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Halloween Spooktacular
Party Ideas That Won't Make You Batty! By Lori Bonner
It was a dark and stormy night. There came a tap-tap-tapping at my door. Dreading what might be waiting on the other side, I opened it slowly. A blast of frigid air rushed past, chilling me to the bone. Before me stood a group of hideous creatures: a vampire, a witch, a ghost and a fairy princess.
Before I could reach the only thing that would ward them off (the candy bowl), they unleashed their unearthly chorus: "Trick or Treat." As I looked more closely, I saw that their shoulders were dusted with snow, the wind pulled cruelly at their hats and hems, their teeth were chattering and fingers trembling. And as I looked into their young faces filled with determination, I couldn't help but think, "Go home, already."
Whether the weather is likely to be frightful or because of safety concerns, many families are rethinking traditional trick-or-treating. If you want a fun and safe alternative in a controlled environment for your own little monsters this Halloween, a party may be just the thing.
If a house full of kids wired on donuts and cider fills you with as much foreboding as an M. Night Shyamalan movie, don't panic. Your children can do many of the preparations with only minimal help from you. Plus, they can practice their social skills by playing host. In fact, the more your child contributes, the more memorable the party will be for him. Even children as young as 2 can help with invitations and pick from two games the one they like best. Children of all ages can help decorate the table or another central location. Confining the party to one or two areas simplifies cleanup – another aspect of the party that everyone can help with. A party is also a great activity for children too old to trick-or-treat.
The following ideas will help you put on a spooktacular party – without going batty.
On a separate sheet, draw (or use clip art) a flashlight with a light beam that extends about 2 inches. You'll need one flashlight for every invitation. You should be able to fit several on one sheet of paper. At a copy center, copy the flashlights onto white cardstock. Have the invitations color copied onto overhead (clear plastic) sheets. To assemble the invitations, first cut them apart. Next, attach one edge of the invitation to a piece of black construction paper slightly larger than the invitation. Finally, cut out the flashlights and paper clip one to each invitation.
Here's the fun part! Take the flashlight and slide it between the overhead sheet and the black paper. The pictures and words on the overhead sheet are "illuminated" just as if you were shining a beam of light on them!