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Playing Halloween Hostess
Success Strategies for Party Planning
By Koren Wetmore
"Guests order from a menu, and the food must be out of sight, either in a partition or another room," Ross says. "If they don't order a utensil – for instance, a witch's broom – then they eat with their fingers. We suggest a lot of finger foods and snacks. Kids love to munch and will do so the entire party."
"Each guest will drop their balloon to the floor, and during the song, they try to mash the others' balloons. The last one left with a filled balloon wins," Ross says.
Scavenger hunts are also popular. Kids can search for items around the party area or – if you feel adventurous – you can send them out into the neighborhood with adult partners. The child carries the list of sought-after items and serves as navigator while the adult does the driving.
"Choose things like 'Find a man eating pizza' or 'Go to a cemetery and make a gravestone rubbing,'" Krull says. "The adult partners document the activities using a Polaroid camera. It puts the element of fun in it for everyone and builds a sense of community. By the time we're done, the kids really know their town."
Preteenagers are a self-conscious group and, as party host, it's your job to watch for wallflowers and encourage their participation. Beware of cliques and supervise the creation of teams when playing games.
Above all, strive for participation, not competition. "We are a competitive society already, and I don't think we need to carry that over into parties," Krull says. "Just play the nine innings or find all the objects and make sure that every child gets a prize."
Encourage adults to join he fun, too, as this allows them to have a good time while supplying you with added help.