Halloween is the best — and it'll be here before we know it. Somehow, summer is behind us and we're already sipping all the pumpkin spice flavored drinks, which means it's time to figure out our Halloween plans. Usually, costume parties and trick-or-treating would be a given, but in another year where we're trying to keep ourselves and our kids as safe as possible, plenty of parents are already planning to keep everyone at home.
Still, the kids shouldn’t suffer and miss out on the fun of celebrating Halloween. This is a holiday that can definitely still be fun at a distance, if need be. Who says costumes, laughter, and fun can’t still be had by all ages? The only limitations to this year’s Halloween night celebration are masks and imagination, after all … and you might find some of your family's new favorite traditions along the way.
Here are some of our favorite spooky ideas. With any luck at all, our kids will have a blast anyway.
Decorate the Home to the Max
Because Halloween may not be particularly normal this year, step up the decorating game and turn your house into an actual Halloween wonderland. Pumpkins, bats, ghosts, spooky sound effects — go big or go home. No, literally, go home.
Daily Costumes
Get the most bang for your buck on those adorable costumes and get dressed up in costume every day during Halloween week. A week of Halloween-themed dress-up days is fun for the kids and free entertainment for all.
Make a Homemade Scary Movie
Watching scary movies as a family is awesome. Starring in their own written and directed family homemade scary movie is a blast for the whole family. Work on it all October then have a special "premiere" on actual Halloween night, complete with a red carpet and plenty of popcorn and snacks.
Trick-or-Treating in the House
If door-to-door trick-or-treating isn't an option, that means it’s time to get creative. Decorate each door inside the home differently and have different kinds of candy in each room. The kids can still knock and yell "trick-or-treat" — even if it's only to their parents.
Family Monster Mash
Halloween is the perfect excuse to dress up and dance the night away. Kids and adults can put on their favorite costumes, learn a Halloween dance like the "Time Warp," "Thriller," or "Monster Mash" and make a music video or create a playlist of their favorite spooky songs.
Decorate Those Masks
During a socially distant outdoor Halloween party, get creative and let everyone decorate their own masks. Create prefilled craft bags with plain masks and materials to decorate to match their costumes — or not, depending on how they're feeling!
Scary Movie Marathon
Binge watch all the best horror movies to watch with kids on Halloween night. Better yet, binge watch an entire age-appropriate classic movie, like ParaNorman or an entire series for older kids, like Halloween or Friday the 13th, indoors or outdoors.
Tell Scary Stories Around a Bonfire
This is an oldie but a goodie and the perfect Halloween activity. Telling ghost stories around a campfire (or a fire pit or fireplace) is tops for a little spooky ambiance … and obviously, making s'mores is absolutely necessary for an activity like this!
Boo the Neighbors
Do a good deed and boo the neighbors to make their day. Simply make goodie bags with sweet treats and adult beverages, knock and leave the treat and a note letting the home know they’ve been booed and to pay it forward to another neighbor.
Camp Out
You don't have to leave home to go camping! Use the backyard if the weather allows (or set up camp in the living room if it doesn't) to make the night feel extra special — and have access to indoor plumbing. This activity can go well with a spooky campfire, too.
Have a Family Scary Treat Competition
Have a friendly family treat competition. Kids can create a treat and parents do a blind taste test. The winner gets to choose the Halloween movie everyone watches (or receive another prize that everyone agrees on ahead of time). Really, everyone wins, because they all get to enjoy the treats.
Zoom Halloween Party
We've been using Zoom a lot lately, so why not get on a video conference for Halloween, too? It’s used to connect people for work, school, and even entertainment events. A socially distant Halloween video party feels completely appropriate this year, and it's a good way to safely get together with those we love.
Socially Distant Costume Parade
The best part of Halloween is dressing up and pretending to be someone else for one night. Whether it’s a superhero, a celebrity, or a favorite character, show it off in a 6-feet-apart costume parade. The kids will have a blast and the adults can all watch from their driveways or porches.
Virtual Family Pumpkin Carving Contest
Pumpkin carving with friends and family is a fun tradition, but this year, it might not be safe to do in person. Hop in a family video conference and everyone can carve their own pumpkins at home while talking, laughing, carving, and sharing. It’s the next best thing to being there.
Twilight Scavenger Hunt
This activity is perfect to still get to celebrate Halloween with all the fun and substantially less risk. Organize an outdoor twilight scavenger hunt around a spooky backyard. String some lights, give the kids some glow-in-the-dark bracelets and a scavenger map that will lead them to hidden treats all around the yard.
Halloween Photo Shoot
All dressed up in costumes with nowhere to go? No reason to waste all that Halloween spirit. Go to a deserted, spooky location and have a ghoulish photo shoot to share with friends and family — and then sweep up all those Instagram likes, of course.
Halloween Drive-By Trick-or-Treating
While door-to-door trick-or-treating might not feel safe, a Halloween drive-by trick-or-treat night could be perfect. Kids can still get dressed up, parents can be involved, and prepackaged candy can safely be passed out wearing a mask and even gloves.
Make a Spooky Dinner
There are tons of Halloween-themed recipes out there that you can use to create your own spooky menu for dinner, and the whole family can get involved in the kitchen. Make decorations to set a table that fits the theme, and then chow down!
Or Order Takeout
If your cooking would scare your family, then you might be better off ordering takeout or delivery for the occasion — after all, that can make a holiday feel more special, too. Grab your favorite order from one of your family's most loved restaurants and enjoy!
Play a Scary Game
There are plenty of games out there meant to spook you — especially if you have older kids who can deal with a scary plot line. There are actual horror video games like Silent Hill for teenagers, and for younger players, there are board games like 13 Dead End Drive (and of course, the classic Clue).
Halloween Story Time
Be sure to cap off the night with a good Halloween-themed bedtime story — or five! Choose from any of the Halloween children's books out there — there are so many we won't blame you if you (and your kids) can't choose just one to add to your library.
Create a Candy Chute
Last Halloween, people started getting creative about how they delivered their candy to trick-or-treaters, and if you still want to hand out candy while staying at home, creating one of these bad boys isn't a bad idea — not to mention a fun activity for the family to get involved in.
