Practical guide to preparing and organizing Halloween with the family
03 October, 2024 • Par Natacha Langlois
Autumn is slowly settling in, and with it comes of course the ultimate sweet party! For many families, even if Halloween can sometimes be a big challenge, it is also an opportunity to create unforgettable memories and stimulate the creativity of young and old. To help you make this party a pleasant experience for everyone, we present in this article some tips to plan it easily and, above all, without increasing your mental load .
Planning in advance
The key to a successful Halloween? As with any major family event: planning! Start by taking the time to create a budget , which will help you determine how much you can realistically spend on costumes, decorations, and treats. Don't hesitate to involve your children in this process; it's a great opportunity to teach them about smart money management.
Then create a preparation calendar , in which you will make sure to spread the different tasks over several weeks to avoid last-minute stress. To find a complete list of tasks to be done ready to use, download our Octave application now!
Finally, don't forget to involve the whole family in the planning , for example by holding a family council. This will allow you to take everyone's ideas into account and ensure the collaboration of all family members.
The decorations
While Halloween decorations are often essential to creating the desired atmosphere, they don't have to be expensive. DIY projects are a great way to spend time with family while saving you money!
Some ideas for easy DIY decorations:
Of course, after (or even before!) trick-or-treating, choosing costumes is often the most exciting part of the party for kids. But first, take the time to decide as a family whether you’re going to make, buy, or even rent them . Each option has its advantages: while homemade costumes are sure to be unique and budget-friendly, purchased costumes are practical and require little time investment, and rented costumes are often a better-quality option at a reasonable cost. Do your kids have an artistic streak? Invite them to create their own costumes with this handy little trick !
Looking for a big savings and a more eco-friendly option? Why not organize a costume swap in your neighborhood or community? This is a great way to give costumes a second life and significantly reduce expenses.
Finally, whatever your choice, make sure that the costumes you choose are comfortable and safe . Of course, avoid masks that obstruct vision and prefer makeup to masks, especially for young children.
Activities and games
Halloween is obviously not just about going door to door. To get you in the spirit even more, why not plan some family activities that will make the day or the weekends leading up to it even more special? Here are a few ideas:
D-Day: Halloween
The big day has finally arrived! If you plan to go door-to-door, take the time to plan an itinerary with the children in advance to avoid any surprises or disappointments. Also remind your children of the essential safety rules :
Planning in advance
The key to a successful Halloween? As with any major family event: planning! Start by taking the time to create a budget , which will help you determine how much you can realistically spend on costumes, decorations, and treats. Don't hesitate to involve your children in this process; it's a great opportunity to teach them about smart money management.
Then create a preparation calendar , in which you will make sure to spread the different tasks over several weeks to avoid last-minute stress. To find a complete list of tasks to be done ready to use, download our Octave application now!
Finally, don't forget to involve the whole family in the planning , for example by holding a family council. This will allow you to take everyone's ideas into account and ensure the collaboration of all family members.
The decorations
While Halloween decorations are often essential to creating the desired atmosphere, they don't have to be expensive. DIY projects are a great way to spend time with family while saving you money!
Some ideas for easy DIY decorations:
- Hanging white fabric ghosts
- Paper mache pumpkins
- Black Paper Bat Garlands
Don't hesitate to also call on your children's natural creativity to help you decorate the house with their most beautiful crafts related to the festival of terror!
The costumesOf course, after (or even before!) trick-or-treating, choosing costumes is often the most exciting part of the party for kids. But first, take the time to decide as a family whether you’re going to make, buy, or even rent them . Each option has its advantages: while homemade costumes are sure to be unique and budget-friendly, purchased costumes are practical and require little time investment, and rented costumes are often a better-quality option at a reasonable cost. Do your kids have an artistic streak? Invite them to create their own costumes with this handy little trick !
Looking for a big savings and a more eco-friendly option? Why not organize a costume swap in your neighborhood or community? This is a great way to give costumes a second life and significantly reduce expenses.
Finally, whatever your choice, make sure that the costumes you choose are comfortable and safe . Of course, avoid masks that obstruct vision and prefer makeup to masks, especially for young children.
Activities and games
Halloween is obviously not just about going door to door. To get you in the spirit even more, why not plan some family activities that will make the day or the weekends leading up to it even more special? Here are a few ideas:
- Organizing a candy hunt at home for the little ones
- Creating an age-appropriate haunted trail in your backyard or living room
- The organization of traditional Halloween-themed games, such as “catch the black cat’s tail” or “fishing for apples”
- Adding our special Fall/Halloween privilege coupons to your General Store
D-Day: Halloween
The big day has finally arrived! If you plan to go door-to-door, take the time to plan an itinerary with the children in advance to avoid any surprises or disappointments. Also remind your children of the essential safety rules :
- Stay in a group
- Never enter a stranger's house
- Only accept wrapped treats
- Wear reflective clothing or flashlights to be clearly visible
The party is over
Once Halloween is over, why not turn tidying up into a fun family activity ? Sort through decorations together, deciding now what can be kept for next year and what needs replacing. Use our seasonal tidying inventory sheet to easily track what you have for next year.
As for excess candy, you have several options:
- Freeze some to use later in recipes
- Donate to charities or in Christmas baskets
- Use them for educational activities (sorting, counting, science experiments)
Finally, take some time to reflect as a family on your experience . What went well? What could you improve for next year? These reflections will definitely help you plan an even better party next year!
Happy Halloween!