What are your favorite Halloween memories? Perhaps you remember a beautiful costume, the perfect scary Jack O’Lantern, or the thrill of running around outside after dark. Maybe you remember a party, spooky campfire stories, or a “haunted house.” A big bag of candy was part of the fun, sure, but many other things were equally important.

Children often become wrapped up in the prospect of lots of candy at Halloween time, but we can change the emphasis to other activities. Whether you can manage an official party or not, whip up a little celebration for the family to enjoy before or after a short trick-or-treat outing.

Carving the jack o’lantern can be great fun, and special carving tools and patterns make producing an impressive pumpkin easy. Save the seeds and toast them for a healthy snack later in the week.

Costumes are many children’s favorite part of Halloween. Many start planning their new identity, to trick the neighbors and grandma, or emulate their current idol early in the summer! BellaOnline and many other internet sites as well as books available in the library can give you quick, easy costume ideas.

Games as are an active way to extend the evening’s fun. Get the kids together with a few friends for relay races, scavenger hunts, or charades. Increased physical activity counters at least some unavoidable overeating, so include games with running and stunts. (Keep kids safe by removing masks and trailing bits of costume.)

If you are feeling a bit more ambition, plan an age-appropriate haunted house. The kids can have great fun setting up a spooky surprise for their friends.

Kids (and parents) need some protein in their stomachs before facing all those tempting sweet treats. Have dinner first. If the kids are too excited to eat, bring along cheese sticks or a peanut butter sandwich to eat when hunger strikes.

Walk the kids door-to-door for trick-or-treats. If that is not possible in your own neighborhood, drive to an area where you would like to trick-or-treat, park the car, and walk. You do your kids no favors by driving them around for trick or treats. Transportation means they stay out longer and collect more candy; limit time spent trick or treating to limit the amount of candy in your house later! Collecting a massive bag of Halloween candy provides a good opportunity for kids to learn portion control, but don’t set yourself or others up for failure.