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.
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 d?cor 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.
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 is supposed to be scary, but as a parent, there are a few steps you must take to ensure your child‘s safety on the trick or treat circuit. Here are seven essential Halloween safety tips to keep your kids safe and marvelously scared, in good Halloween tradition.
Young children should always be accompanied by a responsible adult. You can guide them from house to house, crossing streets and then stand a distance away as they ring the doorbells, to avoid embarrassing kids who are older than seven or eight. With younger kids, this isn’t usually an issue.
It’s an unfortunate fact that there are people who lace candies with harmful substances. Let your kids know that tradition requires that there’s no candy eating until you get home. You don’t need to say it’s your tradition. Go through the basket at home and discard any candies that have been opened or look like they might have been tampered with. Tell young kids those candies might have spider spit on them and you’ll have no further objections at your interference. This Halloween safety tip is ignored more often than you might suppose.
Be sure that the fabrics used in your child‘s costume are made of flame retardant materials. Disregard for this Halloween safety tip results in injuries every year.
Using reflecting tape, or plenty of glow-in-the-dark stickers and glitter adds both glitz and safety to your child‘s costume, satisfying everyone’s objectives.
Do a final fitting check before leaving home. Check hems to be sure they aren’t too long and that your child can move around easily.
Before purchasing a mask, make sure that eye and mouth holes match up with the child‘s face! Especially with younger kids, a homemade painted and decorated mask of cardboard is a safer bet. Glue the mask to a stick which the child can hold in front of his face as he collects his treats.
When your child‘s costume is that of the fairy princess, you don’t want to ruin the fun by making them bundle up in an overcoat should the evening be cold. Plan ahead for this situation. A thick pair of tights and long underwear shirt can be slipped on beneath the costume to keep her both warm and happily able to show off that pretty costume. Keep in mind that 90% of body heat is lost through the head. Use a fancy wig appropriate to the costume to serve as a fashion accessory and virtual hat!
Follow these seven Halloween safety tips for happy trick or treaters and a safe adventure.
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