This might not be a great practice especially since children scare easily but still there are quite a number of relevant stories which you can tell during a storytelling session in a Halloween party or event. Even if it’s not Halloween, you will always have a request from your listeners to tell a scary story. So people have more excuse to demand a scary story during this day of the year when spirits and monsters are supposed to be free to roam the surface world.

Aside from scary stories, you can also narrate mystery type of stories. Having a storytelling session in your Halloween party program will keep the children quiet and at bay. This is also a good opportunity to prepare other things for the party.

What stories to tell? You can search the internet for various short scary stories that have both the Halloween scare factor and at the same time children will learn something productive and inspiring at the end of the story.

You can even draw from personal experiences or stories. It’s often “cool” hearing a story from someone who has experienced it first had or was really there. This gives the story a personal touch and the kids just love the idea of stories happening for real.

Remember not to overdo it though. These are children we’re talking about and if you scare them witless, they will certainly have nightmares and you’ll have parents breathing down your neck the next day. Now that would be a real scary situation for you as organizer or storyteller.

If you lack some modern shorts and have not time to prepare your own stories, you can always turn to the classics. There are several classic ghost stories that children nowadays have yet to hear.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is one of them. The headless horseman of Washington Irving is sure make some children gasp. You can tell the story of the Flying Dutchman, a mysterious ship that is said to be a doom ship that brings bad things to other ships that crosses their paths. Dr. Frankenstein’s monster is also always popular.

Another classic is A Ghost Story by Mark Twain which has several adaptations that you could read for the kid’s enjoyment. Algernon Blackwood’s The Willows is said to be the best ghost story in history. You might also find some suitable adaptation for children somewhere in your bookstore or on the internet. Another work of Blackwood is The Empty House which is also pretty good.

Now, I have to remind you at this point that you will be reading these stories to children. You might want to kind versions that would be easier for children to grasp and understand. If you’re Halloween party is for adults, which I also think putting a storytelling session is a great idea, you can be as eloquent as you want. But in the meantime, simple and short adaptations would be better for children’s party.

If for some reason you can’t get any storytellers for your party, other options would be buying an audio or video CD of various ghost stories. There are several of these in the market and you can easily buy one off the rack of your favorite bookshop or audio store.

The idea here is to keep your options open. Of course Halloween parties involve game and prizes but having a Halloween storytelling session can be both fun and productive.

If your kid’s costume is ready the only thing they need now is a trick or treat bag. While you can buy this from the store, you can save money and be creative at the same time if you are able to make this on your own.

The first thing you have to do is look for an old shopping bag. This should be able to carry a lot of candy and should not break because of the weight. Ideally, this should be color orange as this is often associated with Halloween.

Since your kid can’t go around with a gift bag featuring the logo of the department store, it is time to decorate the trick or treat bag. For that, look at some templates online and then print it out.

Now trace the picture onto tracing paper using a pencil and then cut it out. Tape the cutout onto a sheet of black construction paper and center this in the middle of the bag. Push the construction paper down so it will stick well on the trick or treat bag and all air bubbles have been removed.

There are some designs that you can get that will require more than just pressing it on the bag. You may have to iron it into the fabric similar to what is done to a shirt that has no distinctive markings. When you do it, make sure there is a cardboard placed in between the two sides so the colors do not bleed from one side to the other.

You can also create a trick or treat bag by drawing the design and then pasting it. Some examples which are popular include the ghost, skill or pumpkin. You then cut it and then repeat the same procedures as the one mentioned before.

To make the trick or treat bag more decorative, add some Halloween stickers or sprinkle some glitters after mixing this with some glue. You can also use this to write their name so no one will get it by mistake.

Another way to make a treat or trick bag is to buy some fabric from the store and then sew it together. Since there is sure to be leftover material, use this to create handles and then label it using some thread or with craft paint sticks.

Before you let your kid walk out the door with it, test it to make sure that it won’t suddenly burst open once it becomes too heavy. You can do this by putting candy and then leaving it for an hour or so since this is about the same time that your child will be out. If nothing happens, then it can withstand the weight even if your kid is walking with this from house to house.

You don’t have to pay much for a trick or treat bag when you can make it at home. One of the benefits of doing it is to reduce the chance that someone in the neighborhood will have something similar to what your kid has.

When Halloween is all over, you can keep it and then use this again for next Halloween. But if your child wants something different, that is perfectly because they will most likely wear a different costume next year and the trick or treat bag should always match the outfit.

The Halloween season is known as a time for spooky aura—wandering ghosts, people in monster and goblin costumes, and tricks that are waiting for treats. Although it should be a frightening time of the year, people nowadays consider it as a joyous celebration in commemorating departed loved ones by celebrating parties and even gift-giving.

Through the years, Halloween gift ideas have evolved. Before, only sweet treats are being given as gifts but now, it encompasses so many items for as long it is Halloween-themed. Today, one of the most common Halloween gift ideas as Halloween gift baskets or Halloween gift bouquets which contains ghoulish goodies and items perfect for trick and treat sessions.

Halloween gift baskets have become one of the most popular gifts people give and receive during this spooky season. Because of its versatility, Halloween gift baskets are among the favorite gifts people give out to their friends, family, officemates, clients, and business associates. These gift baskets—which contain goodies perfect for the season—are usually themed so it’s up to what would you want to put inside it.

How did Halloween gift baskets come about?

Halloween gift baskets originated from what people call “food gift baskets”—a way of delivering food and other presents. Since people started giving these special baskets in one of the most anticipated times of the year—Halloween—gift baskets have become a popular gift item the whole during this season.

Today, more and more companies offer a wide variety of choices when it comes to Halloween gift baskets. Statistics show that these companies offer more than a hundred choices in Halloween gift baskets selections that include a fruit selection in dark colors, chocolates selection with a ghoulish theme, a selection of scary books, stationary, pictures/posters of popular or spooky cartoons or characters popular during Halloween season. There are also baskets, which contain a selection of gourmet foods that have Halloween theme stocked in elegant picnic or baskets or hampers, or a movie-night basket which contains selection of cds or vcds of scary and horror movies.

If you want your Halloween gift to be more intimate or personalized, you can customize a Halloween gift basket. Aside from planning ahead and watching out for items on sale, here are some helpful tips that can guide you in creating that special Halloween gift basket:

1. Always take note of themed basket ideas. If you are not familiar with the interests of the recipient, opt for fairly gender-neutral items but make sure that you add personal touches for a masculine or feminine feel to it.

2. Make sure that your take note of recipient’s hobbies. You can create a Halloween gift basket depending on the interest of the one who will receive it. Knowing his/her hobbies or interest can help you choose the items you will put inside the Halloween gift basket or Halloween gift idea.

3. When creating a Halloween gift basket, try to mix and match. Buying items in bulk can help you minimize your cost because you can split them up in different baskets. This will not only help you save some money but can also challenge your creative and Math skills in diving the items for your recipients.

4. Show creativity and resourcefulness by recycling. Before buying stuff as Halloween gifts, try looking around the house for used baskets and redecorate them. If there’s none, search for attractive baskets at garage sales, thrift shops, and consignment stores. Also, learn how to segregate the most expensive items from the least expensive ones so the recipient can have the best of both worlds.