Halloween isn't just about October 31st any more; pretty much the whole month is marked by ghosts, goblins and scary stuff staring at us from store fronts, front yards and pretty much everywhere else you can imagine. So here are some ways you and your kids can have a spooktacular October with Halloween-themed fun all month long.
- Read spooky stories. There are scores of scary books for all ages and, of course, for older kids, any Harry Potter story will do the trick.
- Visit a pumpkin patch. Pumpkin patches offer hay rides, corn mazes, and even petting zoos - and buying pumpkins there is more fun than the local supermarket.
- Turn your lawn into a graveyard. Make cardboard gravestones, paint stick stake to the back and you're set.
- Make caramel apples. Old-fashioned Halloween fun for everyone.
- Make a scarecrow. Stuff old clothes full of straw, tie off the ankles, wrists and waist with rope - then use a painted pillowcase or trick-or-treat jack-o-lantern for the head.
- Conjure up your own ghost story. Tell ghost stories to each other where each family member makes up one sentence, then the next. You'll be surprised by the spooky tales that emerge.
- Carve a jack-o-lantern. Whether you go all out with stencils, glitter, and a cadre of carving tools or simply go for the freehand approach, start carving!
- Toast pumpkin seeds. Rinse the seeds, put them in a medium pan with 4 cups of boiling water and some salt for ten minutes, then roast them at 375 degrees for 15 minutes in an oiled pan.
- Do-it-yourself costumes. Get crafty and create your own costumes this year. Even if you don't sew, there are lots of costumes you can put together from clothes and materials on hand.
