Dust off the old broomsticks, witches and warlocks! Halloween is just around the corner and it's time to get festive. Baby’s first Halloween can be an exciting time for parents. Tempted to dress your tiny tot like a juicy hamburger? Or a vegan burger? Go for it! Dying to decorate your yard like one ginormous orange pumpkin patch? Do it! The only thing better than adult Halloween is seeing it through your child's eyes. So why not throw a baby-friendly Halloween party? It's fun, it's festive, and entertaining for both parents and little ones. If you're thinking of throwing a toddler-friendly Halloween party, we've got some adorably spooky party and family costume ideas. Time to whip up a charmingly festive (but spooky!) evening for your little ghouls and goblins. Here are our tips and tricks for creating a cuddly and cute Halloween party.
GET BATTY WITH INVITATIONS
Invites? Like actual physical invites made out of paper? Yes, that is precisely what we are suggesting. Sure, a text would be super easy. Still, a personalized paper invite would make it extra spooktacular. Choose a white or peach cardstock and create your invites on your home printer. Keep it light and fun with images of jack-o'-lanterns, bats, and witches. Get the little ones in on the action by having them paste paper pumpkins or ghosts or even stickers to the invitations. If you want a little extra help, you can download an online template, personalize, and print at home.
DECORATE YOUR HOUSE OF GHOULS AND GOBLINS
Getting your humble abode into a satisfyingly spooky mood is often almost as fun as the party itself. If your family loves a particular Halloween movie, make it a theme night! It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, can be played in the background for a little ambiance. Want to keep it generally spooky? No problem! And if the idea of channeling your inner Martha Stewart terrifies you, don't worry; we're here to keep it simple. Try some of these entertaining ideas from Good Housekeeping.
Mood Lighting
Decorate your home with orange string lights to create a warm autumn vibe.
Bat Leaves
Real bats? Not so fun. Faux bats? Festive! Spray leaves from your yard black, adding tiny faces with white markers to make vampire bats.
Pumpkins on Parade
Get a variety of pumpkins in different sizes and colors. Place them in various areas or all together to enhance the fall ambiance.
SET A SPOOKY SCENE
No haunting Halloween party would be complete without some ghoulish music to set the atmosphere. Playing "Monster Mash" and "Thriller" on repeat is not going to cut it. It's all about variety! Whether you want to go creepy classic, spooky indie, scary movie-themed, or cheerful kid-friendly, there is a playlist for everyone. Check out Spotify for a curated selection of wickedly good songs. If you want to compile a playlist specifically for preschoolers here are some ideas.
1. "Baby Shark Halloween" by Super Simple Songs
2. "Ghost in the Closet" by Wendy & DB
3. "Five Little Monsters Jumping on the Bed" by Super Simple Songs
4. "Witch Doctor" by David Seville and The Chipmunks
5. "Zombie Finger Family" by All Babies Channel
OFFER HAUNTINGLY FUN GOODY BAGS
Even though almost everyone will be trick-or-treating, sending the kiddos home with a goody bag will be an extra pleasant surprise. You can purchase Halloween-themed goody bags online or you can make your own. These DIY bat shaped treat bags from Say Yes will make everyone feel batty. In a good way. Not sure what to include? Here are a couple of ideas.
Frankenstein Rice Krispie Treats
These scrumptiously cute green Rice Krispie Treats from Flour on My Fingers will delight parents and kids alike. They're easy to make and even easier to eat!
Wickedly Cute Photos
If you have a Polaroid camera, take snaps of everyone during the party and pop them up on a corkboard with a bit of Sticky Tack. At the end of the evening, parents can take their photo home with their goody bag.
Monster Blocks
If you’re feeling crafty, try making these adorable “monster” toys from Adventure-in-a-Box. Little ones will love playing with these colorful wooden blocks.
EAT, DRINK AND BE SCARY
Anything too sugary is out of the question for most littles. Keep it simple with Halloween-themed cookies, cupcakes, and pizza.
Haunting Halloween Cupcakes
Cupcakes are always a major crowd pleaser. Decorate your Halloween-themed cupcakes with pumpkins, ghosts, bats, and witches for a spookily delightful treat. You can even add a bit of orange food coloring to the batter.
Ghost Pizza
This ghostly pizza from Taste of Home will delight little ones. Using premade biscuit dough, tomato sauce, cheese, a ghost-shaped cutter, and some olives you can easily create mini pizzas with ghost-shaped cheese. Poke a hole for the eyes.
Halloween Cookies
Grab a few cookie cutters and create sugar cookies in all your favorite Halloween shapes from ghosts to pumpkins to bats!
PLAY GHASTLY GAMES
Burn off all that sugar with a few Halloween games. Here are a few ideas to start.
Mystery Box
Try this idea from Adventure-in-a-Box. Put items in here that will give baby a sensory experience. You can try small pumpkins, dried beans, leaves, and stuffed spiders.
Halloween Ball Toss
This fun idea from La Jolla Mom is perfect for toddlers. A large jack-o-lantern trick-or-treat bucket is set on the floor. Grab some orange ping pong balls and have the kids toss the balls into the pail.
GET CREEPY AND CRAFTY
Encourage the little pumpkins to explore their creative side with some arts and crafts time.
Eerie Paper Plate Jack-o'-Lanterns
Since your little ones will be too young to carve their own pumpkins, they can make their own versions on paper plates. Set the table with various markers (make sure to get extra orange and black ones), glue, and small squares of brown cardboard. After the kids draw their favorite ghoulish faces on the paper plates, glue a piece of cardboard on the back for the stem.
Scary Ghost Handprints
Say boo with this crafty suggestion from Best Ideas for Kids. Help each child paint their palm white and press down on black cardstock. Once it dries, draw on the ghost's face. They can sign and date it for a memento of the evening.
Masking Tape Mummy
Wrap up craft time with this idea from No Time for Flash Cards. Draw a body (think gingerbread person shape) in white crayon on a piece of black construction paper, one for each guest. Cut out pieces of masking tape and stick it to the side of the table. Have them add the tape to their shape, cut it out and allow the kids to glue googly eyes on at the end.
DRESS UP IN WICKEDLY FUN COSTUMES
Now that the party is set up, it's time to choose a costume. If your kiddo is old enough to voice an opinion, your costume choice will probably revolve around whatever their little heart desires. However, if they're tiny, all the power is in your hands to put them in an adorably cute costume of your choice. Family Halloween costumes can be a fun and festive way for your little coven to enjoy the holiday together. Here are some spooktacular ideas for your party.
The Addams Family
What could be more ideal than the original creepy family? Maybe a full night of sleep. But in lieu of that, may we suggest the Addams Family? They're creepy and they're kooky and totally perfect for All Hallows Eve. Plus, they all dress in simple black outfits making dressing up easy.
80s Rock Band
Engage in your fantasies of being in a rock band with this group project. Ripped jeans, poufy skirts, t-shirts, scarves, and some wild 80s wigs, and you're good to go.
Baby Shark
It's scientifically impossible for kids under 4 to tire of "Baby Shark," so you might as well give into the dark side. If you want the song to be stuck in your head for all of eternity, you can even get a Baby Shark costume that plays the song!
The Scooby-Doo Gang
Those meddling kids! They're going to look so cute dressed as Scooby and Shaggy. Just stay on the lookout for any paintings with moving eyes.
The Little Mermaid
This timeless tale offers many costume options! Sebastian the Crab, Ursula, King Triton, and of course Ariel the mermaid.
Enjoy all the treats, sing all the songs, and revel in the silliness that is Halloween!
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