Traditions for Halloween

You'd be hard-pressed to find a family who doesn't dress-up in costumes, trick-or-treat, and carve pumpkins on Halloween. But it's always more fun to have a few traditions that are unique to just your family, traditions that the kids will remember long after they aren't "kids" any longer.

• Pumpkin Decorating: It's difficult (and dangerous) for young children to carve a Jack O'Lantern completely on their own, which often leaves them wishing that they could have more hands-on participation in a project. Why not decorate small pumpkins with paint, marker, and glitter? Make sure you get enough miniature pumpkins for everyone—it's not fun for kids to sit and watch someone else decorate.
• Go to a Pumpkin Patch: Let your kids pick out their own pumpkins to decorate or carve. Plus, you can get some great pictures while they're at it.
• Let Your Kids Pick Your Costume: Dress up! For nothing else, your kids will get a kick out of it. Even just using household items or things in the "Dress-up Box," let them choose what you wear, and maybe even let them paint your face. Then, swallow your pride and take your kids trick-or-treating!
• Dinner Before Treats: To encourage your children getting something nutritious in their stomachs before they gorge themselves on candy, sit down and eat together before the trick-or-treating begins. Even better, have a specific menu, like chili and cornbread or pigs-in-a-blanket, that you make infrequently enough that everyone will be excited about. Right after dinner is a perfect time to snap some family photos in costume as well before everyone splits up for the rest of the evening.
• Twist Traditions for Other Holidays: Why not make a gingerbread (or graham-cracker) Haunted House, and have a competition for the winner? Use chocolate frosting instead of white to get more of a "haunted" look. Or, have a "pumpkin pick," and hide small pumpkins or gourds around the house or yard.
• Recipes: If you search the web, you can find hundreds of fun Halloween recipes to try out. Let your kids help and decide which ones they like best, so that you can make them part of the traditional Halloween fare each year.
• Ask the Kids: Sometimes kids have great ideas for new traditions. Have them help you brainstorm. That way, you know they'll be excited!