Advice on 4 Year Old Halloween Birthday Party

My advice would be go for more of a funny/scarey theme. When my son was in kindergarten, they had a fall bash at his school with a semi-scarey haunted house in it. My son didn't think it was scarey at all but fun to go through. However, they had children crying, screaming, and clinging to their moms and dads also. They decided not to have a haunted house again after that. Some children scare easier than others, especially girls. And don't forget that some boys will try and act brave in front of others but may have nightmares afterwards.

Some of the older kids may like the haunted house type thing, but then you're isolating the younger ones. Go more for slightly creepy instead of spooky. Keep it light though, you've got lots of years left to get scary. At that age it really doesn't matter what you have "planned". They will probably be just as happy simply playing with each other.

I like to check this website for ideas - www.birthdaypartyideas.com. And there is a section on Halloween parties that you could get some ideas for your sons' bday party -

http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/halloween_party.html

Hi J.

Wow, twin boys, school and work! How do you do it? That is truly amazing!

Have you tried going to Micheals (50% off) or some craft store that sells halloween decorations? I don't know how scary you should make your stuff. They'd probably just love it if you had a costume party! You can ask that all the kids to wear their halloween costumes. Make one of those touchy-feely black boxes where they can't see what it is they are touching. Brains-cauliflower, worms-spahgetti noodles, eyeballs-large grapes.

Dangle bats/ghosts/skulls from the ceiling!

Make a haunted corner in your home for a picture back drop so the kids can get a picture with a mummy(you) or a scare crow (another parent). Drape it with a black cloth and black lacy material, make cobb webbs, put fake spiders and bugs and a witch's broom in the back of the corner.

Decorate your front door as they walk up to your home with scary halloween stuff. Pretty much the same way you would with that haunted corner!

Do the old fashion games. Drop the clothes pin (painted black and green) in the jar of creepy toy bugs. They get three chances. If they get one in they get a prize. (Halloween stickers)

Do the gift bags with toys of bugs, candy, party favor stuff.

Hope that helps.

I need suggestions on my daughter's first birthday...boys are so much easier! lol

I think your best bet would be to ask the parent's of the other children attending.

My daughters birthday is Oct 23rd & we've always done a Halloween theme, it give the kids a second opportunity to wear those costumes they've been dreaming of for months. I think it was Current Magazine that I got a Halloween Bingo and a Pin the Eye on the Monster Game. I've done basic Halloween decoration but I personally have never done anything too scary or gory (sp?). Otherwise just treat it like a normal birthday party with a pinata and balloons and cake and just let them play. I wouldn't put so much effort into a hauted house at 4 - they are just as happy running around. My husband's birthday is Oct 31st and he said he always had a Halloween Party when he was little and got tired of them but I figure as long as they are little and until they have a different opinion - I will have fun with it. Good Luck, D..

Hi, I would suggest asking the other parents what they think, then go from there, you have alot of years for scary stuff later. I have a step-daughter whoes mom tried to give her a Halloween Birthday party, but my husband didn't like the idea.

J.,
A Halloween party sounds great. Keep in mind that what scares a four year old won't be scary to us. My daughter who is 4 1/2 likes scary things and loves to go to the Halloween store (She calls it the scary store), but it doesn't seem to scare her even with all those decorations. The Haunted Mansion at Disney, however, did. If you do a haunted house or trail, have enough light so that they can see what's going on so that things don't jump out at them. I wouldn't go too far on trying to make it too scary because at their age, less is more. Make the party more fun with games and stuff. Gross games, like putting their hands in icky stuff and eating things that look gross but taste good. Give out candy at each station if you have games as if they were trick-or-treating. Whatever you decide, I think they'll have a great time no matter what.

J.

Go for a fun and happy Halloween party! Smiling pumpkins and ghosts! No party should have a two year old in tears from being scared!

Maybe there is a Halloween inflatable house you could rent for them to jump around in?