Here Comes Halloween!!!!

Designed and photographed by Tess Allen

Learn how to play inside and there's no storm you can’t weather.
                                       
                                                                                               ~Dr. Ben
 
Can you believe it?  I hope you’re somewhere that feels the nip in the air, sees the leaves turning, and has you sipping something warm and tasty!

We here in Southern California, however, are still stewing in our own juices.  It’s like summer just won’t let go!  Temperatures keep hovering in the low 90’s…and let me tell you, it takes some serious imagining to get into the spirit of the season when it’s frying hot outside! 

But imagination is just the place you want to be if your child’s facing health challenges and has to be in the hospital (or stay at home) as the season of tricks and treats approaches. 
So what’s a self-respecting little goblin to do?  Why, bring the party inside, of course!

Here are a few suggestions to get you in the Halloween mood!

A Harry Potter Potions Exam:  True gross out!  Put things in containers, then place them in paper bags so that you can’t see what’s in them.  Players dip their hands inside (ew!) and have to identify what “potions ingredients” they’re touching.  Some examples:

-Poppy seeds = beetle eyes
-Cooked penne or fusilli with red food coloring = flesh-eating slugs
-Pearl onions = blind cat’s eyes
-Grass in water = gillyweed
-Smoked oysters = hippogriff gizzards
-Prunes=dried bat hearts

Have the list nearby so they can check off items as they identify them.  If your child can tolerate it, have a liter of sleeping draught (grape juice) and a liter of pumpkin juice (orange soda) on hand to toast whoever gets the most right!

(Not So) Fright Night at the Movies:  There are loads of fun Halloween movies that are fun and spirited (without being too gory or scary):

-It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
-The first three in the Harry Potter series
-Nightmare Before Christmas
-Beetlejuice
-Monsters, Inc.
-The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
-Ghostbusters
-The Addams Family
-Hocus Pocus
-Gremlins
-Wallace & Gromit:  Curse of the Were-Rabbit
-Paranorman
-Frankenweenie
-Don’t Look Under the Bed

Miniature Pumpkin Carving/Decorating:  Using smaller pumpkins that can fit on a bed tray, you can help your child scoop out the seeds (or bring them in pre-scooped.)  Then let the carving fun begin!  If you don’t want to use sharp objects, consider decorating the pumpkin instead:

Dressing Up!!  Can’t do a full costume?  How about face-painting?  Add crazy wigs, costume jewelry, silly glasses, and FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE, DON’T FORGET A FEATHER BOA!  (Just sayin’.)   Take a look at these gems:

And of course, you must have music to pull it all together!  Here’s a classic to get you started:

Have a Halloween playlist?  We'd love to see it!  Post it here!

Happy Haunting,

~Michelle