Hallowe’en is nearly here. Are you looking after the grandchildren this year? Stuck on how to keep the little ones busy? In this article we’ve got some ideas for Hallowe’en activities that are sure to keep the grandkids occupied. But more importantly, they’ll be fun for everyone involved. And if you’d prefer to avoid Hallowe’en this year, stick around, as we’ll have some tips for a night free of ghouls and goblins.
1. Pumpkin Carving
A favourite tradition for many households, pumpkin carving is a great way to express your creativity. What’s more, it’s something you and the grandkids can show off when you’re done. Grab your pumpkins and some kid-friendly tools and get to work. You may need to do some of the job for them, but this makes it a fantastic bonding experience.
2. Woodland Walk
Trick-or-treating doesn’t start until the sun starts going down, but your grandkids are likely to be full of energy in the lead-up. Put that energy to good use with a walk along a nature trail. You can enjoy the beauty of the autumn colours or make a game of seeing who can collect the biggest conkers.
3. Hallowe’en Bakes
There’s nothing quite so synonymous with Hallowe’en as sugary treats. Instead of filling your cupboards with store-bought goodies, consider making some of your own. Grab yourself some Hallowe’en cookie cutters and spooky food colouring and see what you can make together. Consider some googly eye sprinkles to create little monsters.
4. Decorate the House
You don’t need to stop at a pumpkin for decorating your house. Putting some decorations up before the grandkids arrive can help show them that you’re ready for Hallowe’en. Make sure to leave some for them to put up too. Put some fake cobwebs in your windows, pom-pom and pipe cleaners spiders around the house, and see what other decorations are still in the supermarkets.
5. Build a Hallowe’en Scarecrow
A favourite decoration around the country this time of year is a spooky scarecrow. Regardless of the size of your garden, this is a decoration you and the grandkids can have fun constructing. All you need is something to keep it upright. Stuff some newspaper or hay inside some old clothes and tie it all together with string, and soon enough you’ll have a scarecrow fit to frighten the trick-or-treaters. If you’re feeling particularly clever, you could even turn your pumpkin into a scarecrow head.
6. Hallowe’en Scavenger Hunt
Keep your grandkids entertained before trick-or-treating with a scavenger hunt around the house. Hide some goodies in your nooks and crannies, and even the garden if weather permits. Write some clues and send them searching. You may even be able to sit back and relax while they seek out their treats.
7. Watch a Spooky Film
Grab some popcorn, turn the lights down low, and put on a spooky film…although make sure it’s one suitable for the grandkids. There are plenty of family-friendly films with Hallowe’en themes. Some of our favourites include:
• Hocus Pocus (and Hocus Pocus 2)
• Casper the Friendly Ghost
• The Nightmare Before Christmas
• Ghostbusters
• Coraline
• Goosebumps
• Hotel Transylvania
• Frankenweenie
• Coco
• The Book of Life
8. Go Trick-or-Treating
We all know this is what the grandkids are most excited about: dressing up in their best scary costume – or as their favourite film character – and getting bags full of sweets. To make it an even more memorable experience, why not dress up as well? Vampires, ghosts, and skeletons are popular choices.
Avoiding Hallowe’en
If this time of year just doesn’t appeal to you, there are a few things you can do to help dissuade trick-or-treaters from visiting.
• Switch off your porch lights. This helps to show that you’re not prepared to answer your door.
• Make your house uninviting. Make it hard for visitors to reach your front door. If you have a gate, lock it. Consider parking your car in a way that blocks your driveway – just make sure you can get it back out.
• Leave sweets out. If you don’t want the visiting children to miss out but would prefer not to constantly answer the door, leave some sweets out. Leave a bowl of treats outside or stick some lollipops in the top of your pumpkin. Just hope no one gets too greedy and takes them all.
• Go out for the night. One way to avoid the trick-or-treaters is to not be at home. Consider going out for a meal or heading to the cinema to see the latest releases.
• Put a sign out. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best. You can write your own message on some paper and tape it to your door, or download a sign online and print it off. If you’re worried about wind or rain damaging your sign, put it in the window instead.
Spending time with the grandchildren creates memories for them to cherish. We hope these suggestions help you have a fun Hallowe’en with the grandkids, and stretch your creative muscles.
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