Halloween with a toddler

We tried our best to celebrate and make the most of Halloween this year, but it wasn't an easy task with 2 children under 18 months old. Most activities in the area didn't cater for a 17 month old, and certainly not a baby of under 4 months. We enjoyed our pumpkin trail walk as a family last week and we went in search of our own pumpkins a few days later but Halloween isn't as easy as you might think with little ones. With an evening schedule to adhere to and the unpredictability of a young baby it's unrealistic to go trick or treating and having them chomp on sweets isn't advisable. But why miss out on all of the fun?

We made our screen time themed with spooky editions discovered of all our favourite TV shows. If you haven't seen the Toy Story short 'Toy Story of Terror' then add it to your list of Halloween activities for future years! We bought plenty of Halloween stories and read them before bedtime all the way through October. At that young age, they don't know what to be scared of and it's only helped increase our toddlers knowledge and vocabulary as he's become exposed to things like pumpkin, ghost and boo. We also had our house decorated for the entire month of October and both children enjoyed the colourful accessories dotted around their home environment (particularly any that lit up or played music).

Halloween isn't just about eating sweets as far as themed food goes either. We already told you about the fun we had baking themed cakes together, but what about carving pumpkins? Carving a pumpkin sounds like a recipe for disaster with a young toddler and the sharp tools required to turn a vegetable into a glowing scary face, but it's actually a great opportunity for sensory play. When you've cut the top off of your pumpkin, let your little one stick their hands inside. Let them help hollowing out the flesh and pulling out the seeds; feeling the slimy texture and getting messy. It doesn't even matter if they end up exploring with their taste buds (as is inevitable with anything at that age) given that all they are playing with is a vegetable.

Our actual Halloween evening was spent at home, but we still had a great time. We dressed the children in costume and got dressed up ourselves to greet any trick or treaters that knocked at our door. Clayton spent all evening sat on the floor taking the sweets out of the bucket one by one and then putting them back in again. They were all individually wrapped and he couldn't do much harm but he never got bored of the game he invented for himself. When the trick or treaters started knocking, we coaxed him to the door and encouraged him to take sweets from the bucket and put them into the bags of our visitors. He loved being a part of the festivities, wasn't scared of any of the costumes and genuinely had a great time. He would pile handfuls of sweets into the bags, shouting jibberish as he did and then stand by the door waiting for the next lot to come by. It made the experience nicer for us and for trick or treaters knocking at the door. As for Clayton? Well he was DEFINITELY ready for bed by the time the fun and games had ended!