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Halloween Traditions to Start with Your Kids



Fun Halloween Activities

While I don’t subscribe to the haunted house, scaring children for no reason, watch a zombie movie-type of Halloween experience, I still love this candy-fueled holiday and I’ve tried to make it a fun memory for my kids as well. If you’re looking for some fun ways to celebrate your little pumpkins this October, then here are some fun traditions you can start with your family

Halloween movie night

I have to say this is one of my favorite traditions. As a child, my brother and I would stretch out in the living room floor with a bucket of popcorn and watch “Hocus Pocus” every year. It was creepy enough to get us in the Halloween mood, but Disney enough not to give us nightmares.

My children are still a little young for this classic, so we stick to “Halloweentown” (a Disney channel movie from the early 2000s). We usually have a special treat to go with the movie like popcorn sprinkled with candy corn and M&Ms or a jack-o-lantern pizza. You could even take it a step further and purchase matching Halloween pajamas for your kids.

Halloween countdown

If you are a super on-top-of-things mom, you could create a countdown for the whole month of October with Halloween-themed activities for every day. If the idea of coming up with something for every day of the month sounds overwhelming, then keep the calendar items simple like “decorate for Halloween,” “visit a pumpkin patch,” or “pick out a Halloween costume.

Halloween scavenger hunt

If you can’t go door-to-door for your Halloween treats this year, then creating a Halloween scavenger hunt for your kiddos might be just the thing to give them a special memory without having to get out and about. This free printable scavenger hunt leads to a basket of treats that will be sure to satisfy your children’s sweet tooth with candy that you have pre-approved.

The Switch Witch

This is a new concept for me, but I have to say it is genius! Before Halloween, decorate a basket with some festive decorations and leave it on the kitchen table. When your kids are finished trick-or-treating, tell them that they can keep their candy, or they can put it in the “Switch Witch” basket and there will be a special surprise toy in the morning in place of their candy. I love this idea because you’re not taking away the experience of trick-or-treating, but you’re also not letting your children loose on a basket of sugar. 

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About the Author

Jessa McClure

Jessa McClure

Jessa is the Editor-in-Chief of Hooray for Family and the mom of three energetic children. She has a BA in Mass Communication/Journalism from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, and is a long-time resident of Central Texas. When she isn't writing and editing, she enjoys playing board games with her kids, teaching Sunday school and channeling her creativity into craft projects. 

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