How to Get Kids Excited About Halloween

With Halloween fast approaching, everyone is gearing up for the festivities by buying up all the candy in sight, decorating their homes, and collaborating on costumes. The fact is Americans go gaga for Halloween, as we spend roughly $9.1 billion annually to get ready for this eerie holiday, according to the National Retail Federation.

While some of us are excited about visiting haunted houses and watching horror flicks for the jump scares, those with young children may want to keep the spooks to a minimum. However, it’s important to show kids that Halloween can be fun because let’s face it, they’re going to be bombarded with an endless stream of frights the entire month of October.

Our team at Merry Maids® wants you and your little ghoul to enjoy everything Allhallows Eve has to offer, which is why you can rely on us for Halloween safety tips and other wholesome ways to get your kids ready for a night of entertainment.

Halloween Safety Tips

Did you know that Halloween is the fourth-most most common holiday to sustain injuries (behind Labor Day, Memorial Day, and Fourth of July)? Having fun on Halloween doesn’t mean you have to compromise safety. As such, below are a few safety tips to ensure you and your loved ones can enjoy the day without injury.

• If your children are under the age of 13, always accompany them while trick-or-treating. Most experts agree that 13 years or older is a good age for kids to experience Halloween without supervision. The most important thing is to speak to your children about physical safety when they leave the house.
• Strategically place reflective tape on costumes and candy bags.
• Carry reusable glow sticks or something that glows in the dark so cars and other individuals on foot can see them. According to federal highway safety data, children are three times more likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than any other day of the year.
• Help your kids choose or make costumes that don’t cover their faces. Your child needs to be aware of their surroundings, and you should always be able to spot them.

3 Ways to Help Your Children Have a Happy and Fun Halloween

1. Start the Halloween Movie Marathon Early

The Halloween festivities don’t have to start on October 31. You can get your kids excited and begin celebrating a few days or even weeks early. Get your little ones in the spirit with a spooky (kid-friendly) movie marathon. Some of our favorites include:

• Spookley the Square Pumpkin – Available on Netflix
• Monster House – Available on Disney+
• Halloweentown – Available on Disney+
• Casper – Available on Prime Video for $3.99
• Twitches – Available on Disney+
• It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown – Available on AppleTV (with 7-day free trial)

2. Let Kids Choose or Make Their Costumes

For most of us, our fondest memories during Halloween involve the candy (of course) and the costumes. Now that you have little ones of your own, it’s important to create that same nostalgia your kids will reminisce about decades from now. Whether you’re a master seamstress or only know how to patch a tear, there are easy and cheap toddler Halloween costumes you can make at home, including:

• Ghost – Do you have old sheets in your linen closet that you haven’t used in ages? If so, all you’ll need is a pair of scissors, and you’re good to go with a simple and easy ghost costume your kids will love.
• Royalty – Because you’re the parent of a toddler, we’re sure you have construction paper lying around. Cut out a makeshift crown, and let your child decorate it however they want. Put on their prettiest dress or best suit, and practice your bowing and a regal, “your highness.”
• Snail – Old or worn towels can get a new lease on life in the form of a snail costume for your little one. Roll up the material and tie two strings or ribbons around the ends to secure the shape and act as straps. Tensile stems wrapped around a headband will make the perfect antennae.
• Superhero – If you still have some leftover fabric from your child’s simple ghost costume, cut a few inches off the bottom for a cape and a mask. Your little crime fighter will be ready to battle evildoers the entire night.

3. Forego Uber Scary Elements

While you might have an infinity for all things horror, your toddler may not. According to a 1995 study, children between the ages of 3 to 6 are more responsive than older children and adults to salient visual images. This means that if something looks scary, it’s likely to scare young children more than something seemingly benign, but that is actually harmful. Nonetheless, you can still introduce your toddler and school-aged kids to the less creepy aspects of Halloween to give them the necessary exposure to enjoy the holiday for years to come.

To truly enjoy your Halloween, hire our team of cleaning professionals to get your home spotless for all the macabre memories you’ll make.

Call (888) 490-4227 for more information or find your Merry Maids location and request a free estimate today.