How to Throw a Kid-Friendly Halloween Party Without the Scares

Halloween is one of the holidays that kids look forward to all year. From dressing up in a favorite costume to going trick-or-treating, there are so many fun ways to celebrate. If you're planning on throwing a Halloween party this year for your family, neighbors, or your child's friends and classmates, you may be looking for ways to keep things kid-friendly.

Although there are many innocent ways to celebrate Halloween, as parents, we know how quickly things can get scary, especially for little ones. Even when you're driving through your neighborhood, you might see some spooky, gory, or more mature decorations out there. The good news is, when you throw a party of your own, you get to pick the music, decorations, and more.

In this article, we'll give you tips on planning the perfect family-friendly Halloween party — from the tasty treats to the spooky activities.

Start With the Decorations

The first thing to consider for your Halloween party is decorations. Depending on how elaborate you want your planning to be, you might choose a general Halloween theme or come up with something more specific. Whether you plan your party around pumpkins or a favorite Halloween movie, you can make the theme your own.

Here are some ideas for Halloween-specific themes:

• Kid-friendly haunted house
• Spooky pumpkin patch
• Harry Potter
• Hocus Pocus
• Murder mystery
• Monster party

When choosing a theme, you can also base it around one of the main activities. For example, make it a pumpkin carving party and have everyone bring their own supplies. Or, plan a Halloween movie night and have everyone dress as their favorite character.

If you're planning a last-minute party, there are plenty of ways to keep things simple while still making it fun for your guests. Places like the Dollar Tree, Ross, or TJ Maxx have fall and Halloween decor at an affordable price. You can even find some unique items to keep for future Halloween parties and celebrations.

Create Your Spooky Menu

One of the best parts of party planning is creating the menu. Depending on the time and length of your party, you may serve a full meal or focus on serving some appetizers, snacks, or desserts. Creating Halloween-themed food and treats can be a blast — especially when you experiment with different designs, colors, and candies. Equipped with a few cookie cutters, some candy, and sprinkles, you can make almost anything Halloween-themed. If you need some spooky ideas, try some of our favorites:

• Spider Cookies: This one is easy because you make the spiders out of store-bought sandwich cookies. You can swap the cinnamon candies for M&M's or swap the the licorice for Twizzlers.
• Halloween Popcorn Balls: Popcorn balls are always a hit with kids. You can add candy corn or M&M's, mix in some food coloring for spooky fun, or add some orange and green sprinkles. Keep in mind that popcorn can be a choking hazard and shouldn't be consumed by kids under the age of four.
• Edible Magic Wands: If you're planning a Harry Potter, Hocus Pocus, or Wizards of Waverly Place party, these edible magic wands are the perfect treat. With only a few ingredients, you can create tasty and adorable wands. Or, keep the kids entertained by letting them decorate their own!
• Candy Apples: No Halloween party is complete without candy or caramel apples. If you're looking for a way to avoid the mess, cut the apples into slices first and drizzle them in the candy coating or caramel before adding nuts, sprinkles, or candy pieces.

If you want to serve more than snacks and desserts, you can make sandwiches Halloween-themed by cutting them into shapes, like these bat sandwiches or Jack-O-Lantern sandwiches. Don't forget to add some beverages as well. You can keep things simple by having a cooler with some cans of soda and juice, or set up a drink table with unique options like this swamp punch.

Don't Forget the Entertainment

As you're planning, don't forget to add some fun and exciting activities to the agenda. If your Halloween party is before Halloween, you might plan more games and other activities to keep the guests occupied. These activities could include:

• A Halloween crossword puzzle or word search
• Pumpkin painting or carving
• Cookie decorating
• Bobbing for apples

Keep in mind you can also make nearly any game or activity Halloween-themed by mixing things up a little. Instead of Pin the Tail on the Donkey, for example, play Pin the Wart on the Witch. Or, plan a Halloween scavenger hunt around your house or neighborhood.

If your party is taking place on Halloween night, before guests go out trick-or-treating, one of the best activities is a costume contest. You can have those who want to participate show off their costumes, and everyone can vote for their favorites.

Other Ideas for a Kid-Friendly Halloween Party

If you've never thrown a Halloween party before, it's easy to become overwhelmed with the planning. The key aspects of any successful party are food, fun, and good company. When kids are involved, they'll have a great time, no matter what type of activities you plan.

If you're looking for some other ways to make your Halloween party memorable, here are a few more ideas:

Add a Craft Corner

If supervising a group of kids playing Halloween games isn't your style, Halloween crafts are another great way to keep guests entertained. There are numerous kid-friendly Halloween crafts that kids can do with minimal assistance and that require minimal supplies.

Not only will this be a memorable part of your celebration, but the guests will also get to take their craft home as a party favor.

Plan a Playlist for the Ultimate Dance Party

A Halloween playlist is a great way to create a fun, kid-friendly atmosphere as guests arrive and chat during the party. There are so many fun Halloween-themed songs to choose from, such as Ghost Busters and Monster Mash.

Kick things up a notch by planning a dance party where kids can show off their best dance moves while listening to Halloween music.

Keep Things Simple With a Halloween Movie

Whether your party is an alternative to trick-or-treating or you're looking for a way to celebrate before Halloween night, one of the simplest activities that requires very little planning is a Halloween movie watch party.

Grab some blankets and pillows so guests can get comfortable in the living room area, or if it's cooler outside, plan an outdoor movie on the lawn. With just a projector, screen, and speakers, you can give your guests the full theater experience in your own backyard.

Set Up a Photobooth

The only thing better than creating memories at a Halloween party is taking pictures to capture those memories. You don't have to buy anything fancy to set up a place where guests can take pictures in their costumes.

In one corner of the room, add a backdrop and some fun props, such as hats, masks, and signs. Guests can take pictures with their own phones and cameras, or you can designate someone as the photographer and add the party photos to a digital folder later on.

A Halloween Party to Remember

Throwing the ultimate kid-friendly Halloween party isn't about having the most expensive decorations or the most elaborate theme — it's about keeping things fun and making memories that last. No matter what kind of treats, decorations, or activities you choose, you can throw a Halloween party your guests will remember for years to come. So grab your decorations, find the perfect costume, and don't forget to send out invitations.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Yuganov Konstantin/Shutterstock.com