Bites and Frights. Throwing a Kids’ Halloween Party
Friday, October 26, 2018
Despite only being properly observed in some Western cultures, Halloween is well known in all corners of the world. Between the celebrating cartoon characters on TV and the orange and black decorations on sale at the supermarket, you can’t get away with raising a kid who doesn’t know about Halloween.
Despite only being properly observed in some Western cultures, Halloween is well known in all corners of the world. Between the celebrating cartoon characters on TV and the orange and black decorations on sale at the supermarket, you can’t get away with raising a kid who doesn’t know about Halloween. So if your toddler is ready for their first costume party and you aren’t, read on to learn Baby Train’s best advice on how to throw a Halloween themed kids’ fancy dress party.
Nightmare Fuel
Costumes are everybody’s first thought when it comes to Halloween, but putting 99% of your effort into a good costume instead of the kids’ fancy dress party itself is a mistake. A gaggle of 2-year-olds won’t be able to keep each other occupied for long just looking at each other’s costumes - have a plan for party activities!
Fun games are a good idea, scary movies are not. Things like playing a game of spooky hide-and-seek or treasure hunting will keep the kids entertained for hours while requiring very little extra effort on your part, giving you the time to put at least some effort into a cute costume for your little one.
October Outfits
Picking out the right Halloween costume for an infant or toddler is fraught with complications. It has to be sturdy enough that it won’t come apart at the seams as your child plays, which means that buying cheap pre-made costumes or making one yourself (without adequate experience) are not the best options.
You should consider nappies too - if the costume is too much of a struggle to get on and off, it’ll take forever to check and change a nappy. Moreover, keeping the costume clean will be a big problem no matter how old your child is - kids tend to make a mess! Get a decent costume without too many moving parts - just a body and a hat - to avoid these problems.
Careful Costuming
Remember to try out the costume on your child beforehand - the last thing you need is for your child to start taking off their costume in the middle of a kids’ fancy dress party because it’s too uncomfortable or scratchy. Letting them wear it for a time before the party will help them feel comfortable in their new outfit too.
If your social calendar is full of other kids’ costume parties, resist the urge to buy a new costume for every single one. If it’s going to be the same kids at every single one, then maybe a spare outfit or two may be appropriate. One good costume will save you a few tantrums.
Don’t Feed After Midnight
But you do need to feed the kids. Healthy snacks may not be popular with the younger crowd, but no parent wants to be dealing with the sugar crash of a hyperactive child hours after the party’s finished. Decorating oranges to look like pumpkins and bananas to look like ghosts will help make snack time more fun, and everyone will be happy to be healthy!
Time Flies
The last thing parents want to be doing during a kids’ fancy dress party is missing it by sitting behind a camera. When your babies are grown-up and leaving the nest, you’re going to regret not taking a photo of their costume at their first kids’ fancy dress party.
So find a balance - put aside 5 minutes during the party to take a photo of every child (with their parents permission of course!) and then you can keep the memories forever. The other parents will be happy to receive copies of the photos too!
For more expert advice on how to raise a happy baby, contact Baby Train today.
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