Some parents are overly protective and they don’t want to let their kids go trick or treating. If you are one of those parents, you have to find some other ways to make them have fun and here are a few options.

The first is get in touch with your local community or recreation center to find out if they have any planned activities for Halloween. They may have a costume party or a night filled with games for everyone to enjoy.

For those who don’t want their kids to go trick or treating in the streets, their kids can still do this by going to the mall. This is because some shopping malls encourage their tenants to provide candies and other goodies for shoppers. There are also costume parades and contests which the kids will love to watch and maybe win a few prizes.

If you live in a small town, chances are there is an activity for the evening like perhaps a dance or a concert.

You can also go with your kids and visit a haunted house. This event is usually sponsored by the local community to raise funds and what they do is rent a house for the evening, decorate the place and scare people all in the spirit of fun.

For people who don’t want to go out and just stay at home, let the people come instead by hosting a Halloween party. You can plan it weeks in advance so you have time to buy the decorations, stock up on food and send out the invitations.

You and yours kids can then spend quality time together by putting the décor up like hang fake spider webs through the entry way after cutting them out using black construction paper, put out tombstones made from Styrofoam that can be made or purchased from craft stores and of course pumpkins which you can carve out yourself.

As for sounds, you can download a few songs as we all sound effects into you MP3 player then just put speakers around the house. To create a foggy atmosphere when people approach your home, buy some dry ice.

The only way your guests will have a good time is to make sure there is a lot of food and drinks to go around. So they don’t bored, plan a few games and activities that everyone can participate in. One game you would love is apple bobbing where you put a bunch of apples in the bathtub or basin and then let the participants pick it up using their teeth.

As for dinner, serve spaghetti that look like eyeballs, tomato soup and a few other dishes that are ideal for the occasion.

Since there will be kids attending the party, make sure there are games for them as well. One game could be pin the skeleton which is very similar to pin the donkey. You can also bake caramel apples so the kids can just grab them when they want another one.

Because kids love candy, be sure that there are plenty of them around. Don’t forget to thank everyone for coming by preparing loot bags that they can bring home.

Planning and hosting a Halloween party takes a lot of work but its all worth it if everyone was able to have a good time. The only thing to do now when the party is over is clean up and return things to the way they were.

Halloween is just a few weeks away, and then after that it will be Christmas but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s tackle everything one at a time. Halloween itself will require a whole lot of your time especially if you’re a parent. Expect to be handling the costume designs and worries of your kids for their school play and party or for their trick-or-treating on the 31st. And with all those things in mind, you will always have to shoulder the burden of costs. How to come up with Halloween costumes while working on a budget.

It is true that your life would be easier if you say buy a Halloween costume from the store or rent one from a costume shop. But if you have four kids and all of them wants a costume that can be quite a burden for your wallet.

Also, if you’re going to rent or buy one, you will have to tackle the stress of your kids fighting over which one would be the fairy or which one would be Spiderman. While your kids argue you go down memory lane and reminisce of the time you were a kid. There’s no quarrel over costumes because in the first place you have to make your own.

This, of course, lights up a series of light bulbs in your head. Why not have my kids make their own costumes. It’s economical, its fun to do, and you can show your kids the value of work. However, if you follow this path be prepared with some resistance especially if you have promised your kid a great costume last year or if you have spoiled them a little along the way.

In the end, it is your decision to make. Plus, homemade Halloween costumes are not always the crappy things that children always thought they would be. With extra effort and a lot of imagination, you can make your kid a Halloween costume better than the ones they sell at the mall.

To encourage your kid avoid the usual white bed sheet with holes for the arms, eyes, and mouth costume.
This is not a great idea, unless your kid wants that. But as someone who has been around, try to be more creative and spend time on your kid’s costume.

Try to remember that nowadays, its okay to have costumes of celebrities and superheroes. In fact your kid might be badgering you of a batman costume. That one can be tricky but with the right materials you can make one from a black cloth, ski mask, kid’s tights, and that pair of boots your kid has in your room.

Other costume ideas include a cat or kitten costume which involves leggings, sweatshirts, stockings or rope for the tail, and probably a paper at mask. A devil costume is also quite easy to make. Clothe your kid in all red or black and buy that head band horns which you can practically see everywhere during this time of the year. You can add a cape if you want and of course a forked staff. Just make sure your kid knows that the staff is for props only and not for poking his neighbor.

Materials you will need for your budget Halloween costumes are readily available in most shops or most of them you can even find in your own home. Again, you can create a great costume while working on a budget, all you need is time to spend and imagination to burn.

Just because kids are the only ones that go trick or treating does not mean that grown ups cannot have some fun too during Halloween. Adults throw grown up parties and also give gift baskets that the recipient will surely enjoy.

A gift basket is pretty self-explanatory. Since it can be used for any occasion like a housewarming present or a baby shower, you have to put items that suit the occasion like a bunch of scary masks, pumpkins, candies, grapes and even a bottle of wine.

You can make this yourself by buying the materials and the items from the grocery or buying it directly from the store.

If you choose to make one, the first thing to look around for is the basket. These come in different sizes so be sure that what you get will be able to contain whatever you want to put inside.

From there, you can already pick out what goodies will go in the basket so you can fix it up. Before you put the contents inside, get some crumpled and loose paper cut into small pieces then put this in the bottom of the basket so this can act as a cushion. Wrap each item carefully using a colorful gift wrap then slowly put it inside.

It will take some time to fit everything right inside the basket so be patient because you are doing your best to maximize the limited space.

The last thing you have to do when all the items are inside is to cover up the basket using cellophane wrap. If the basket is big, you might need a couple and when you are finished, bring it up and then tie it using a ribbon as this will preventing it from opening.

Now to add a personal touch, put a nice card addressed to the person you are giving the basket to. A cute one could read in the front something like “open at your own risk” or simply greeting that person a “Happy Halloween.”

Aside from making or buying a Halloween gift basket from the grocery, there are some that sell it online. They range from $30 to a little over a $100. If you look carefully, there are some who offer this at discounted prices so you end up with a good deal.

So, should you make a Halloween gift basket or buy one? That decision is up to you. If you are working on tight budget, follow the instructions so you can make one by yourself. To add a touch of creativity to it, you can put other items than candy, masks, a bottle of wine or pumpkins.

A few examples of these are a bouquet of dead flowers since we are accustomed to getting those that blooming already or just about to, toy spider webs, a Halloween CD and some popcorn.

Your friend will surely be surprised with the Halloween basket that you are about to give to them. It is creative and original which shows that you are giving something not for the sake of the occasion but because you care about them.

Since the gift basket can be used for any occasion, you can do this again and give it to other people. With Christmas less than 2 months away after Halloween, that would be a great idea to give out to friends and family.

It is great to be a kid during Halloween. You get to have lots of candies from your neighbors that you will enjoy throughout the rest of the week. As a parent, you should know and teach your children some safety tips.

First, the costume you make or purchase must be flame resistant. Make sure that this is not too long because they could trip and fall. To check, make them walk around the house and ask if the length is okay.

When they are going out, make sure they have their loot bag in hand and labeled so no one will get it by mistake.

Never let your kids go trick or treating alone. They should be accompanied by an adult. If the parents can’t do it, assign someone older to go with them. You can also check if the neighborhood committee has plans to do this in groups so your child is able to go with them.

When your children go around the neighborhood, tell them never to knock or enter the house of someone they don’t know. They should only visit houses of people you or they know personally. If the house they are visiting has a lighted jack lantern, tell them not to go near it because their costume could catch fire if they get too close.

If the house they are going to does not have the porch light on, it means that no one is home so they should just move on.

They must also never accept candies from strangers since they may bump into a few of them while they are walking down the street.

So it is not too late, make sure that they go trick or treating only in the later afternoon or evening. If the sun has already gone down, tell them to only walk in streets that are well lit. Before they cross, make sure that they look both ways and walk. Never run.

As an added precaution, let your kids wear reflective tape or carry a flashlight so drivers will be able to see them when they are crossing the street.

With all the excitement going on, your kids might want to take some shortcuts to get to the next house. Since it is dark, tell them not to do it and just stick to the main road.

Your kids should also be given a few quarters or maybe a cellular phone. Who knows, they may need you to pick them up.

You should give specific instructions as to what time your children must return home. Once they arrive, welcome them and then examine all their goodies. You are not doing this to get your share of the loot but to check if these are safe to eat. There have been instances in the past where candies handed out were tainted and some kids ended up in the hospital. If you don’t want your child to be a victim, examine each one carefully. If everything checks out, give it back and let them enjoy it.

Halloween is supposed to be fun especially for the kids since it is not everyday that they can go out, wear a costume and bring home a lot of goodies. As a parent, make sure that you have done everything possible to make them understand the dangers of going out at night so they will be able to come home safely.

Halloween happens once a year and this is the only time that you can get away with a few snacks that may sound gross but are great to fill anyone’s stomach. Here are a few examples.

1. The first is the Bat Sandwich. You will need some sharp cheddar cheese, soft chive and onion flavored cream cheese, drained diced pimiento, chopped toasted pecans and bread slices. After you mix the ingredients mentioned, put the spread onto one side of the bread and then put another one on top. Cut this to shape like a bat and then serve.

2. Something light you can also serve is Goblin’s Taco Chicken salad. You will need skinless chicken breasts, tomato based salsa, salad greens, cheddar cheese, ranch dressing, green olives and sour cream.

Cut the chicken breasts into small strips. When you are finished, cook this with salsa at medium high for ten minutes until the chicken is cooked. Mix this with greens and cheese in a large bowl then add any remaining salsa together with the dressing. You can also put in tortilla chips and sour cream which helps make it crunchy.

3. Next is Brain Cell Delight. For this, you will need some jello, cottage cheese and blueberry soup. One you mix the jello with water, put this in a bowl and then let if chill in the refrigerator. Mix blueberry syrup with cottage cheese until it is well blended. To give it a graying color, add some food coloring. Now take out the jello, cut a slice so you can put this on the place then add the blended mixture.

4. Ever eaten a hotdog that was also a pizza? Well you can when you make the Halloween Mummy Dog. For this snack, you will need some pizza dough rolls, mozzarella cheese, non-stick spray, pizza sauce, assorted vegetables and hotdogs.

5. Halloween is not the same without the pumpkin. If you carved one, you can use the contents to make Pumpkin Pie. Aside from the pumpkin, you will also need sugar, cinnamon, ground cloves, ground allspice, ground ginger, slat, eggs and evaporated milk.

Cook the contents of the pumpkin pie and then let it cool. Then get the rest of the ingredients and mix this all together before putting this into the pie bowl as this will form the pie’s crust. After heating this in the oven, it will harden. Now pour in the pumpkin filling and cover it up with the remainder of the crust on top and leave put into the oven for 45 minutes. When it’s finished, cool the pie in a rack and refrigerate.

6. One game that people get to play during Halloween is apple bobbing. Instead of playing with food, you can enjoy it by making Apples on Stick. After you rinse the apples and pat it dry, you remove the apple stem and insert a popsicle stick. Roll this in peanut butter then raisins, dried cranberries and shredded coconut then serve.

Guests who come over will enjoy the different Halloween snacks you prepared. What is even better is that these are all easy to make so the kitchen will not be that messy. So people will know what these snacks are, don’t forget to write the names of each one on a small card so if they really like it, you can give them the recipe.

Hanging fake spider webs and creating your own lanterns is one way to decorate your house during Halloween. If you want to make something bigger or more life like, why not add a mummy?

To make one, you don’t have to buy a mannequin or an inflatable. You will need though a lot of newspaper since this will help make up the entire body.

When all the parts are ready, hold everything together using some tape then begin wrapping the mummy using bandages. The best ones to use are those used in the hospital. Since this is too expensive, you will have to substitute this with toilet paper instead. It is best to use the plain kind since people will probably laugh if they noticed that it has a flowery design.

Now that your mummy is ready, put this where there is a lot of traffic like beside the front door to your house or in the dining room.

If you want to scare people, put this in places where they don’t expect like the bathtub or the closet. If people ask where the toilet is, just give them the directions. The same goes if people come in and want to hang their coat then just wait until you hear a loud scream.

Another way of making a mummy will require adult size clothes for a large mummy and child size clothes for a small one. When you have it, lay these on the floor and start stuffing it using newspaper. If you notice, the end result will make your mummy look like a scarecrow.

For the hands of the mummy, get a pair of gloves then attach this to the arm then wrap this up using toilet paper or gauze. If you can spare an old white bed sheet which you can cut into strips, even better.

As for the head, try inflating a balloon or a gallon sized milk jug then put this near the collar of the shirt. Continue wrapping until you are also able to cover the mummy’s face. If you want to put some eyes, use black construction paper then glue this on the face.

While most mummies lie still, you can make your mummy different by letting it sit upright on a chair. One suggestion will be put the chair beside the table where the candies are.

Your life sized mummy will look great wherever you decide to put it. If the tissue, gauze or strips should come off just patch it up as fast as you can.

Although most mummies are color white, you can give it an aged appearance by using some spray paint. The two ideal colors to use for this are translucent beige and brown which you can easily buy from the craft store.

When Halloween is all over, take one last look at the mummy and then take it apart. Some of the stuff you use can be recycled for next year while the rest has to be thrown in the trash.

Now that you know how to make a life sized mummy, you can also use the toilet paper and gauze to create your own Halloween costume. If the two are identical, some people will think that they are talking to you when actually they are talking to a dummy.

Remember when were kids that we had a great time donning those Halloween costumes we made or our parents have bought or rented for us? We gang up with the rest of the neighborhood kids and go around screaming “trick-or-treat!” like there’s no tomorrow, leaving our voices hoarse the next day. Well, we basically have experienced it, we let our kids practice it, but do we really know the origin of putting on Halloween costumes in the first place. Some of us may already know but for the benefit of those who don’t, here’s the story.

The origin of the celebration can be traced back to ancient Celtics. The have this feast called Samhain which is a festival held during the end of the harvest season and which is also the Celtic New Year.

According to Celts beliefs, during this time of the year, the spirits of the dead will go up to the surface world and try to posses living bodies for the year to come. To prevent there bodies from being possessed, Celts would light bonfires and dress up in all sorts of morbid costumes just to discourage the spirits of the dead from entering their bodies.

However, the practice of placing costumes in America can be traced to only as recent as the 1900s. It was only in the 1930s that Halloween costumes began to be mass produced. The usual costumes that people rent or make are those of different monsters including but not limited to vampires, ghosts, ghouls, demons, witches, and skeletons.

Even if it is the night that evil is supposed to surface, “good” costumes are also a common choice among children and adults alike. In fact, princess, fairy and angel costumes often times make it to the top ten list of top Halloween costumes.

Also popular are pop culture costumes which mimicked famous personalities, fictional characters, celebrities, and even politicians have an equal share in exposures during Halloween. Women, no thanks to commercial advertising, have also found this a good time to wear sexy outfits to show off their bodies and sexual prowess. But that is another story.

Other costumes that seem to have a following are clowns, nurses, cats, and that lowly Halloween symbol, the pumpkin. Superhero characters are also fast becoming popular costumes no thanks to the comics to movie fever that have hit the silver screen in recent years. The demand for new and modern costumes have put costume makers busy and costume rentals fully booked.

The fact that costumes for Halloween celebration have become so varied that the modern tradition have overshadowed the earlier tradition which makes wearing costumes during Halloween different from other dressing up feasts there is. And that is the concept of dressing up during Halloween is to mimic the supernatural, the ghoulish being, or basically the scary stuff.

Nevertheless, who are we to keep traditions from adapting to the modern times? Things will always evolve, that’s just how things naturally work. We can’t simply insist on wearing only scary stuff during Halloween. Creativity will play a role in this aspect and people will always crave for new things.

So not withstanding the darker origins of wearing Halloween costumes, we and our children and their children will continue to celebrate this day for as long as there are candies to share and creativity to spare.