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Cut the Chaos: Halloween Fun for Everyone
Parenting contributor Lian Dolan encourages you to go all out for this year’s festivities.
I love Halloween. I am all for over-the-top house decorations, planning the kids’ costumes months in advance and hording the best candy starting right after Labor Day. My younger son once told me why Halloween was his favorite holiday. “Mom,” he said, “you get to run around in the dark collecting free candy, and you don’t have to wear itchy church clothes.” I think that sums it up from a child’s point of view. And with my love of Halloween, it’s a good thing that I moved into a neighborhood where the adults embrace the ghoulish. My corner of town is a destination trick-or-treat zone with hundreds of kids working the streets in search of candy and neighbors that create their own haunted houses that would rival any Hollywood production. Here are my tips on how to cut the chaos and enjoy a spectacular Halloween.
For the kids
Be prepared to buy two costumes. Or if you’re crafty, be prepared to make two costumes. Just accept that some little ones will change their minds at the very last minute. Who are the mind-changers? The kids who love to dress up! Yes, this running around at the last minute can be expensive and frustrating, but think of the two costumes as an investment in the future. I guarantee that the child who wants two costumes is also the child who enjoys being a ninja warrior in January as much as he does in October. You’ll get your money’s worth!
Forget art directing the pumpkin carving. Let your kids carve the pumpkins they want, not the pumpkins you want from a magazine. Remember when a jack o’ lantern was two triangles, a circle and a candle inside? Well, that still counts as a great jack o’lantern, despite the push for more sophisticated creations. Nothing looks better than a bunch of kid-designed pumpkins glowing in a window or on a porch. Go for quantity, not quality!
Let them eat one piece of candy a day. Why not? Chances are they will tire of the candy before they finish the bag. Some don’t even like to eat their haul. My oldest really prefers sorting the candy to eating the candy. If the candy’s not gone by Thanksgiving, throw it away while they are at school. (Yes, I am that kind of mom.)
For the house
Get in the spirit! Come on, get some gravestones and put on a spooky light show. Throw some cobwebs over the bushes and hang some giant spiders from the trees. Dress up to hand out the candy and fill your house with scary music. Now is the time to get that smoke machine you’ve always wanted. Candy for all who show up at the door! Once one neighbor embraces the Halloween spirit, others will follow. Think of it as your gift to the neighborhood kids. Create memories that will last a lifetime — for other people’s children.
Go for the big bars. Just once, forget the “fun size” candy bars and get the full-size versions. I guarantee you will not regret the expense. The look of pure joy on the faces of the trick-or-treaters when you hand them that giant candy bar is worth the cost. The kids will go nuts, running down the street telling others about your superior loot. And really, don’t you want to “win” Halloween? Be the best house on the block? One year of full-size treats and you’ll be known forever as the ”house with the best candy.“
About the author: Lian Dolan is a writer, mother, Satellite Sister and creator of The Chaos Chronicles, a podcast, blog and website about modern motherhood.
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We always give out full size bars. We don't get many kids on Halloween so we feel we should treat those who make the attempt to come to our house.
One Bar???!!...Hah!the kids who come to MY house consider me the 'best house on the block for candy' because each kid gets a baggie - usually a zip lock bag - with at least 3 - 4 different 'fun-size' bars, lots of other fruity-type candies, Tootsie roll lollipops..and each one gets a quarter or the equivalent in dimes and nickels - (the little ones like the 'more' money)..I go to the door with a big copper bowl filled with these bags (and keep replenishing as they deplete) - and to see their faces light up as each gets an entire bag full - (I make sure the littler ones get the lollipops), is as much a thrill for me as it is for them - AND the parents know the candy is 'safe'.
I don't think that's always the best idea about the full size candy bars, I try to save as much as possible through out the year so why splurge on candy for other people's kids? Especially when the author herself says she throws her kids candy away while they are at school (not very smart in my opinion). We live in a busy place and always get lots of trick or treaters, it would not be feasible for us to hand out full size candy bars, I always load up at the 99 cent store's fun sizes and hand out plenty, lollipops with gum in the center are also a very good buy.
This is why our country is in the mess we are in. This is ridiculous advice for a society that has been going "all out" for years and now needs a 700+ Billion Dollar Bailout!
While full-size bars might be a good idea, we still use fun-size, but hand out MULTIPLE fun-size to each child (equivalent of a full size, if not more). We buy many huge bags and then combine (we get tons of trick-or-treaters) so each child receives a mega-variety of many bars. Between personal preferences (chocolate vs sweet/sour) and food allergies, kids can have many bars that someone in their household can enjoy.
Not everyone has to agree w/the author on "full size" candy but you have to agree this is for the kids and that's the real message she is providing us...Thanks Lian for the great overall message!
i, also, make goodie bags. or give out ring pops. you can buy the big bucket at sams for less than 10 dollars. but i do agree that everyone should only do what they can afford. gets aren't picky, they don't care. candy is candy to them.
Hey Lian- Great article! Love the idea of full size candy bars. It's a bummer I have to work that night. Come on people...why so negative? Halloween comes around once a year. I'm pretty sure that buying full size candy bars for Halloween isn't the reason for the economic situation we are in... SandraLaDeeDa- it's not like she throws the candy away right away. She said if it's not gone by Thanksgiving, what's the big deal? It was a great article. Love your writing Lian- thanks!
Totally agree with you Christina. COME ON PEOPLE! This is not a forum to debate the pros and cons of our country's economic health. The sense of outrage just isn't warranted. I've worked for an anti-hunger advocacy group for 11 years, so I walk the walk. But I'm also a mom, and I love love love Halloween. There are many places on the web us to vent about the mess our country is in. So can't we chill out and enjoy our blessings as well? Lian's is a series of clever, light-hearted articles written with a combination of experience and some plain old common sense; I need more of both of those at times. I'm glad that Making Life Better has tapped Lian for October.
Wow, I can see I've spawned some "Big Bar" controversy. Who knew? Something to remember, I wrote this article in September, before the stock market melted down. Big Bars did not seems so outlandish then. Multiple minis are good, too, people. Just treating the kids to a special night was my intent. As for tossing the candy, believe me, the Big Bars never last that long. It's the bottom of the barrel stuff like the mini Toosie Rolls that wind up getting tossed! Thanks for the comments. Keep'em coming! Lian
I loved this article! We also make a big deal out of Halloween - after all, for what other holiday can you dress up as something totally outlandish, indulge in all the candy you want (while greedily asking for more), decorate every inch of your house and feel like a kid again, without having to wrestle with the moral dilemma of losing the real meaning of the celebration among the secular trappings? Of course, I'm speaking of my husband and myself here, but our children also consider this their favorite holiday. We have an annual bash where everyone tries to outdo each other with costumes (even the adults) and the winners receive a trophy proclaiming theirs the best costume. Our kids come up with games for their friends to play, complete with prizes, and everyone is allowed to eat as much candy as they can that night. After that, we limit them to one "treat" a day after they've eaten a good dinner, and when they get tired of all that candy (which they do, eventually) I too wait until they are at school and then use the leftovers to make goody bags to give out at class parties, scouting events, football get-togethers, birthdays, or whatever celebration is coming up next. This is, of course, after I've culled all of our favorites for the "mom & dad's stash" hidden in the pantry. For our family, this is definitely our favorite celebration that we all enjoy, and everybody always looks forward to sharing with our friends. There's nothing more fun than setting aside our "everyday serious" sides for one night and letting our "over-the-top" craziness come out. Even if it means having to clean up all the spilled chocolate from the chocolate fountain and Frankenstein's noodle "brains" from the prize find the next day!
I loved this article! We also make a big deal out of Halloween - after all, for what other holiday can you dress up as something totally outlandish, indulge in all the candy you want (while greedily asking for more), decorate every inch of your house and feel like a kid again, without having to wrestle with the moral dilemma of losing the real meaning of the celebration among the secular trappings? Of course, I'm speaking of my husband and myself here, but our children also consider this their favorite holiday. We have an annual bash where everyone tries to outdo each other with costumes (even the adults) and the winners receive a trophy proclaiming theirs the best costume. Our kids come up with games for their friends to play, complete with prizes, and everyone is allowed to eat as much candy as they can that night. After that, we limit them to one "treat" a day after they've eaten a good dinner, and when they get tired of all that candy (which they do, eventually) I too wait until they are at school and then use the leftovers to make goody bags to give out at class parties, scouting events, football get-togethers, birthdays, or whatever celebration is coming up next. This is, of course, after I've culled all of our favorites for the "mom & dad's stash" hidden in the pantry. For our family, this is definitely our favorite celebration that we all enjoy, and everybody always looks forward to sharing with our friends. There's nothing more fun than setting aside our "everyday serious" sides for one night and letting our "over-the-top" craziness come out. Even if it means having to clean up all the spilled chocolate from the chocolate fountain and Frankenstein's noodle "brains" from the prize find the next day!
When I was a kid I went around the block(that's all my MOM allowed)trick or treating.That was enough candy to last and it didn't get thrown away. If you want to limit the candy,limit how many house they can visit.
I have enjoyed reading these articles all month. You know what was the worst candy when I was a kid? The rock hard peanut taffy wrapped in orange or black wax paper. The best house gave us each a bottle of Dr. Pepper! Now that I have kids of my own, we all love Halloween and I am thrilled to live in a neighborhood that celebrates with ghusto! In my cul-de-sac, the moms send the dads out with the kids, and we all sit around a bonfire handing out candy. Instead of coming to each of our doors, the kids just walk through the circle we make with our folding chairs and feel like they've hit the jackpot. In these crazy times, I think a good old-fashioned Friday night Halloween is just what we need!
Great comments! Thanks. Love the idea of sitting around the bonfire and celebrating a cul-du-sac Halloween. And Martha C is right, you always remember the houses that gave out the special stuff on Halloween, like Dr. Pepper. Lian Lian
Ok. Tonight is Halloween and just to prove the point we bought 30 "big" size bars (to be safe). We had 8 kids come. We always buy what we will eat because if I bought the cheap crap, it would get thrown away and who can afford to throw money away right now.
Okay - I know I am late in the debate on full-size vs. fun-size, but here is how I solved the dilemma: I give out juice boxes. When you buy them at Sam's or Costco, they can be relatively inexpensive, and the kids love getting something completely different. And, I can't imagine that any moms are throwing them out. Also - and this was my biggest motivation in going with it - if you have a lot left over, you are not tempted to eat a lot of junk ... juice boxes are always handy to have around.
left-over candy is usually welcome at senior living facilities, churches, some schools, daycares, latchkey programs- if they're pre-packed into small snack-size bags all the better- anywhere there is a game to be played (bingo, bunko) or a prize to be won- best "inside out costume" on "inside out day at school", any school spirit activity- spelling bees, I'm sure you can think of zillions more- and if you can't there's always the lunchroom at work or the jar on your desk, or freecycle. When the economy is like this- every bit helps and a little treat can really make someone's day! great ideas on juice boxes- I remember raisins, cookies (the big two-in-a-pack size) colored pencils (choose your color) and school pencils with wild designs, erasers and little notebooks, vending machine type toys (sometimes can be ordered from import catalogs or sites)- my least favorites ever- cough drops (individually wrapped) and religious pamphlets telling me where I was going because I'd gone trick or treating. It's just fun, enjoy it.
I asked my 5 children what the most exciting things they have gotten in their trick or treat bag. We thought of several. --Caprison drinks were the coolest. Especially in Florida because it is usually VERY hot in the costumes. A nice drink was refreshing. --They totally went for the full sized candy bars rather than the goody gag variety. Although those were great the bars got a bigger WOW. --Packs of gum. --The toothbrush from the neighborhood dentist is something they even enjoy. Us moms like it too because, lets face it after eating the candy that lasts for a week, the toothbrush should be replaced due to overuse. --We even noticed that it wasn't always about the candy. It was about the scare, or the presentation. I have teens and younger ones. The teens don't like to go with us. While my husband and I are going around with them, the boys hand out the candy. One year as everyone was walking the neighborhood they were raving about the one house being the coolest. We (even our 3 younger ones) had more fun watching (with the crowds of people gathered to watch) the surprised children, teens, and adult escorts as my son carefully slipped out from behind the bushes to scare them or holding the bowl very still and every now and then gently move enough to scare them. (He was dressed as a werewolf). They wanted to go back for more. We would try not to do it when the younger ones were around. It wasn't done with quick and scary it was slow and suddle. It is fun to see them get so excited and have so much fun, but as with anything stay within your budget.
The author must have visited our home one Halloween. We have everything from grave stones, spider webs, fog, creepy music, etc. to handing out big candy bars. We are considered the spookiest house on our block and we love it. It is a blast! Only difference is we donate all the leftover candy and not throw out.
How about glow in the dark necklace and braclets. One year we decide to hand out them plus candy. The cost was under $50 dollars. We decide to count how many people came to our house and we had about 400 to 425 children and parents. We decorated our house and garage. Once people heard about us we were packed with people from the north, south, east and west side. We had news reporter and newspaper people who want to put our event in the news and asked if we charged. My husband said, no we do not charge, we do this for our children so that they can enjoy halloween.
Seriously? People are really arguing about full sized candy bars?? I hardly think that someone giving out "too much" on Halloween has contributed to the financial mess our country is in. I have been a parent with trick-or-treaters, and there have been years when I served as the 'candy giver' and I know how excited kids get when they get something other than a hard candy, or "a" piece of bubble gum. It's one day out of the year, and the tradition of going door to door seems to be fading fast, so why not? Seems to me if there is any issue to be arguing about it would be that we, as a society have become selfish, so self absorbed, so busy, that we don't take the time to get to know our neighbors, and hence, parents feel apprehensive about letting their kids go door to door for anything. That's it, there's my rant. To the full sized candy bar woman; Kudos to you....wish we lived in your neighborhood! :D
I have about 80-100 kids in my neighborhood so the big candy bars are not my way to go. I do up boo bags as I call them. I put all the candy on my table in piles and pick one item from each pile to put in the bags. They kids love them cause as mentioned by others it is a bag of candy and not just one piece like some of them get...most kids are just happy to get anything they can cause it is the fun of it. I take my kids to church for the fall festival and they play games and get a handful of candy from each booth that they go to. And I agree with the candy at the bottom of the bowl that is left over....if it is not eaten within a month then get rid of it....Janee
WOW!!! People, take a deep breathe, and count to three. As a kid I remeber the excitement of the "big Bar Houses", All a part of the magic. Now I am a single Mom on disability(let's see...3 state cuts since May here in CA). 2 kids still at home. 1 grandson. It is all about the kids. If I can afford big bars I will most definately get them. If not, thanks for the ideas about little baggies, and fun treats. Can someone tell me when Halloween turned into a political hot spot? And shame on that 6 year old goblin for brining on the collapse of the American economy. I am thinking that anyone who can tie the poor economy to halloween, never got to trick or treat as a kid. My wish for you is that you put on a costume this year and feel the magic.
For my kids its always been more about the costumes and the atmosphere of fun and excitement. If we run out of candy before the streets empty, my kids start handing out their loot. We leave the light on for quite awhile after the last trick or treater shouts at the door because our kids don't like the night to end. The type and size of the candy has never made a difference to my kids and to tell the truth last year was the first year I've even seen the big bars given out and that includes my own years of trick or treating. Who would have thought giving out candy would turn into a "keeping up with the Jones" event for the adults? We love to look at all the cute costumes. One year I made my daughter a washing machine and when she got to school, we found out that the principal at the elementary next door (our schools are all on one campus) was a box of Tide and the asst principal was a laundry basket with clothes so we ran over to get pictures. That same year, a girl in my son's class was a toilet and it was just darling. When I took my washing machine trick or treating, someone asked me if I was the Maytag Man...I wish I'd have thought of it because how cute would that have been if I had dressed up like that? Anyway, have a safe, fun and happy Halloween!!