Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love the decorations, festivities, spooky movies and, most of all, the thrill my kids get from picking the perfect costume and wearing it while they trick-or-treat. It’s a happy holiday filled with mystery and the opportunity to be silly and creative with no goofy judgment.

One of the things l like to do on any given holiday is share some fun facts with my kids. I think these little tidbits of information make the day even more special and meaningful, and, frankly, I love finding out new cool facts myself. So, since today is Halloween, I’ll share with you some fun facts for your children…and mine.

Enjoy our 10 pieces of brain candy with your kids or keep them all for yourself!

• The name “Halloween” was derived from All Hallows Eve which was the night before All Hallows Day, observed on November 1. In Ireland, the night of All Hallows Eve was often referred to as “Hallow E’en.”
• Stores sell about $2 billion worth of candy and $3 billion worth of costumes every year.
• Dressing up in costumes began long ago when people would dress up as witches, ghosts and goblins to keep wandering spirits away.
• The Irish started the Halloween tradition of carving jack-o-lanterns, although they used turnips. It wasn’t until they emigrated to the US that they began using pumpkins…because they were more plentiful.
• About 90% of American children between the ages of 5 and 13 go trick-or-treating every year.
• The reason that black and orange are the traditional Halloween colors is that orange is a harvest color and black is often associated with death.
• Over 35,000,000 Halloween cards are sent out annually.
• Snickers bars are the #1 candy preferred by trick-or-treaters.
• Black cats became associated with Halloween because people used to believe that they helped witches with their bidding.
• If you have a deathly fear of Halloween, the term you’d use to describe it is “samhainophobia.”

Share these fun pieces of Halloween brain candy with your kids and they just might share their Snickers bars with you. Have a safe, sweet and happy Halloween!

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Trick-or-treating is the ultimate holiday tradition…well, besides receiving Christmas or Hanukkah gifts…because, let’s face it, dressing up in cool costumes and being allowed to collect free candy is the cat’s pajamas. Seriously, that’s where it’s at.

As a candy giver, there’s no greater thank you than seeing kids’ eyes light up when you drop some awesome, edible treasure in their plastic pumpkins. And, if you play your cards right, you’ll be the most popular stop on the street, so you’ll get to reap the rewards of seeing all the little ghosts, goblins, princesses and cowboys smiling on your doorstep.

If you want to be the go-to candy giver on the block, these are the top five ultimate sweets to hand out during Halloween trick-or-treating hours.

1. Candy bars: Candy bars will forever be the reigning kings of the trick-or-treating empire. Milk chocolate is like ambrosia to children. When word spreads that you’re standing post at the “Snickers house,” you better hope you bought a five pound bag or four.
2. Fruit Roll-Ups or prepackaged Rice Krispies Treats: These make you popular for a few key reasons: They’re big (and everyone knows bigger is better), rare finds on the trick-or-treating circuit and often find their ways into school lunches for the next few days. Score!
3. Gum: Gum is…well…gum. It lasts a long time, you can hide it on the roof of your mouth during school and you can blow ginormous bubbles. How much better does it get?
4. Tootsie Pops or Blow Pops: These are hot because they’re two-fers. Seriously. First you get a long-lasting hard candy, then you get chewy chocolate or gum on the inside. They’re the Halloween gifts that keep on giving.
5. Fruity, chewy candies: This is shaky ground. You’ve got to be careful. Many kids may wince when they encounter certain fruity candies (like the unappreciated jawbreaker), but there are some that are always kid-pleasers. If you want to give out fruity sweets, your hard-earned candy-giving street cred won’t be lost if you stick to Twizzlers, Gummy Savers or Worms, Starbursts or Skittles.

These, folks, are the top candies and sweets the kiddies crave every single year. When they walk up to a house that boast such spoils, they’re sure to tell their friends, and will definitely be back next year…with bigger bags.

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The costumes have been picked, and now your little goblins are amped for the big day. Although the holiday is still a little over a week away, the trick or treat spirit is starting to become a major theme around the house. It’s a good time to start talking about some simple rules that will help the big event run a little smoother. Halloween may be a free for all when it comes to kids getting some delicious eats, but there are some basic rules of etiquette that make the experience safer and more friendly for everyone.

As the countdown to trick or treating races on, take a little time to chat with your kids about ways to keep the holiday fun, and your Halloween will be a breeze.

Slow the stroll. It’s really hard for older kids to slow down once the excitement of free candy is moving their feet for them. Remind them that your younger children can’t move as quickly as them, and there’s no rush. Everyone has the same amount of time to trick or treat. Running ahead can be dangerous and dashing around other families probably won’t be well received.

Keep it local. Sticking around your neighborhood isn’t only safer, because you know who’s who, but scoping out a different part of town is unfair to the children in those neighborhoods and the nice folks handing out the free sweets. Plus, it’s likely that the people in your neighborhood might be a little hurt that you didn’t stop by.

Stick to the sidewalks. This is another case of feet having minds of their own, but the excitement can lead children to roam through peoples’ yards to save time. Trampling grass isn’t exactly a sign of gratitude, and having children walk running over the landscaping might just keep old lady Jones from turning the light on next year.

Keep an eye out for porch lights. Every year I see children knocking on doors with unlit porch lights. Not only is this annoying to folks who aren’t participating in the Halloween festivities, but it might be embarrassing to those who ran out of candy or couldn’t afford the added expense this year.

One’s the limit. Unless the homeowner hands more than one piece of candy out himself, it’s bad form to take more than one piece. It’s so tempting to grab a couple, especially for really young kids, so remind them of this rule periodically throughout the evening.

Always say thank you. While it’s not a breech of etiquette for a kid to skip the please and replace it with ‘Trick or Treat’…just this one night…’Thank you’ never outwears its welcome.

Trick or treating is something every kid looks forward to, and with good reason. Free, sweet deliciousness….oodles of it. Sharing your expectations for respectful, grateful behavior early and often will help them stick in your little ones’ memories.

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When Halloween comes around, the haunted houses come out of the woodwork. It could be the simple next-door haunted house put on by the Jaycees or the massive one with makeup, monsters and serious scare factor.

Children like to be scared. That is…until they are actually scared, and then they hate it. If your children want to experience a haunted house, there are a few options that don’t involve them peeing their pants in fear. With kids, a little scare goes a long way.

Make Your Own

Sure, it may not have the grandiose effects of a real haunted house, but turning your living room into a kid-friendly house of horrors is easier than you think. Peeled grape eyeballs, gummy candy fingers and cooked spaghetti brains laid on a table in a dimly lit room offer a gross, but completely safe, good time.

This is great for smaller kids. Get a strobe or black light and some spooky music CDs to add to the ambiance and your child will have fun while being a little creeped out. The good news is that if they get scared, then you can just turn on the lights and your house of horrors has become a home once again.

Follow it up with a family movie night of kid-friendly Halloween films and some buttered popcorn…maybe a gummy finger or two as well.

Flashlight or Lit Haunted Houses

Haunted houses are in the market to make money, and they realize that little kids can’t go to their house without needing some serious therapy afterward. As a way to make up for it, many have flashlights available or lights on during designated hours for kids.

The scariest part of a haunted house is the unknown. It’s the face jumping out at you from the darkness. Turning on the lights or providing flashlights lets the children see what’s coming and turns the scare meter down a few notches. They’ll be able to see that the the evil skeleton is on a pole and that mad scientist looks a lot like their social studies teacher. Maybe in a year or two, they can graduate to the nighttime version.

Don’t merit haunted houses as being too scary, because it will just make your children want to visit them even more. At least, make it as safe and scare-free as possible if you think your little ones are too young to experience the full on fear assault.

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Have you ever noticed there just aren’t that many cartoon ghosts out there? Maybe people don’t like their kids watching supposedly dead people frolicking in the afterlife, but, in the spirit of Halloween, here are my top 5 cartoon ghosts.

Danny Phantom

Normal teenager Danny gets caught in the middle of a ghost portal between Earth and the ghost realm and his DNA fuses with ectoplasm, creating Danny Phantom. Danny has the ability to transform into a ghost and fly, go through solid objects and become invisible. He uses his new found powers to take on evil and other ghosts all the while keeping up appearances as a normal teenage boy.

Best part of being a teenage ghost: Turning pimples invisible.

Beetlejuice

Michael Keaton played this prankster ghost in the movie, but few people may remember the cartoon version that aired from 1989-1991. The cartoon was nothing like the Beetlejuice movie and transformed the nearly murderous ghost into a wisecracking puppy dog. The cartoon centered around the ghost and his now-friend Lydia Dietz, played by Wenona Ryder in the movie, as they explore the netherworld and had crazy, G-rated adventures.

Best part of being a revamped movie ghost: Not having to pay for Michael Keaton.

Space Ghost

While not technically a ghost, Space deserves a spot on this list. Space Ghost originally aired in the 60s and focused on the space faring super hero, a monkey, and his teenage companions — Jace and Ginny — as they fought bad guys. Pretty standard fare. They had a button on their wrists they could push to become invisible. Space Ghost was revitalized with a new show in 1981 and found fame with Cartoon Network’s Space Ghost Coast to Coast.

Best part of being a superhero faux ghost = Making the tights invisible.

Slimer

Everyone knows the disgusting green ball of snot that slimed Peter Venkman in the original Ghostbusters movie. A few years later, a cartoon version of Ghostbusters came out and had Slimer as the team’s pet. Slimer was still the giant ball of snot that pretty much ate everything, and accompanied the team on their missions.

Best part of being a giant ball of snot ghost: Having stock in Kleenex.

Casper

The most famous cartoon ghost of all time is, hands down, Casper the Friendly Ghost. His exploits have lasted generations, spawned movies and merchandise for decades. He was first part of a children’s book in 1939, which spawned a cartoon series in 1945. Since then, he has continued to be in books, comics and television with a major motion picture produced in 1995. Casper has had more movies and cartoons to follow and remains an ever-present specter on Halloween.

Best part of being a friendly ghost: Eternal kid and family appeal.

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Just as there is an unfathomable number of Halloween costumes from which to choose, there’s also a wide variety of candy bags and buckets. It seems simple enough, but all candy collection devices are not created equally. There are pros and cons to all of them, from looks to sturdiness.

The Plastic Pumpkin. These are the standard classic, jack-o-lantern shaped buckets, which, in my day, only came in orange, but now come in a variety of colors from white to bright pink.

• Pros: The bucket itself is very sturdy. If your child drops it, or takes on a heavy load of candy, the bottom isn’t going to bust out and you won’t have candy everywhere. Also, the top of the pumpkin bucket isn’t too wide, so during a fall, less candy hits the ground. Usually, these buckets are in the $1-$2 range.
• Cons: The handles can pop off fairly easily, and may or may not snap back into place. Also, the hole in the bucket tends not to be very smooth and can scrape little hands that are constantly going in and out to put new sweets inside.

The Pillowcase. Simply enough, it’s a pillowcase. Nothing fancy, and every house has them.

• Pros: As long as the pillowcase is fully intact from the jump, it’s a pretty sturdy option. Pillowcases can also hold a mountain of candy and can be slung over the shoulder if it gets too heavy. If you use one that you already own, there’s no cost.
• Cons: It has a wide opening, so candy spillage can be a problem, but as long as the pillowcase isn’t too full, it’s depth can usually compensate for that. Also, the pillowcase doesn’t have handles, so it can be cumbersome for young trick-or-treaters. Make sure the pillowcase is one you don’t want to get ruined, because grass and dirt stains have been known to happen.

The Shopping Bag. Um…It’s a shopping bag. The only variation is if you use a reusable grocery bag.

• Pros: While not as festive as candy bags designed for Halloween, grocery bags are popular when you’re in a pinch. Their handles are easy for little hands to hold on to, as well. As long as you buy groceries, these bags are free.
• Cons: Plastic grocery bags are flimsy. There’s a good chance the bottom or handles will break under the strain of a heavy load of candy. They’re not as attractive as Halloween themed candy bags and buckets, also.

The Plastic Halloween Bag. These are generally larger than grocery bags and made of a heavier plastic. They come in all different colors and Halloween themes.

• Pros: The heavier plastic is less likely to break during candy collection and the handles are stronger, but easier for little hands to hold onto. Some schools and businesses hand them out for free, but from a store you can expect to pay anywhere from $.50 to $2.
• Cons: Breaking is still a concern with plastic Halloween bags.

The Cloth Bag. These come in all shapes, sizes and designs. Some are Halloween themed, but you may have some already around the house, such as drawstring backpack purses or small totes.

• Pros: They’re sturdy, all the way around, and are easy for children of all ages to hold. The cost can range from free (if you have some around the house) to $20…or more if you are particular about design. If you don’t get a Halloween themed cloth bag, these can be used all year long for any number of purposes.
• Cons: If you’re buying one specifically for Halloween, the cost can be a bit much.

No matter what kind of candy bag or bucket you choose, your children will be able to carry their candy from house to house. If you choose a less sturdy option, bring along a big bag that you can periodically empty the kids’ bags into to lighten their load and take the burden off the bag.

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Halloween Tricks for Safety

• Make sure that the kids’ costumes fit well. Dresses and robes should fall around shin-length to avoid tripping while walking or climbing steps.
• Masks should allow for clear vision and unobstructed breathing.
• Give each child a glow necklace or other highly visible accessory or safety device (reflective tape, blinking lights, etc.), so they can be seen easily after dark.
• Stay in areas you are familiar with. Your own neighborhood is always the best option.
• Everyone should be wearing comfortable shoes. No matter how cute those boots are, blisters won’t be.
• Use sidewalks. Excited children sometimes forget to use sidewalks and will run from yard to yard. Twisted ankles from holes and garden gnomes will end a night of Halloween fun very quickly.
• Do a head count after every house. Trick-or-treaters can sometimes form packs, and you might think your kid is in the crowd when he or she is not.
• Remind children before you begin that they can’t eat any candy until you’ve safety-checked it.
• Bring a flashlight and a small First Aid Kit, just in case of minor mishaps.
• If you’re uncomfortable with a house for any reason, skip it. Your intuition overrules free sugar.

Treats for a More Enjoyable Halloween Experience

• If the weather gets really chilly where you live, look for indoor opportunities, especially if you have really young children. Local malls and grocery stores often offer safe, well-lit and warm alternatives to door-to-door trick-or-treating.
• Take pictures of your children before they go out.
• To remove greasy face makeup, use a gentle baby shampoo and warm wash cloth.
• If space in your child’s costume allows, layer extra shirts underneath.
• If your child insists that he or she doesn’t need a coat, bring one just in case.
• Bring a stroller or wagon for little ones, even if they walk well. Trust me: They tucker out fast.
• Bring a large bag for little ones to empty their buckets into. Bags can grow heavy very quickly, and tired arms make for whiny witches
• Don’t go to the “rich” neighborhood. This is a rookie mistake. Droves of families flock to these areas in search of a higher class of candy, but the rules of supply and demand play in here. They know they’ll have a ton of trick-or-treaters, so they buy more low-price goodies and still run out quickly. Also, parents have a tendency to drive around these neighborhoods, which isn’t safe for anyone. You’re better off staying in smaller residential areas, where there will be less traffic and fewer trick-or-treaters. The loot is plentiful, and the stroll from house to house is less stressful.
• If your pint-sized princess says she’s had enough, listen. Pushing her to continue will NOT yield happy results.
• Throw on a costume, too. Halloween is a night of fun and fantasy, so enjoy it with your kids.

From your friends at Smarter.com, have a safe and happy Halloween!

Photo Source: flickr.com/photos/11167512@N04/4078819133

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Apple on a String

While the name might not be so imaginative, this little bend on the traditional bobbing for apple games will keep costumes safe and dry. The last thing any mom wants is a wardrobe malfunction at the height of the party.

Simply, get some apples and hang them from a string by their stems. The children try and grab the apple using only their teeth. The stems should hold for a little bit, but give way with some pressure making the game fun for everyone.

Pumpkin Bowling

If you have children, then you have 2-liter and juice bottles coming out of your ears. Instead of taking them out to the recycling bin, keep a dozen or so on hand for a little pumpkin bowling. Find small pumpkins with short stems to use as bowling balls and set up the bottles like bowling pins. Have the children throw the pumpkins and knock down the pins. If the pins fall down too easy, put some sand in them to give them some weight.

The Mummy’s Treasure

For this fun game, you will need toilet paper or medical gauze and about 10 small prizes that will fit on the toilet paper. Tape a prize at the beginning of the roll and begin wrapping the toilet paper around it. Every now and then, tape another prize to the roll until the roll is gone and all the prizes are now contained in it.

Put the children into a circle and let them unwrap the mummy’s treasure until they find a prize and then pass it on to the next person in line.

These games are sure to be a hit at the party and your pint sized ghouls, goblins and princesses will be begging for more.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/thenickster/58370719/

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My parents would drop me off at one end of the block and then I would make my way from one house to the making the candy haul of the century. I would meet them at the other end of the block and we’d drive to the next place. We would spend 2-3 hours out trick-or-treating and we usually didn’t even start until 7 or 8 p.m.

Almost every house had their light on and it was perfectly OK to give popcorn balls and other homemade goodies. In fact, I liked those more than the bagged candy people bought. At the end of the night, we went to the hospital who X-rayed the candy to make sure there weren’t any needles or things slipped into them and home I went to gorge on candy for the next week.

Now that I have children of my own and the television is filled with news of children being kidnapped, murdered, poisoned, etc., Halloween isn’t quite as care free as it used to be. In fact, we started out simply going to the mall and a few relatives houses.

It wasn’t the epic candy hauls of my youth, but at least it was safe. After a few years, we decided that door-to-door trick or treating was part of being a kid and we tried it out. We didn’t drop him off and let him go. We parked the car and got out with him, making sure the goblin coming down the street was a pedophile waiting to grab the first alone child they saw.

I looked down the street and saw only a handful on porch lights on. That may have been because the two hours of city approved trick-or-treating ended before the sun was officially down. No one hands out homemade goodies anymore. Parents wouldn’t let their kids eat it anyway. It could have salmonella, poisoned or radioactive peanuts.

We are back home by 8 p.m. and that’s after an extended trips to the grandparent’s house. The hauls are considerably smaller, but the children are happy just to be in their costumes. Halloween has certainly changed since I was a kid, but that’s just how things go, I guess.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/edenpictures/4062890342/

Related posts:

1. Halloween Trick-or-Treating: How to Ensure the Greatest (and Safest) Night Out
2. Happy October: How to Trick-or-Treat Safely
3. Are Halloween Costumes Just for the Kiddies?

But then, the attention turns to us. Every year, several people ask me if I’m going to dress up, and the answer is always an emphatic ‘no’. As much as I adore the season, I “outgrew” the desire to draw that kind of attention to myself somewhere around 12-years-old. When free candy stopped being an incentive, I lost interest.

Someone, however, didn’t give my son the memo that mommy’s not a fan of making a fool of herself in public. The first time he asked me, “Mommy, what are you gonna be?” I tried to shrug it off and tell him I didn’t know yet. The second time, I told him most mommies don’t dress up. The third time, I started searching for ideas on the Internet.

How was I, a mere mortal, supposed to look into those big blue eyes and tell him I wanted no part of it, even though it would make him happy? I just couldn’t do it.

I have to admit, I’ve always been entertained by the handful of parents out there that dress up every year. I was amused by their silly costumes and secretly jealous of their confidence. After all, it takes some real self-esteem to paint your face green and don a witch’s hat at 35.

It looks like this year, thanks to my son’s constant badgering, I will join the ranks of the costume-clad parents, trick-or-treating at the mall, hoping not to run into someone I know. Or that if I do, they’ll have been bullied by their tots into wearing a banana costume.

Since I decided I’d be decking myself out for the occasion, I’ve become more and more excited about it. I just had to change my mindset. Halloween is about fantasy and magic, and why should the kiddies have all the fun? I don’t want any of my children to grow up to be grouchy, Halloween Scrooges who forget that imagination is important. Imagining is the first step in dreaming. Dreaming is the first step towards success.

So, with my new attitude, I’m going to rock a costume AND enjoy it. It will show my kids that being a responsible adult doesn’t mean that the world of magic, mystery and just-for-the-heck-of-it fun has to end.

Will you be dressing up this Halloween?

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/lorenkerns/4061981719/

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