Tips for the Best Family Halloween

Halloween is a very entertaining night when you have children of your own. Here are some ideas for making your Halloween especially memorable this year, from customized trick or treat bags to costumes for your furry friends. 

Plan Your Trick or Treating Route

One of the pleasures of Halloween is taking your children trick or treating, getting lots of candy door to door and showing off their costumes. If you have limited time to trick or treat or you want to streamline your experience, print out a map and mark the streets that you would like to visit. Additionally, if there are attractions such as haunted houses in the vicinity of your neighborhood, it is important to make sure you plan those out along your route, so you will not miss any of the Halloween activities that your children want to do. This will take the guesswork out of the experience, as well as accidentally going to repeat houses.

Dress Up Your Pets

Putting a costume on your dog or cat can make for adorable Halloween pictures, especially if they are coordinated with family or your children's costumes. However, it is vital to make sure that your pets are comfortable. For instance, when it comes to dog costumes, make sure that the outfit is not too tight and does not restrict mobility for your canine friends. You can also simply add an accessory so your pet does not feel confined, such as ears or a tag for their collar. You can easily make a costume out of materials you have around your home, or purchase one from a retailer that is specific to your pet's size. 

Have a Photoshoot

Photographs have the benefit of being cherished forever, and a permanent reminder of the memories you make with your children during their formative years. You can get extremely creative with the pictures you take of your children, especially if they have coordinated or matching costumes. Take some photos on the front porch or in the yard if you have Halloween decorations, or create a fun backdrop with Halloween colors or patterns. Additionally, you can purchase low cost props from your local convenience or craft store to set the scene for your photoshoot and make it especially fun and entertaining for the entire family. If you want to include yourself in the photos, consider investing in a self-timing camera or a selfie stick.

Make Custom Candy Bags

Rather than the customary plastic pumpkin or pillowcase, you can have fun making bags for your children that they will love and cherish for many Halloweens to come. You can bust out your sewing machine or embroidery skills to make an intricate design, such as a spiderweb or embroidered pumpkins, or there are many options that exist involving glue and felt, for an easy, no-sew solution. Consider labelling your bags with your children's names so they will not get lost. You can even customize your bags to match your children's costumes, making them stylish and easier to spot amongst the many other kids who are trick or treating. 

Get a Group Together

If your children have friends in the neighborhood or from school, it can be beneficial to coordinate with other parents and have a group trick or treating route or a Halloween party before or after getting candy. This way, there will be more adults to supervise the children, and you can also enjoy adult Halloween activities rather than keeping an eye on your children all night long. Another benefit of getting together as a group is a group Halloween costume, making your children photoshoot ready and a good group to go collect candy with as well. 

Halloween when you have children does not have to be a stressful experience. With these tips, you are guaranteed to have a wonderful, spooky holiday with those you love, without the added stress of costumes and trick or treat planning.