Halloween party ideas for kids (that aren't too scary)

Keep it fun, not frightening

• Under 6? Go for friendly pumpkins, cats, bats and silly monsters. Leave out masks that hide faces and anything gory.
• Older kids love a bit of spooky: a dark cubby, glow sticks and a "haunted" treasure hunt.
• Put "costumes welcome, comfy shoes please" on the invitation, and make costumes optional so nobody feels left out.

Pick the right time

Late afternoon, around 4 to 6pm, works well. It's still light, it isn't too hot, and families can head out trick-or-treating straight after. Keep it to about two hours, or 90 minutes for under-6s.

Halloween games with almost no gear

1. Mummy wrap race. Pairs race to wrap one partner in toilet paper. Have a roll per pair and a bin bag for the clean-up.
2. Pumpkin bowling. Ten toilet rolls drawn as mummies for pins, and a small round pumpkin or ball to roll.
3. Monster freeze dance. Dance like a monster, freeze when the music stops. Nobody is out, everyone just freezes.
4. Spider web hunt. Wind wool between chairs or trees with a small treat tied to the end of each strand. Each child follows one strand to its end.
5. Witch's hat ring toss. Party cones or witch's hats on the lawn and a few rings or hoops to throw.

For a quieter moment: a colouring table or a bingo game (our free starter sample has a bingo and word search that work with any theme).

Halloween food the kids will eat

• Mandarin "pumpkins": peel them and press a small piece of celery into the top.
• Banana ghosts: half a banana with two dots of icing or sultanas for eyes.
• Monster wraps and sausage roll "mummies" wrapped in strips of pastry.
• Witch's brew: lemonade or sparkling water with green apple juice, served from a big pot.
• Spider biscuits made with chocolate biscuits and liquorice legs. Keep everything nut-free and ask about allergies when people RSVP.

A simple two-hour run-sheet

Time	What happens
4:00	Arrivals, costume admiring, colouring table
4:15	Mummy wrap race and pumpkin bowling
4:45	Spider web hunt
5:05	Halloween food
5:30	Monster freeze dance and a costume parade
5:50	Treat bags and goodbyes, ready for trick-or-treating

Trick-or-treat tips

• An adult goes with younger kids, and everyone sticks to well-lit streets.
• Only knock at houses with Halloween decorations out. Many Australian families leave a pumpkin or sign to show they're joining in.
• Check treats at home before anyone eats them, especially with allergies in the group.
• A torch or glow stick on each child makes them easy to spot.

Treat bags without the plastic

Paper bags with a glow stick, a few stickers, a small torch or a mini colouring book. Things that get used again beat plastic that breaks by Sunday.

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