Celebrate Halloween absolutely free with kids

Are you tired of passing out bags and bags of expensive candy every Halloween? How about those costumes? They get pricier every year, don't they? Want your house to be the scariest on the block without spending any cash? Believe it or not, you can celebrate Halloween absolutely free with kids. Plus, it's a lot more fun. Here's how we get by at Grandma's house in the lean years.

Use other people's money:

Trick or treating is absolutely free.

That is, if you're not the one passing out candy. Instead of staying home and doling out the goods while your kids are trick or treating, why not go with them? It's free. It's a bonding experience, as they say. Plus, it's safer for your kids to be accompanied by an adult. By the time you get back, the other trick or treaters will be done too, so no candy to pass out. OK, maybe it's a bit sneaky, but hey, if you're broke, you're broke. Let those who can afford it buy that candy. Maybe you can reciprocate next year.

Attend a free festival.

Your kids can have loads of fun on Halloween at their school Halloween carnivals, trunk or treating or trick-or-treat streets. There will be games, cake walks and haunted houses galore at these free celebrations put on by schools, neighborhoods, churches, etc. If you feel you have to contribute, why not bake a cake for the cake walk or some cookies for the bake sale. It's not absolutely free, but it's optional and pretty inexpensive. Plus, once again, you will be gone when trick-or-treaters come knocking.

What to wear for free on Halloween

You know that you can make your own costumes. What many people don't realize is that there's nothing wrong with it. What if your kids are the type that insist on buying their costumes? What if you just plain have no money this year? How can you convince them to do it and love it? Announce that the person who can make the best homemade costume without spending a single penny will be able to stay up a half hour later every night for a month. The prize can differ, but it should be free for you and beneficial to them.

Bonus: Kids will learn that old fashioned Halloween fun is better.

Free Halloween yard decor

Even if you're not passing out candy, it's fun to make your yard crazy spooky on Halloween. How can you do it for free? Break out the cardboard, packing materials, recyclables, old clothes and such and get creative. Have a kid yard decorating contest or work together on some homemade tombstones, ghosts, and creatures of the night for your yard. It's so much more fun to celebrate Halloween for free than it is to pay for it, don't you agree?

Carving your Halloween pumpkin without the gooey mess

Here at Grandma's house, we love carving Jack-O-Lanterns. Hate that gooey slime that gets all over everything, though. Want to save the pumpkin seeds for roasting? Hate pulling them out of that stringy clinging glob of guck? Sometimes you need tips and tricks for dealing with it in an efficient manner. Sometimes it's as simple as choosing the right pumpkin.

Pumpkins for carving are drier and stringier than eating pumpkins.

That makes it harder to scoop out their insides. Why do they use them for Jack-O-Lanterns? Because they're easier to mass produce. They require less fertilizer or care. How do you know which is which? Don't buy your Halloween pumpkins from those big bins at supermarkets and big box stores. Those are made especially for carving because they aren't as tasty as pie pumpkins. They're also messier to deal with.

Where do I get pie pumpkins?

Skip the bins and go to the produce section. There you will find a much smaller display of pie pumpkins or eating pumpkins. Every store calls them something different. You can also go to a pumpkin farm for your pumpkins. Be sure to ask which ones are for eating. They'll scoop out more smoothly because they're moister.

Bonus tip: If you carve your pumpkin on Halloween night, you may be able to use it to make pie later.

Use the right tools.

Put your pumpkin on newspaper to catch strings and goo that fall while you're scooping it out. When you remove the cap, don't try to scrape the goo off. Just cut it off with a knife where the pumpkin is solid. Using a large metal spoon with a sharp edge allows you to scrape the inside of the pumpkin more efficiently. If you do it right, you never have to touch the goo.

Do use gloves.

Wear thin latex gloves while carving Halloween pumpkins. The goo will remain gooey, but it won't get all over your hands. Make sure your gloves are food grade, to avoid chemical contamination. To protect the environment, rinse gloves between pumpkins. That way you aren't wasting several pair.

Don't put the gooey mess down the disposal.

Pumpkin "strings" are hazardous to it's health. Your garbage disposal could clog or break. Instead, put the pulp and seeds in a strainer. Set in sink to sort and rinse seeds. Put the leftover pulp in your compost pile. Be sure there are no seeds in it. They will sprout and grow in the warm, moist environment. No compost pile? Throw the stringy goo in the trash. At least it's biodegradable.

Bonus Tip: Dry the goo in the sun, on a newspaper, then separate the seeds for roasting later.

What to do when kids play pranks on Halloween

Chances are, your kids have at least thought about pulling some Halloween pranks. No kid is perfect on Halloween. I'll prove it. Raise your hand if you ever soaped a window. Well-behaved kids can succumb to peer pressure just as easily as any other kid. On holidays and special occasions, their guard is down. They just want to have fun. What happens when pranks involve destruction of property? It's not that fun for your neighbors. How do you react as a parent? I have a few ideas that may help.

Don't treat Halloween pranks with indifference.

Ignoring Halloween pranks can lead kids to believe it's OK to vandalize, as long as it's in good fun. Is that the message you want to send them? If not, you need to get serious when kids destroy property on Halloween. What if the damage isn't permanent? It's still wrong to soap windows or T.P. trees. That's huge mess for the homeowner. That's why you have to treat pranks as you would any other form of misbehavior. Start by raising your expectations.

Expect kids to take responsibility for Halloween mischief.

Cleaning up after your kids' Halloween pranks shouldn't be your job. It's theirs. So is the apology, the humiliation and everything else that comes with it. While it's wrong to purposefully humiliate your kids, there's nothing wrong with letting them be embarrassed by their own mistakes. It's how they learn. They'll never learn to take responsibility for their actions if you're constantly shouldering their burdens. Parents who expect their kids to do the right thing are seldom disappointed.

Follow up on clean up when kids play Halloween pranks.

Once again, that doesn't mean clean up for them. It means that you should discreetly check to see that they've taken care of it. Even though the responsibility belongs to the kids, your neighbors will expect to see you involved in the process. Take the time to speak to your kids' Halloween victims to be sure things were remedied in a satisfactory manner. If the mess hasn't been addressed or the work is substandard, insist that your kids do it right.

Don't be contradictory about kids' pranks.

Your youngest got even with the curmudgeon next door. You know, the one that's been harassing you all year about the toys in the front yard? Unfortunately, her Halloween prank left a different kind of mess in his yard. Take all the steps above. More importantly, don't let the kids hear you chuckling about it with friends. You might be surprised at what they pick up on when you don't even know they're in the room. If you simply must share it, make sure the kids aren't anywhere nearby when you do. Sending mixed messages can defeat your best discipline.

Is celebrating Halloween with kids sinful?

For many religious people, celebrating Halloween presents a dilemma. Their church doesn't condone this holiday, due to Halloween's purported origins. Is celebrating Halloween with kids sinful in nature? That depends on who you ask. It also depends on how you celebrate it. Just because you feel the origins of a particular holiday are sinful, doesn't mean you have to celebrate it that way.

What does Halloween mean to your kids?

Chances are, it's not sinful. Your kids' friends are all going trick or treating, to parties or haunted houses. It's innocent fun. If your kids want to join their friends, why not let them? Whatever Halloween means to you, chances are, your kids aren't celebrating it for those reasons. In fact, it's likely they're not even aware that there's anything questionable about Halloween unless you tell them.

What bothers you about celebrating Halloween?

Some religions object to Halloween due to old traditions that no longer apply. Others feel it's the devil's holiday. Some simply don't like all that blood and gore being downplayed and made light of. The thing is, it's your choice how to celebrate any holiday with your kids. It's also your prerogative to forbid certain holidays.

Halloween is what you make of it.

Before you discount allowing your kids to celebrate Halloween, give this a thought. You can create your own Halloween traditions. They don't have to have anything to do with the sinful origins of Halloween that you believe existed in the past. As a matter of fact, most of the rumors about the origins of Halloween are inaccurate at best.

What are some positive ways to celebrate Halloween?

Halloween can be whatever you would like it to be. If you would prefer to shy away from the blood and gore, there are numerous steps you can take.

*Keep kids' costumes friendly and funny, instead of frightening and freaky.
*Instead of a haunted house and scary decor, have a brightly colored themed party.
*Encourage kids to skip the pranks, tricks and property destruction.

Of course, everyone is different.

Even after you consider the fact that nobody really knows where Halloween came from, your church might have strict laws against celebrating Halloween. Nobody can force it on you. You have to make choices that reflect and respect your belief system. As for whether celebrating Halloween with kids is sinful, you'll have to make your own judgment call. Just be sure to give others the same consideration. That's the beauty of this world. Everyone is different.

How to get kids to do fall yard work

Somehow, this Grandma is not surprised that raking, weeding and such isn't on your kids' list of priorities. They're probably not on my grand-kids' lists either. Thank goodness there are two sure ways to get kids to do anything. One is setting a good example. The other is making it fun and worth their while. Which approach you use might depend on the task. If you want kids to do fall yard work, it might take a little of both.

Get into the spirit.

Let kids see the adults having a good time with fall yard work. Show them the value of a job well done. Take the time to care for your investment properly. Keep tools neatly stored and well-maintained. All this sets the stage for having children who appreciate the pay-off of a little sweat equity.

Give them a reason to invest their time.

After all, once you get the yard cleaned up there might be room for that pool next summer. A basketball hoop might look good over the garage. This is their home, too. Want kids to do fall yard work? Make it worthwhile. They should reap the rewards of hard work just as you do. Make it a home, not a house. Get them involved with both the work and the results.

Ask for their input.

What would they like to do with the yard? You might be surprised at the great ideas kids have. Sit down together as a family to plan next year's yard. Figure out what it will take to make all your dreams come true. Make your dreams mesh into something the whole family can enjoy. Then, tackle the work it takes to see them through.

Reward their hard work in multiple ways.
Sometimes the results are a reward in themselves. Other times, it takes a little more encouragement. You can certainly pay kids who work extra hard as well. That doesn't necessarily mean monetary payment. Sincere compliments go a long way toward building self esteem in your kids. Or, you can take it one step further.

Throw a fall clean-up party.

Why not show off your hard work to family and friends? Brag about your kids' accomplishments to your party guests. Or you could make the party and the clean-up one and the same. Make it fun for both you and the kids. Oh, and one last very important detail. Don't forget to save a few leaf piles for smaller kids to jump in. Better yet, join them. You deserve some fall fun too.

Do your Halloween treats pass parent inspection?

Make sure the treats you give out this Halloween are a good investment. Inspection of trick or treat bags often results in good money being thrown in the trash. Safety's first on the priority list for parents when it comes to Halloween and especially trick or treating. Here's how to insure your trick or treat offerings make the safety cut.

Offer another option to giving out treats.

Trick or treaters might enjoy a free homemade haunted house tour or other activity. Set up a table with activities like painting miniature pumpkins or making masks. Feathers, fake jewels and mask forms are available at most craft stores. Use your imagination to come up with Halloween activity alternatives to trick or treating.

Give out small toys as a substitute for Halloween candy or treats.

Think rubber snakes, flutes, whistles or other party favors. Be sure to give age appropriate toys to each child. Trick or treating toddlers or babies should never be given toys with potential choking safety hazards. Unsafe toys will never pass parent inspection. Try to choose quality inexpensive toys as treats.

It may be tempting to make homemade goodies for Halloween.

This only works for kids of friends and relatives. Even then, Halloween treats should be labeled with your name, phone and address. Avoid giving homemade treats to kids you don't know. Homemade trick or treat items always end up failing parent inspection due to possible poisoning safety risks.

Another option for treat giving on Halloween are gift certificates.

Many fast food venues offer coupons for items like ice cream cones and such. Passing safety inspection is not a concern with these trick or treat offerings. Parents can take their kids out for a free treat without concern. Kids love getting these treats because it gives them a second day of fun to experience.

Be sure that purchased candy will pass inspection.
Parents look for things like wrappers that can be opened and re-wrapped. Another safety alert goes off when packaging appears tampered with or open. Small holes in packaging could be needle insertion or injection sites. Buy Halloween candy that is securely wrapped and difficult to tamper with.

Think like a parent.

Is this the type of treat you would feel safe giving your own child? If this treat was in your kid's bag of goodies, would you let them keep it? If the answer is no, chances are this treat won't pass another parent's inspection either. Quite often parental instinct will give you the answer to this safety dilemma.

At what age should kids stop trick or treating?

Should kids stop trick or treating at a certain age or do it until they get sick of it? Here at Grandma's house, we leave it up to the kids, who usually make sensible decisions. They're pretty level headed, as are most young people, if you give them a chance. But what about other folks? How do they decide when their kids are too old to trick or treat? A random cross section of parents across the country had this to say:

Debbie, Las Vegas, NV:

"Wait a minute...I am 40 does that mean I am not allowed to trick or treat anymore? Actually, I think anyone under the age or 18 should be allowed to. My older kids and their friends always used the excuse of taking the younger kids so that even if their friends didn't think it was "cool," they still had an excuse to go and get candy."

Reena, Herndon, VA:

"I think it's fine until the kids realizes he/she needs to stop. That may be 12, 18 or 40!"

Karen, Seaside, Oregon:

"Anyone under the age of 18 should be allowed to trick or treat. Let kids enjoy their childhood for as long as possible, and they'll decide when the time is right to end it."

Linda B Florence, SC:

"Around 10 or so, depends on the child and the neighborhood. Some kids love to dress up."

Randy, Claremont NC:

"I think they should stop trick or treating when they turn 13. If they want to dress up they can go to a party."

Deb, Runnemede, NJ:

"I think they should stop at the age where they aren't willing to put the effort/fun into it. My dad always kept 2 bowls of candy. One was "the good stuff" for the cute kids; the other was the "dum dum lollipops" for the teenagers who threw on a flannel and some face paint."

Kate, Lock Haven, Penn:

"Ten is a good age. Our 12 year old wants us to drive her 200 miles to our old town to go trick or treating, with 2 friends. Come on, time to grow up." -

Angie, Cincinnati, Ohio:

"I think we need a "when is it too early to trick-or-treat" article. As far as when to end it, I believe 17 is the top number. I also believe that if kids are trick-or-treating at any age, they should be accompanied by an adult. For the young ones, it's for safety. For the older ones, it's to make sure others are safe from them. An accompanying parent may cause the kid to decide to drop trick-or-treating early."

Michele, League City, Texas:

"Never!" (No age limit)

Sandy, Two Harbors, MN:

"This year my 15 year old daughter wants to go trick-or-treating dressed as a Japanese geisha. The party scene isn't something she's interested in. She is thinking of asking some of the parents with younger children if she could go with the elementary age kids to be sort of a chaperone in lieu of the parents having to go."

Tammy, Marion, IL:

"I don't feel like there is a set age limit. I love dressing up with my kids when they trick-or-treat. I think that when my kids decide they're not going to trick-or-treat then that's what age they should stop."

Ashli, Galesburg, Illinois:

"I don't think there should really be a limit. Everyone likes candy and I think that as long as it is a family thing people should be able to go out at all ages. I know that I liked dressing up and everything until I was sixteen but now that I have a daughter I love to dress up with her and do it again. Do I think its a little weird when a twenty year old comes to my door just on his own for candy? Sure, but it's his or her choice as long as they're not being stupid about it."

How about you? When do you think kids should stop trick or treating? Feel free to leave a comment!