Halloween is here and once again we parents set out to create a memorable experience for our kids. What can a parent do to keep the Holiday fresh, safe, and less than scary for our younger children WITHOUT making it all about the candy?

I'm a single Mom with two boys (7 and 3). Oy! You can imagine the kind of energy that takes. Fortunately, we're a crafty bunch, so after the traditional trip down the street, the boys and I return home with our stash, do our standard "candy safety" check, and then the real fun begins!

Here are some simple, yet wonderful activities the boys and I have enjoyed on Halloween. Invite some of your child's young friends, add some snacks, and you've got yourself a Not-So-Spooky-Yet-Super-Duper-Fun Halloween Bash!

Pumpkin Painting - Great for ages 2 and up. Put yours and your children's creative and imaginative side to the test! Hold a contest for prizes or just do for fun.

Supplies:

Pumpkins - Let the kids choose. You'd be surprised at what your children will come up with.

Non-toxic Paints and Paintbrushes - preferably different sizes and shapes.

Sponges - preferably in fun shapes found in craft stores, but regular sponges will do.

It's simple. Put enough newspaper down to catch any spill, throw some paint smocks or old shirts on the kids, and let them go artsy-crazy!

Bats from the Belfry - This is easy and fun for ages 2 and up, especially because each child's unique imagination gets to shine making every bat look different!

Supplies: Black Construction Paper, Yellow and/or Red Construction Paper, Child Safety Scissors, Child-safe Glue, Clothespins (the kind you squeeze)

For each bat, have each child cut out the shape of a bat's wings (fully-extended) from black construction paper. Next, have them cut out an oblong body with pointed ears and feet, and help them glue it onto the wings. Next, glue on round, beady eyes cut from yellow or red paper. Finally, glue a clothespin to the back of the bat, let set, and it's ready to hang onto a curtain!

Egg Carton Pumpkins - This is a fun way to give an extra treat to your guests. Older kids will be able to do more, but prep a few "pumpkins" so that the younger ones won't feel left behind.

Supplies - Cardboard Egg Carton, Child-Safe Glue, Orange Non-toxic Paint, Paintbrush, Paper Clips, Green Pipe Cleaners Or Crepe Paper, Black Washable Marker

Parent/Older Sibling Prep for one pumpkin: Cut two cups from the egg carton. Run a bead of glue along the top edge of one cup. Invert the second cup and position it atop the first, making sure the cut edges align*. Once the glue dries, coat the shell with orange acrylic paint. When the paint is dry, use the end of the paper clip to poke a hole in the top of the pumpkin,

Young Child Participation: Have each child make a pumpkin stem and curly vines out of the green pipe cleaners or twisted green crepe paper and push the ends through the hole in the top of your "pumpkin". Use the black marker to drew on a spooky jack-o'-lantern face.

Spooky Spiders

Supplies - Cardboard Egg Carton, Black Non-toxic Paint, Paintbrush, Paperclips or Pushpins, 12 Black Pipe Cleaners, Glue Stick, 12 Pairs of Googly Eyes

Cut the cups off an empty egg carton and place them on newspaper. Have your kids cover the cups, inside and out, with a coat of black acrylic paint. Next, using the end of a paper clip or pushpin, parents or older children need to poke four holes along the open edge on one side of the cup, followed by four matching holes on the opposite side of the cup. To make fuzzy legs, cut four black pipe cleaners into 7-inch lengths. The younger kids can now thread a pipe cleaner through one of the holes, into the cup, and out the corresponding hole on the other side. Make sure they protrude an equal length from both sides of the cup and bend them slightly upward at the base of the spider's body toward the spider's "head". Fold in the opposite direction midway down the legs to create knees and bend the tips to make feet. Finally, glue on googly eyes, and position them around the house.

Once you've sufficiently decorated the house, the party will probably be winding down already, especially for the youngest ones, but if you need one more activity, here's one that the boys (it figures) and I really enjoy.

Guess the Monster Part

All you need are some peeled grapes (eye balls), cooked, cold spaghetti (brains or intestines), jello (brains), or anything you can think of that would resemble a monster part. Make boxes with openings (only big enough for a hand to go in) and let the kids guess what's inside. It's always a lot of fun (ok, maybe not for the squeamish), and nothing says, "Thank you and goodnight," like a lot of goo and giggles.

Now that the party's done, don't sell yourself short. Encourage all the kids to help put everything away. That way, you and your kids will go to bed with fond memories of a fantastic night and not dread the morning monster clean up. Have fun!