Halloween Party Ideas for Babies and Kids

Creepy or Cuddly?
The key to a successful Halloween party is knowing the right level of scariness. There is a very fine line between the fun scare that gets kids' hearts pumping and the terrifying scare no one enjoys. Some things will be obvious; young children will be afraid by anything too realistic—and nothing suggesting real violence is appropriate. Talk to the other parents if you are concerned, and base your scariness level on the invited children most easily scared.

A simple rule of thumb is that crying children are not having much fun at your party. Be flexible, keep your eyes open, let children step back if necessary, or simply end the activity and divert to plan B if you notice problems. Realize, though, that because of the very nature of the holiday, trying to eliminate all things spooky from a Halloween party is next to impossible, and could lessen the party's fun. Trust your instincts, but remember that you will never be able to anticipate every child's reaction.