Halloween Fun: Alternatives to Traditional "Trick or Treating"

Autumn is settling in. The calm cool air and grey skies tease us with the entrance of fall and upcoming holidays. School boys are anxious to dress in ghostly costumes and dreadful makeup while the girls twirl in princess shoes and their mother's favorite lipstick. Yet what happens when your little goblin has a fierce runny nose and the cough to startle the scariest of ghouls? Treading from house to house will surely end you up at the children's hospital at 2 am. A Halloween alternative is the answer. Can Halloween still be fun?

Regardless of the situation, when traditional trick or treating is not an option, clever moms and dads must think of ways to entertain their youngsters without making them miss out on all the fun. Here are few ideas to enjoy a fun All Hallows Eve without the traditional door to door affair.

1. Scary Movie Marathon

Depending on your age group, rent at least 3 movies of haunting proportions and watch them back to back. There are many titles out there for a variety of ages. SpongeBob SquarePants: Halloween, Dora the Explorer: Dora's Halloween, and Monsters Inc. are perfect for the very little ones while Haunted Mansion or Corpse Bride will hold the attention of the middle sized viewers. If you plan to entertain a slightly older crowd with the absence of violent and graphic images, it is always safe to go old school. Ghostbusters, Beetle Juice, The Gremlins and The Addams Family are my picks for young teens. Make sure they know its "Old School Horror Night", or they may not want to join.

2. Candy and Cards

Card games are always a winner for raining days and are very useful for staying in on Halloween. Kids can dress up in fancy duds and own loads of cash; in the forms of Reece's Cups and tiny Snickers bars. 21, a kid friendly form of Black Jack, can have the family betting their Hershey's Kisses and Butterfingers bars right at the kitchen table. Plastic wine glasses and sparkling cider adds to the mood of a party time atmosphere. Other card games include I Declare War and Uno.

3. Scary Story Telling

The lights are off in the entire house. The living room is pitched black. You are well stocked with C batteries because under a tent made of flat sheets ran from one corner table across the room to the sofa, sit your 6 and 8 year olds holding flashlights listening to dad tell a spooky tale about a scary house. Of course, there is a pleasant ending. No need for nightmares. If mom and dad simply can't think of a story on their own, R.L. Stines Goosebumps are favorites and the library has those free for easy check out and return.

4. Night on the town

When Halloween falls on the weekday, most establishments celebrate the weekend before. Local malls will often have costume contests and trick or treating from store to store. It's much different from the traditional way, but most parents find it safer and obviously warmer from the October wind. You could also finish off the evening with a movie. Monster House is still playing at theaters and has gotten great reviews.

5. Fall Festivals

Religious or a personal reasons may lead parents the desire to avoid Halloween altogether. Fortunately, many churches and organizations have fall festivals in the same timeframe to keep the little ones happy. Although no ghostly costumes are allowed, kids still have fun with the many activities that are offered. Check your local newspaper to find the happenings in your area and look for flyers from their school. Festivals from school are usually held on the weekend giving working parents the opportunity to participate.

Try one of these tips or try them all! Have a fun and safe Halloween.