halloween costume party

[chie]

Hi! I'd like to ask for your ideas about halloween costume party. I'd like to have a theme for this party where kids will put on a costume based on the theme. Can you suggest themes? Is it ok to let the parents join and stay for an hour and a half? I'm a new preschool teacher and would like to ask for your ideas. Do I need to have a program? How should I run the party? Can you suggest games for the kids and parents. Thanks in advance!

[kathleen]

A game like "hot potato" but using one of the jack-be-little pumpkins might go well -- you could use some no-so-scary halloween music. Also, there are several activities and other great ideas in the Halloween Section here at The Idea Box. You might also check out www.kidsdomain.com

As for a theme and having the kids dress up in a costume for that theme -- would you make the costumes there? Because I am sure there are some kids who already have their Halloween costume (we have already bought my son's even though it is early in the month) -- what if it didn't fit the theme? If you went with a theme, you might possible want to carry that over into food, decorations, crafts, etc.

For the class parties my son has had, they last about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. They sent most of the treats home in a decorated sack -- at least the wrapped candy, cookies, etc.

[Amy2]

Last year at my ds's party, we had a fashion show, and the kids all got to parade around in their costumes. My friend and I were the commentators. It was a riot!

Amy

[Ryleigh]

The last couple of pre-school I worked in were Christian pre-schools and did not celebrate Halloween, it was considered a Satanic holiday.
Personally I think it is just a night of fun for the little ones to enjoy. (big ones too, just not trick or treating).
As mentioned, many children probably have their costumes already so choosing a theme that would include everyone might be difficult. I like the fashion show idea though. You could have prizes for scariest, funniest, most colorful, etc. costumes...,

would you encourage parents to dress up too. We did that in school one year when I was small. The parents were a bit hesitant at first but got into it as the orning went on. I think they had more fun than the kids did.

[chie]

Thank you for all your suggestions. I have "fairy book character" as our theme so it's easy for them to get a costumes. The fashion show, games and giving prizes for the scariest, funniest, colorful, etc. costumes are all good ideas. My ideas for prizes are stickers, and certificates, please give me more suggestions for the prizes.

Some of the parents said that they'll put on a costume too. I'm sure this party will be fun and exciting. Also, I need ideas for my own costume. Thank you.

[kathleen]

Prizes could be the Halloween Pez dispensers, Halloween book -- I think Little Golden Books has several, Halloween coloring books or puzzles. Where I live (Kentucky) we have stores where everything is $1 and they have lots of the things I mentioned above. Do you have something like that? If not, then I am sure Walmart of Kmart would have something. K.

[kat]

Originally posted by chie
Thank you for all your suggestions. I have "fairy book character" as our theme so it's easy for them to get a costumes. The fashion show, games and giving prizes for the scariest, funniest, colorful, etc. costumes are all good ideas. My ideas for prizes are stickers, and certificates, please give me more suggestions for the prizes.

Some of the parents said that they'll put on a costume too. I'm sure this party will be fun and exciting. Also, I need ideas for my own costume. Thank you.

How about Mother Goose. In my younger days instead of dressing up for Halloween my class would put on a play called Mother Goose's Goose is Loose . I played Mother Goose who could not find her goose. Kids dressed as nursery rhyme charachers and came up to me do recite their rhymes (how do you spell this - it just doesn't look right arggghhhh!). It really was tons of work to put on a play that early with 5 year olds. It was really cute, but I'm just not up to the challenge lately.

Your prizes sound fine. The day itself will be rewarding. They will love any little trinket with a certifcate. Let us know how it goes.