Halloween with kids is one of those nights that is equal parts fun, sugar and a little bit of chaos. 🎃
Between costumes, dinner, trick-or-treating and somehow convincing everyone that they cannot eat 14 pieces of candy before bed, there’s a lot happening in a few short hours.
So we rounded up a few simple Halloween hacks to make the night a little easier for moms.
Do a costume test run before Halloween.
Have your child put on the entire costume, shoes and all, and walk around the house in it. Can they see? Can they sit down? Are the shoes comfortable? Does anything keep falling off? Five minutes of testing can save you from carrying a superhero cape, mask and uncomfortable shoes three houses into trick-or-treating.
Feed everyone before the candy starts.
Halloween is not necessarily the night for an elaborate dinner. Keep it simple, but try to get something filling in those little bellies before heading out. Pizza, sandwiches, chili or a snack board all count!
Bring the wagon, even if you think you don’t need it.
Little legs get tired. Costumes get hot. Candy buckets get heavy. Someone will eventually decide they simply cannot walk another step. If your kids are still wagon-sized, you may be very glad you brought it.
Add something reflective to darker costumes.
Glow sticks, light-up necklaces, reflective tape or even a small flashlight can make kids easier to spot once the sun goes down without completely changing their costume.
Take the picture before you leave.
This one is important! Take your costume pictures while everyone is still clean, excited and fully dressed. By the end of the night, someone will probably be missing an accessory and have chocolate somewhere on their face.
Have a candy plan before you get home.
Instead of negotiating over an overflowing bucket at bedtime, decide ahead of time what happens with the candy. Maybe everyone chooses a few pieces to enjoy that night and saves the rest for later. You can also set some aside for lunches, baking, movie nights or sharing.
Keep an emergency costume kit nearby.
A few safety pins, Band-Aids, hair ties, wipes and a small roll of tape can solve a surprising number of Halloween emergencies. Toss them in your bag before you head out.
And finally, label the trick-or-treat buckets.
If you have multiple kids, put their names somewhere on their buckets or bags. It makes it much easier to settle the inevitable debate over whose Reese’s cup is whose when you get home.
Halloween with kids may never be completely organized, but a little preparation can make the night run much more smoothly.
And if someone changes their costume idea at the last minute, loses an accessory or decides they’re done trick-or-treating after four houses?
Well, that’s Halloween with kids.
Here’s to full candy buckets, happy kiddos and moms who remembered to sneak a Reese’s for themselves. 💗🎃
