Stress Free Halloween

Halloween is a fun holiday, with crazy costumes, scary movies, and candy galore. However, sometimes Halloween just ends up being stressful. It's safe to say that most Halloween stress actually just comes from procrastination or poor planning. The key to having an enjoyable Halloween is to plan things ahead.

• Costumes: One part of Halloween that should be planned early is the costume. You and the rest of your family should start thinking about what you would all like to dress up as months in advance. That way, once the Halloween decorations and costumes start making an appearance in the stores you normally shop at, you can look at the racks with ideas in mind. You especially need to plan ahead if you are planning to make a costume. Making costumes may take more time, but they are usually well worth it in the end, and cheaper too. There are many websites online that give tips and costume ideas, so if you can't think of a costume, search for an idea. This Halloween, take notes of costumes that you see that seem creative and easy that you could possibly make in the future.
• Communicate: Often, Halloween stress comes from lack of communication. Make sure that you and your child have communicated about costumes as well as plans for the night of Halloween. Let your kids know up front what kind of plans will be okay and what won't, as well as if they can go out alone with friends and what time you expect them to be home that night.
• It's okay to be done early: If you're the one passing out the candy, Halloween night can sometimes seem to go on forever. Some neighborhoods especially attract teenagers who trick-or-treat much later than many people would like. If you've had enough or you're ready to go to bed, don't feel guilty. There are plenty of other houses for kids to trick-or-treat at. However, make sure that you are giving kids the clue that your house is no longer passing out candy—turn off your porch lights, and if possible, the lights that shine through the front windows. Most of the time, kids will just pass by dark houses and they'll leave you alone. Also, if your neighborhood is known for pranks, consider moving your pumpkins inside when it gets late to avoid having to clean up a mess in the morning.

In the end, things always don't go as planned. However, if you do your best to plan out some details, Halloween should be a less stressful holiday overall. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ghoulish season.