Halloween 2020 Ideas for Kids

 

Safely-Distanced (and Still Fun) Halloween Activities for Kids

No tricks here – Halloween this year is going to be a little different than what we’re used to, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still treat them to a fun and memorable holiday!

In case you missed it, the CDC issued its Halloween guidelines which revealed that traditional trick-or-treating may be a bit too risky this year. But that just gives us the opportunity to get creative in planning out some fun activities for our littles! So, if you’re planning on celebrating Halloween in a socially-distanced manner, here are some ideas that can be done at home, virtually, or with a small group.

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1. Have a “Scary” Movie Marathon

My family has been watching Halloween-themed movies all month - mostly the Hotel Transylvania series.! If you’re going to make a night of it on the 31st, here are some fantastic, kid-friendly movies to start with! (I’d save the really scary stuff until after the kids are in bed…you don’t want any nightmares to ruin their sleep!) You can even make some Halloween popcorn for the special occasion (add candy corn, chocolate Teddy Grahams, and your family’s favorite Halloween candy to the mix). Or even prepare an all-out concession stand for them! 

  • Disney’s Spooky Buddies

  • It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

  • Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie

  • Hotel Transylvania (1, 2, and 3)

  • Super Monsters Save Halloween

  • Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest

  • The Addams Family (animated)

  • Coco

  • The Nightmare Before Christmas (recommended for kids 5 years and older)

  • Hocus Pocus (recommended for kids 6 years and older)

2. Make a Spooky Supper

Before your movie marathon, put together a Halloween-themed lunch or dinner! Hotdog “mummies,” cheese-ball “spiders,” and avocado-toast Frankenstein are sure to be big hits with your kids! There are so many ideas online, so it’s easy to find something to suit your littles’ taste buds.

3. Plan a Halloween Treasure Hunt

This is one I’m really excited about! I wrote out all the clues for my kids earlier this week and created a free printable, so you can do it with your kids too! Get the download here.

4. Set Up a Candy Hunt

I’ve seen a couple ideas for this online. One idea was to reuse Easter eggs (and call them ‘pumpkin seeds’ or ‘monster eggs’) and hide those around the house. Another option is wrap candy or treats in white tissue paper, gather it (with tape, string, or a rubber band), draw a face on it, and turn it into a ghost – then hide those around the house and have a monster egg or ghost hunt!

5. Carve a Pumpkin

Carving pumpkins is a tradition in our home! We usually do it before Halloween, but I might save this activity for the day-of this year. (If you have really little ones, skip the carving – which could be dangerous for little fingers – and paint pumpkins instead.)

6. Make a Haunted (Cookie) House

I’ve seen so many kits for creating haunted houses, manors, and graveyards… kinda like at X-mas with gingerbread houses.! I like the idea of having everything pre-baked (and even pre-assembled, in some cases), so your little can just have fun and be creative. 

7. Decorate Spooky Cookies / Cupcakes

If you don’t want to buy a whole kit to make some deliciously spooky treats, opt for decorating cookies or cupcakes instead. Find some ghost, cat, or pumpkin cookie cutters and bake your favorite sugar cookie or shortbread recipe, then let the kids go nuts with the frosting and sprinkles!

8. Host a Zoom Costume Party

Invite your family and friends for a virtual Halloween party and costume fashion show! You can even play a few games and/or do a Netflix-watching party and enjoy a Halloween movie together virtually.

9. Book a Cameo Call

Nothing says 2020 like a Cameo call! A friend of mine actually gave me this idea, and I think it’ll be super fun for your whole family! In case you’re unfamiliar, Cameo is a site that lets you ‘hire’ celebrities to send personalized video messages. Some Halloween-themed actors you can book are:

10. Reverse Trick-or-Treating

Instead of having your children go home to home, organize a drive-by trick-or-treat night with your friends or neighbors. Have your children get dressed up and wait in your front lawn or doorway (with an adult), and have other adults/parents drive by and deliver the treats. That way, your kids can still show off their costumes and get treats, while staying socially-distanced!

No matter what you end up doing this year, your kids will be grateful for a chance to show off their costume and stuff their bellies with candy! If you have fun with it, they will too! Please share your pics with me on Instagram, by using #healthylittlevillage or tagging me at @healthylittlesleepers! Can’t wait to see all the fun!

Don’t forget to download your FREE Halloween Treasure Hunt Clues Sheet here!

 
Susie Menkes