Halloween Ideas for Teens

Hi Louise,
I read your wonderful ideas in the Dollar Stretcher for children's party ideas. They were great! I have teenagers and am looking for ideas for keep them busy on Halloween as they are too old for Trick or Treating. Any suggestions you can give me are warmly welcome!
A

Good idea!! It's a smart parent who's prepared ahead of time! Put your teens in charge of Halloween at your house. Give them a budget and such guidelines as you deem appropriate. They can decorate your yard, entry and/or front door, decide on and buy (or make, if it's possible in your community) the treats, devise their own costumes, scary music, props, etc. demand tricks and hand out the treats. Encourage improvising and recycling... You'll probably be surprised at the results!

Many nonprofit organizations hold Halloween spook houses and pumpkin patches as fundraisers and are looking for volunteers to help. There are usually any number of different jobs needing done, so good matches can be found. Encourage your young people to offer their skills and time. Teens need opportunities to built community and give back. If your teen belongs to a group (official or not), they may consider visiting (in costume) shut-in neighbors, nursing homes or senior centers to recite Halloween poems, sing and/or play seasonal songs, deliver homemade tray favors or greeting cards and dispense Halloween spirits.

Teens can make any or all of a special family Halloween dinner, complete with table setting. Or they can just bake seasonal cookies and quick breads, make pumpkin soup, etc. Baked goods can be shared with family, friends and neighbors and delivered in costume.

Invite your teens to do a quick Web search for ideas on Halloween crafts, costumes, games and recipes.

Louise is a regular contributor to The Dollar Stretcher. She often writes about issues relating to raising children.

Take the Next Step

• Create Your Own Haunted House - If you don't mind your house becoming spooky.
• Halloween on a Dime - Everything from black eyes, to bloody eyeballs, to spider webs, oh my!
• Halloween Fun and Games - Add some games and throw a party!
• Dollar Stretcher for Parents Newsletter - Free weekly newsletter with time and money saving articles for parents.

Do you have a time or money saving idea that wasn't included in this article? Please send it to tips@stretcher.com. We get the best ideas from our readers!

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