Thinking of cancelling Halloween because it’s not Covid-safe? Think again! Read on for lots of spooky, laugh-out-loud indoor trick or treating ideas for a Halloween you won’t forget.
2020 has been a funny old year, hasn’t it? It recently dawned on me that the children and I wouldn’t be able to go round the neighbourhood this year to trick or treat our lovely neighbours and friends. It also made me think a bit actually. We’ve always taken trick or treating for granted in our family, but I know lots of people who don’t take part in the spooky fun, for all sorts of reasons.
You might simply not like the idea of celebrating something that has nothing to do with your own culture or heritage.
You might have allergies (if that’s the case, check this blog post about teal pumpkins).
You might not live in a child-friendly neighbourhood.
You might be getting the chills at the thought of knocking on strangers’ doors to ask for treats.
You might not want your children to collect a gargantuan quantity of sugar they’re planning to eat as soon as they step back into the house.
All the reasons above are completely valid and make a lot of sense. Because of COVID-19 and the risks of spreading germs, we decided to forget about our walk around the neighbourhood in a crazed hunt for frights and sweets this year. Instead, we’re going to take the fun indoors.
When I decided Halloween would happen indoors this year, the children and I tried to put together a list of activities that would be fun and would make an acceptable alternative to their beloved trick or treating. Well, I’ve got good news for you guys: there are lots of brilliant activities, spooky or not-so-spooky, that you can do as a family to celebrate Halloween.
Here’s a list of things you can do at home to create a mischievously spooky night for the whole family.
Indoor Trick or Treating Tips and Ideas and Alternatives:
Turn Your Home into a Haunted Mansion
Who said that staying in for Halloween meant a boring 31st of October? You can still decorate the inside of your house to your heart’s content. Who cares that nobody will see it. You will! There’s nothing like a few skeletons and gravestones in the house to get you in a spooky mood.
Reverse Trick or Treating
Let’s think out of the box for a minute… If you put together little envelopes with treats and silly jokes , you can drop them through your friends’ letterboxes on Halloween! Not only are you having fun, but you’re also making other happy in the process. Double whammy!
Go Virtual
Get your best Halloween costumes on and have a ghoulish virtual Halloween party with friends on Zoom, Google Meet or Messenger.
Halloween Makeup Competition
Create a WhatsApp group with all participants as well as a friend who’s not taking part in the make up competition. They’ll act as your independent judge. On Halloween, use a YouTube tutorial to create the most spectacular Halloween makeup and send your finished look to your WhatsApp group. At midnight, the judge announces the winner.
Treasure Hunt at Home
One member of the family hides treats and jokes all around the house or the garden (weather permitting) and everyone else goes trick or treating. Click here for a quick and easy tutorial for a Halloween Treasure Hunt.
Crafty Crafty
Have an arts and crafts night at home. Check these simple ideas you can make as a family:
Make mini pumpkins out of socks and filling from an old pillow or teddy. You can find a good tutorial here.
Why not making your old spooky lanterns out of tissue paper, PVA glue and old jars? Check our tutorial here.
If you haven’t got many craft supplies at home, then our Toilet Roll Cat Lanterns are for you. They’re easy to make and you really don’t need much, other than a bit of string and a couple of empty toilet rolls.
Bake-off
Why not having a baking competition at home? In this blog post, you’ll find some treats that can easily be made at home and look as spooky as they are fun to make. As well as being yummy and cute, they’re also allergy-friendly treats!
Doughnut Bobbing
Yep, you read that right. I don’t mean apple bobbing (way too easy to spread germs that way!). Using long pieces of string, tie doughnuts individually to a clothes line. The rules of this game are simple: everyone takes it in turn to try and eat their doughnut without using their hands.
Frightfully Funny Games Night
Check this blog post to find out about two of our favourite Halloween games: Ghost Hunt Evolution and Creepy Hand.
Carve a Pumpkin
We normally carve our pumpkins ahead of Halloween, but since this year is a bit of an odd one, we might keep the carving fun for 31st October. Click here for a simple tutorial to help you and your little ones carve even the most complex jack o’lantern with minimal effort.
Halloween Piñata
Who doesn’t love a bit of piñata fun? Use a pumpkin or ghost-shaped one, or even make your own using this tutorial.
Have a Halloween Film Night
If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know that ‘cinema nights’ are a favourite of ours. Why not pick a Halloween-themed film on 31st October?
Is there anything more fun than watching a creepy movie whilst eating treats – go wild with a scary film or treat the kids to a classic like Hocus Pocus, Coraline, Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas or The Adams Family. For children who like spooky series or films, Goosebumps and Creeped out are both available on Netflix UK.
If you want something fun but not scary, go with Halloweentown, Hotel Transylvania or Monster House.
We absolutely love Halloween in our house. Did you notice? If you have other indoor trick or treating suggestions, please leave them in a comment as we’re keen to make this Halloween as fun as it is every year.
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