Halloween Help Guide: Costume Party Ideas, Food, Music, Games and Activities for All Ages That Don't Cost Much!

Halloween is right around the corner. For some people, Halloween is a favorite holiday. We get to dress up in costumes that we would never consider wearing any other day of the year and we get to eat a lot of candy and treats!

Whether you are Hosting a Halloween Party or taking your kids out Trick or Treating, safety should always be the first consideration. For those going door to door Trick or Treating, keep in mind that in some areas the weather can be cold in October. Make sure that your children stay warm to avoid hypothermia.

Another problem associated with Halloween is the danger of not being seen by motorists especially when it is dark outside and your child's costume is not bright. Children should be supervised by an adult and everyone should walk with a lighted flashlight so that oncoming traffic knows that you are there.

This article serves to be a guide for all things Halloween. We'll look at some Costume Ideas, Recipes and Party Ideas, Decorating Tips and Games and Activities for people of all ages.

What types of costumes are popular this year for babies and young children? To answer this, let's get some inspiration from the television shows that are popular among preschoolers:

• SpongeBob SquarePants
• Bob The Builder
• Curious George
• Caillou
• Dora The Explorer
• Go, Diego, Go!
• Sesame Street
• Clifford
• Dr. Seuss
• The Muppets
• Thomas the Tank Engine

These are just a few of the shows being watched in this age group. There are plenty of costumes available in stores or online. You could of course make your own at home!

Start off by asking your child who he or she would like to be this Halloween. Halloween is a great time for parents and children to enjoy spending time together having fun!

Tweens and Teens enjoy Halloween almost as much as adults do! They can also be the most difficult age groups when choosing Halloween Costumes. Sometimes parents don't have the same ideas as their children as to what is an appropriate costume for their kids.

Let's look at some of the television programs that Tweens and Teens are watching to get some inspiration for Halloween Costume ideas:

• Adventure Time
• iCarly
• Hannah Montana
• Twilight
• Harry Potter
• Glee
• Buffy The Vampire Slayer
• Anime Cartoons
• Scooby Doo
• Vampires
• Werewolves

There are many characters in each of these shows that your child may want to dress up as for Halloween. Take a look at Etsy if you are interested in Custom Made Costumes and Props.

In this economy, many parents are choosing to make their own costumes at home with whatever materials they have on hand. Your imagination is the limit when it comes to making costumes at home. Making costumes at home can be a great way to spend time with your child and have fun together!

Many adults choose to dress up for Halloween and sometimes they like to go to parties or take their kids out Trick or Treating.

Whatever you decide to do, there are many ideas for adults when choosing a Halloween Costume. Many want to be "sexy", some want to be their favorite athlete, and many people come up with their own home made costumes.

Let's look at some ideas for Adult Halloween Costumes:

• Favorite Football Player (or any other sport)
• Pocahontas
• Sexy Witch
• American Gladiator
• Wizard
• Shrek
• Where's Waldo?
• Fairy Princess
• Pirate
• Harry Potter
• 1950's Sock Hop
• 1920's Flapper
• Angel
• Fred Flintstone

These are just a few ideas! I think adults have the biggest selection of Halloween Costumes and more and more adults dress up for this holiday every year!

There are 2 basic types of Halloween Parties. Either the party is hosted for children and families or you may choose to have an "Adult Only" party. Hosting a child's party is fun. There are many games and activities that are appropriate for all ages.

"Bobbing for Apples" is a great game to play and I remember playing it at Halloween Parties when I was a kid, but be careful; this game is a great way to spread germs! Now a days people are playing less contact games. Let's look at some popular games to play at your Halloween Party:

• Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin
• Spider Ring Toss
• Murder Mystery (Who Dunnit? for Adults)
• Adult Drinking Games

There are many games and activities and these are just a few. You can get creative and invent your own games.

Some activities you can do:

• Costume Contest
• Pumpkin Carving/Jack O'Lantern Contest
• Limbo Contest (How low can You go?)
• Watch Scary Movies
• Tell Scary Stories
• Hold a Seance
• Play with a Ouija Board
• Listen to Scary Music
• Make a Haunted House

If you are Hosting a Halloween Party you will need to feed your guests! Some ideas for what to serve: (Keep in mind that some people have Food Allergies so make sure to ask your guests if they have any allergies!)

• Peanuts
• Chips and Dip
• Candy (of course...it is Halloween!)
• Halloween themed foods like decorated cupcakes
• Appetizers
• Assorted Beverages (adult and child; choose low-sugar for the kids!)
• Pizza
• Burgers

You would most likely want to decorate your home for the party. There are many ideas for both indoor and outdoor decorations. You may decide to make a "Graveyard" in your front lawn.

Buying Disposable Halloween Themed Plates and Silverware makes for an easy clean-up.

Don't forget to buy Scary Movies and Scary Music to set the mood! Be careful when using candles!

If you are hosting a Children's Party, be sure not to over-do it by making the environment too scary for the little ones! You may decide to read Scary Stories from a Child's Halloween Book.

The most important thing during Halloween is to ensure that everyone is safe. If Adults decide to Drink Alcohol, please do it Responsibly and choose a Designated Driver!

Halloween is a great time of year that inspires creativity and brings family and friends together. I hope that this guide has helped you by providing some ideas for one of America's favorite holidays! Have a Happy and Safe Halloween, for many years to come!

Happy Halloween!