5 Ways to Make Halloween an Educational Treat

COVID-19 will be having an extra impact on Halloween this year, and that means Halloween will probably be safest enjoyed at home, at a distance, or in small groups. This is a great disappointment to many kids, but let’s be fair… More than once, we Canadians have had Halloween rained (or iced) out, so we’re no stranger to changes in Halloween celebrations.

Here’s a handful of ideas to help your indoor festivities be both educational and spooktacular – this year, and every year!

For a little extra physical activity on the big night, play hide-and-go-treat!

If Trick-or-Treating is kaiboshed this year, why should the Easter bunny have all the fun hiding things?  There’s a few easy twists you can play on trick-or-treating… from hiding candy around the house, to a scavenger hunt outdoors, to a full-blown game of what we dub “hide-and-go-treat” (which ups the ante by having the hider also hide with a bag of treats to put in the seeker’s bag)!

Of course, be sure to make sure the kids are in full costume. And if you want to make it extra spooky, be sure to hide treats or clues in dark, cobwebbed creepy places, or in bowls of peeled grapes and cold spaghetti!

Get in the mood first by reading spooky books together

From the classics to the modern, there’s dozens of great reads for every age group. For the youngest readers it might be harder to find something appropriate without being too scary, but the picture books Eenie Meenie Halloweenie, Pete the Cat’s Happy Halloween, and Cookie Boo might do just the trick.

PS. We’re also giving away two prize packs of these three books thanks to Harper Collins Canada! Visit our Facebook page to enter.

Bake your own treats!

If you aren’t anticipating trick-or-treaters, you can go above and beyond little mini boxes of Smarties this year! Baking is a great way to do some practical math and chemistry right in your own home, and the rewards for it taste sweet. Here’s some sugar cookie and raspberry-jam filled “bloody cups” to get you thinking, but the sky is the limit!

Do some arts and crafts, and decorate around the house

From spooky paintings to spider cutouts, there’s lots of ways to let the creativity flow. Stock up on cotton balls, glue, tape, and construction paper to really get your house into the Halloween spirit!

Afterwards, settle down to watch a movie together

Since Halloween is a Saturday this year, no reason why not to stay up a little late and watch a special family movie. For some not-that-scary options, check out E.T., The Day The Earth Stood Still, Ghostbusters, Goonies, Nightmare Before Christmas, Frankenweenie, Edward Scissorhands, The Addams Family, and Labyrinth. All of these films have great lessons in them. If your children are in French Immersion, you can squeeze in a little extra learning by watching it in French dub.

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!