snacks and drinks, turn up "Monster Mash," and dance in your costumes.

Trick-or-Treat at Home

Whether in the yard or inside the house, hide wrapped candies all over the place and set your kids loose with their trick-or-treat buckets. Don't forget to hide some of the candies you like, because the parent candy tax is more important than ever in 2020! 

Have a Spooky Movie Marathon

Cuddle up on the couch with snacks and blankets, and queue up some of your family's favorite spooky - and not-so-spooky! - Halloween movies. You can also check your local listings to see if anywhere near you is hosting a drive-in Halloween movie event. If so, cozy up the car, dress up in matching Halloween pajamas, and bring your own themed snacks!

Design a Halloween Snack Board

Whether sweet or savory - or both! - is your jam, snack boards are the most fun current trend to get in on, especially during the spooky season. Create a Halloween-themed charcuterie board with your kids' favorite meats, cheeses, crackers, and more; or create a sugary candy board and pick at it during a movie as a treat!

Visit a Pumpkin Patch

Already a great autumnal outdoor activity, many pumpkin patches, apple orchards, and farms are implementing social distancing protocols for their visitors. Make sure to grab some apple cider while you're there.

Carve Pumpkins

This year, you can still create a fun family night on your front porch by setting up a pumpkin carving station. Pick up some pumpkins, play some spooky music. Whether you're aiming for a classic jack-o'-lantern face or a more original design, pumpkin carving is the perfect activity to do outdoors, distanced from friends or with kids at home. 

Host a Pumpkin Decorating Contest

Get out the paints, carving supplies, decorating kits, and - if you're feeling daring - the glitter. Spend some time decorating pumpkins with your kids and host an anonymous vote afterwards for the best pumpkin – winner gets a prize! Too much competition? Forget the vote and take fun photos of each family member with their pumpkin instead.

Take a Drive or Hike

In many areas, October also brings stunning fall foliage. A perfect way to embrace the season is to drive and observe the changing leaves. Better yet, get outside and fully immerse yourself in autumn with a nature hike.