Doodlebark
A lot of little kids love Halloween costumes and candy but get spooked by the scary decorations. The good news is there’s plenty of Halloween fun that’s more cute than creepy. Here are some ideas.
At home
- Pumpkin decorating without knives. Stickers, paint or markers on small pumpkins. No carving needed.
- Halloween sensory bin. Dry beans or rice with small plastic pumpkins and spider rings to scoop and find.
- Monster cookies. Sugar cookies with frosting and candy eyes. Make the monsters silly, not scary.
- Costume fashion show. Try on costumes and walk the “runway” in the living room.
- Halloween dance party. Play kid-friendly Halloween songs and dance.
- Glow stick bath. Turn off the lights and drop glow sticks (sealed ones) in the bath.
Out and about
- Pumpkin patch. Many have hayrides and corn mazes made for little ones.
- Trunk-or-treat. Lots of churches and schools host these. They’re early, short and well lit.
- Daytime trick-or-treat. Many towns have daytime events at stores or main streets.
- A Halloween walk. Look at decorations in daylight first, so they’re less scary at night.
Tips for kids who get scared
- Preview it. Look at decorations together in the daytime and talk about how they’re pretend.
- Practice trick-or-treating. Knock on bedroom doors at home and say “trick or treat.”
- Pick a not-scary costume. Let them be a puppy, a superhero or a pumpkin.
- Bring a light. A flashlight or glow necklace helps kids feel brave once it gets dark.
- Go early, come home early. Little kids are usually done after a few houses, and that’s okay.
Safety basics
- Add reflective tape to costumes and bags.
- Make sure masks don’t block their eyes. Face paint is often easier.
- Check the candy before they eat it, and set aside anything that’s a choking risk for little ones.
Scared of the dark at bedtime too? Here’s our post on helping kids feel brave at night.
Questions parents ask
How do I make Halloween less scary for toddlers?
Look at decorations together in daylight, pick a not-scary costume, practice trick-or-treating at home and go early while it’s still light out.
What are good Halloween activities for preschoolers?
Decorating small pumpkins with stickers or paint, a Halloween sensory bin, monster cookies with candy eyes and a costume dance party.
How do I keep trick-or-treating safe for little kids?
Add reflective tape, use face paint instead of masks, bring a flashlight and check candy for choking risks before kids eat it.