Its finally Fall! The weather is getting cooler (or may already be cold for you). The days are getting shorter. The leafy smell is all around. You realize it's October - and dread begins to set in. All the dangers of a month seemingly centered on candy set off some serious worries!
What we can do for ourselves and others:
First of all, lets make food free events. If you have the opportunity to made decisions for a party or festival or will be simply handing out trick-or-treat items please consider offering non-food prizes. There are many cost effective and enjoyable ideas. (All good for PTA, PTO, Church, Classroom, neighborhood, and family celebrations)
First of all, lets make food free events. If you have the opportunity to made decisions for a party or festival or will be simply handing out trick-or-treat items please consider offering non-food prizes. There are many cost effective and enjoyable ideas. (All good for PTA, PTO, Church, Classroom, neighborhood, and family celebrations)
There are many hand-out items that go over very well with children that are not food related. Items to consider include stickers, themed pencils, themed erasers, temporary tattoos, quarters, fake insects, Mardi Gras-like beads, fake teeth, bubbles, puzzles, bracelets - even themed rubber duckies .... you can buy a lot of these things in bulk through OTC. The Dollar Tree is a good local source for cost effective trinket fun.
If you enjoy including a pinata then fill it with the items mentioned above. This kids will still get to hit it or pull the ribbons and they will still have plenty of items fall out. Let people know you did not use candy so that everyone knows what to expect and can feel included. The same can be said for the carnival style party - just make the prizes non-food and let families know ahead of time.
A costume parade or costumed follow the leader activity is a great way to see each others costumes and have fun doing it! You could play some costumed red-light green-light too - there's a lot of fun music out there.
In place of a cake walk how about a pumpkin walk? The winner of each round can choose a small pumpkin or pumpkin carving set to take home.
If you are looking for vendor ideas - balloon animal artists are crowd pleasers. Airbrush temporary tattoo artists are also very popular. (When looking at these make sure they are willing to provide ingredient info to you and your guests. Experienced good quality body art artists use 'real' make up.)
You may be hosting a wide variety of ages. A photo booth is a very well liked attraction for all ages.
Spooky story tellers are a great way to entertain many age groups as well. You could have an Adams Family screening. Hay rides in general are big fun but haunted hay rides are just plain awesome.
WARNING - Please, please always avoid filled eggs! Not only are they very messy, but they are very dangerous for many allergic people as well as getting the shells in ones eyes is dangerous for everyone. Personally, I think these things should be banned from most events. Honestly, who thought running up to some unsuspecting person and smashing an old egg on someones head was a good idea? It doesn't even matter if its filled with confetti or powder - its just nasty. I think its shameful on a number of levels. OK - I am off my soap box.
What we typically do in our family:
What we typically do in our family:
In my family the kids really look forward to Halloween. We all dress up including Mom and Dad to some degree. The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown gets viewed with glee yearly. We do walk around in our costumes for 'trick-or-treat' and mostly we don't go to doors. If the kids want to say 'HI and Trick or Treat' we will though. This year I'm adding cheap knit washable gloves so the kids can trick or treat without as much worry. We don't really want candy - just fun! Afterward, at home we often have a little campfire circle where we tell spooky stories under the stars. We also have spiced hot apple juice which I make. (I'll post the recipe soon - its easy!). We often play corn-hole by star light too.
We often go to a community party with extended family as well, and as always we bring our own snacks. We don't make a fuss just a cooler filled with safe fruit and beverages as well as a zippered sack with safe snacks.
My kids still love the cake walk - they just choose and give the cake to Grandma or another family member (the children never actually handle it) and they know they will get their safe cake at home or out of the package we brought. The receiving relative is always outwardly appreciative which makes the kids happy, and the cake is never eaten there - just whisked away to the recipients vehicle.
Bingo! We always have a baggie with little items that can be used as bingo markers just in case the party operator has used food for the markers. I like the little glass things from the Dollar Tree which come in a net bag. My kids like them and we have not had one break. However, I would not recommend them if you have a child who tosses things. We used to use little plastic manipulative counting animals.
I quietly (usually away from the children to avoid drawing attention to the possibility of the game) inquire at the beginning of the game if the sheets have been previously used or not. IF they are newly printed I ask for a set right away and explain briefly cross contamination. If they are re-used from a previous activity we sometimes need to opt out. That is sad but who wants a trip to the emergency room- not us that's for sure! I then will redirect the kids with something else fun.
We always enjoy the hay ride. A picnic blanket folded to the size of the area you are seated in makes a great barrier between yourself and the itchy and much touched hay.
A bandanna kept in a parents pocket is ready if there is a 'pin the hat on the witch' type game. I prefer my kids not share the blindfold to avoid cross contamination.
We often go to a community party with extended family as well, and as always we bring our own snacks. We don't make a fuss just a cooler filled with safe fruit and beverages as well as a zippered sack with safe snacks.
My kids still love the cake walk - they just choose and give the cake to Grandma or another family member (the children never actually handle it) and they know they will get their safe cake at home or out of the package we brought. The receiving relative is always outwardly appreciative which makes the kids happy, and the cake is never eaten there - just whisked away to the recipients vehicle.
Bingo! We always have a baggie with little items that can be used as bingo markers just in case the party operator has used food for the markers. I like the little glass things from the Dollar Tree which come in a net bag. My kids like them and we have not had one break. However, I would not recommend them if you have a child who tosses things. We used to use little plastic manipulative counting animals.
I quietly (usually away from the children to avoid drawing attention to the possibility of the game) inquire at the beginning of the game if the sheets have been previously used or not. IF they are newly printed I ask for a set right away and explain briefly cross contamination. If they are re-used from a previous activity we sometimes need to opt out. That is sad but who wants a trip to the emergency room- not us that's for sure! I then will redirect the kids with something else fun.
We always enjoy the hay ride. A picnic blanket folded to the size of the area you are seated in makes a great barrier between yourself and the itchy and much touched hay.
A bandanna kept in a parents pocket is ready if there is a 'pin the hat on the witch' type game. I prefer my kids not share the blindfold to avoid cross contamination.
I go for the washable kids costumes a little big and where the kids can keep the suit in their dress-up chest. (Yes, both boys and girls love this.) This also gets extra mileage out of it and they remember all year the fun they had. I take lots of photos too!
These events really aren't about the candy and food treats but about the experience! Mom's and Dad's break out your camera and your smile! Leave all the stress of life behind and for a little while just enjoy the moment with your special children.
What are your ideas and plans for this month? Let's chat!
Man, I love this stuff - can you tell?
Happy Fall Ya'll!
-Mom
Also if your interested - We always have traditional Colcannon at Halloween! The recipe is fantastic-
1 Lg. Skillet/Frying Pan
1 Lb. (or 4 cups) Med. potatoes - peeled, boiled and roughly mashed (or previously baked or fried potato- roughly mashed)
1 1/2 Lb. (or 6 cups) Curly Kale, Chopped and steamed (You can substitute 6 cups of cooked cabbage if you wish.)
3 T. Earth Balance (you can substitute corn or canola oil if you wish.)
1/2 cup chopped green onions (you can substitute 1 large onion chopped if you wish)
2/3 soy milk
1 t. lemon
Salt and Pepper to taste
Mix Soy milk and lemon juice and microwave for 30 sec. Stir and set aside
In a large bowl - Mix kale (or cabbage) into potatoes and add the soy milk/lemon juice mix.
Brown the onion in the Earth balance (or oil) until soft. When finished mix this into the kale, milk and potatoes.
Add new Earth Balance to the pan and make hot. Press the veggie mixture into the hot pan and allow mixture to brown a bit crispy on the bottom then break up and mix.
Serve in large dish topped with a couple of pats or dollops of Earth Balance family style or in individual bowls.
This is great also paired with pork. Either Bacon or ham especially with mustard ♥
Also if your interested - We always have traditional Colcannon at Halloween! The recipe is fantastic-
Traditional Colcannon
THIS IS A WONDERFUL IRISH RECIPE THAT IS USED IN MY FAMILY VERY OFTEN!
If you have left over cooked potatoes this is a fantastic way to use them! Its also quite economical - even entirely from scratch! This also freezes really well. I double this recipe for my family because they love it so much!1 Lg. Skillet/Frying Pan
1 Lb. (or 4 cups) Med. potatoes - peeled, boiled and roughly mashed (or previously baked or fried potato- roughly mashed)
1 1/2 Lb. (or 6 cups) Curly Kale, Chopped and steamed (You can substitute 6 cups of cooked cabbage if you wish.)
3 T. Earth Balance (you can substitute corn or canola oil if you wish.)
1/2 cup chopped green onions (you can substitute 1 large onion chopped if you wish)
2/3 soy milk
1 t. lemon
Salt and Pepper to taste
Mix Soy milk and lemon juice and microwave for 30 sec. Stir and set aside
In a large bowl - Mix kale (or cabbage) into potatoes and add the soy milk/lemon juice mix.
Brown the onion in the Earth balance (or oil) until soft. When finished mix this into the kale, milk and potatoes.
Add new Earth Balance to the pan and make hot. Press the veggie mixture into the hot pan and allow mixture to brown a bit crispy on the bottom then break up and mix.
Serve in large dish topped with a couple of pats or dollops of Earth Balance family style or in individual bowls.
This is great also paired with pork. Either Bacon or ham especially with mustard ♥
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