Operation: Save Halloween 2020

Are you celebrating Halloween differently this year?  Stuck on what to do?  Here are some ideas!  We added in links for budget friendly supplies (all under $20!) that can help you fulfill your vision.  We want to make sure that you have what you need to make this Halloween special, even if it’s different than other Halloweens.

Important notice: the links here may be affiliate links.  This means that if you choose to purchase the item, ABH may get a small commission.  These commissions help us grow and support more children–thank you for your support!

We know that a lot of people are sad because trick or treating, holiday parties, and other Halloween traditions are being put on hold.  With everything that kids are missing out on this year, it can be a real bummer to have forgo some of your holiday traditions.

But fear not!

We can create some new ones!  Often when we are working with kids that have difficulty with things changing, we help them use the mantra It’s okay, it’s just different.  Perhaps all of us could take on this mantra for now and work to make the best of what we have.

In that line of thinking, we wanted to take some time to talk about other options that you can take advantage of this year in order to create some new magic!

Here are three options (and some bonus details!) that you can take and make your own.  We added some budget friendly links (all under $20) below each to make sure that you have access to the materials you need to make it a spook-tacular day!

1. Holiday monster mash

This is all about taking the fun of some other good times and mixing it with some Halloween goodness to get a new and exciting concoction!

• What if we mixed Easter and Halloween? Take a room in your home (or the yard) and make a spooky candy hunt.
• How about forth of July and Halloween? Have a hunt for sparklers!
• Christmas and Halloween?  Create a Halloween toy gift exchange!
• Halloween and a birthday? Pinata time!

There are loads of ways to mix and match to create a special holiday this year.

Here are some things that might help:

Outee 160 Pcs Halloween Toys for Kids Halloween Party Favors Halloween Prizes School Classroom Rewards Trick or Treating Halloween Toys for Kids

OULII Mini Pumpkin Storage Box Case Plastic Container Holder Props Party Favors 12pcs

Green Monster Pinata for Birthday Party, Halloween (12.5 x 12.5 x 3 In)

2. nerf gun zombie hunt

This takes a little time to put together, but that can be part of the fun! Get some foam poster boards and draw out zombies, ghouls, or ghosts. Hide them around the house, then turn off the lights, and go “hunting” for them with Nerf guns! You’ll need Nerf guns, posters, markers, and flashlights. Add in some spooky music (here is some from YouTube that can help!) and a few people hiding for a fun jump scare and you have yourself a haunted house!

Want to kick it up a notch?  Get some neighbors involved and use a few yards as your monster hunting grounds!

Here are some things that might help:

Strongarm Nerf N-Strike Elite Toy Blaster with Rotating Barrel, Slam Fire, and 6 Official Nerf Elite Darts for Kids, Teens, and Adults (Amazon Exclusive)

Elmer’s Foam Board Multi-Pack, 8 x 10 Inches, 3/16 Inch Thickness, White, 5 Count

SCS Direct Teal Pumpkin Halloween Flashlight Glow Torch – Light Up Jack O Lantern Trick or Treat Accessory – Official Teal Pumpkin Project Gear

3. Haunted riddles

Think of this like a Halloween themed treasure hunt meets puzzling extravaganza! You can draw a map, give riddles and clues, or have puzzles to solve that help kids reach the candy bounty! Here are a few examples:

• Write a hint on the back of a completed jigsaw puzzle, then mix up the pieces and have them solve the puzzle on a glass table. When it’s done, they will see the hint when they look up at the bottom of the puzzle through the table!
• Give them hint through limerick or rhyme such as: Many things live here, like juice and root beer. Open the door and you will see once more, the next hint is chilly but near! (the next hint is in the fridge) or You can find me where people cook, I’m in the pages of the book! (the next hint is in a cook book).
• Draw out a map that leads to hidden pirate treasures around the house!
• Split up into teams and give everyone Halloween themed brain teasers to crack.  The first team to finish all the puzzles wins all the chocolate coins!

Here are some things that might help:

Clearstory Halloween Jigsaw Puzzles for Kids, 54-Piece Puzzle with Bright Colors, Monster Mummy, Black Cats and Pumpkins Illustrations, Made of 3-Ply Card Stock (10×8 Inches)

Halloween Brain Teasers For Clever Kids: Halloween Cryptogram, Word Search & Scramble, Hangman, Tic Tac Toe, Maze Puzzles, Mind & Logic Games With … School, Home, Homeschooling) – Spooky Col

Chocolate Large Half Dollar Coins – 8 oz (approx 33 Coins) – Packaged in Sealed & Resealable Candy Bag – Classic Novelty Presidential Candy – Patriotic Chocolates

From everyone here at ABH, we hope you have a wonderful and safe Halloween!

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