How to Be the Best House on the Block for Trick-or-Treating...

Becoming the Halloween hotspot isn't just about candy—it's about creating an accessible and enjoyable experience for all. Here's how.

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Halloween is a magical night, full of excitement. The fun décor, costumes, and (of course) candy offer an opportunity to let your creativity run free. However, to be the best house on the block for trick-or-treating, parents have to go beyond just offering sugary snacks. It’s not for the weak. You must create unforgettable childhood memories—and the bar is high but we’re here to help. Make magic this Halloween season by focusing on unique treats, kid-friendly decorating, and interactive activities that trick-or-treaters won’t forget. Give “good” candy. Giving out good candy is one of the most straightforward ways to be the best house on the block for trick-or-treating, but “good” is subjective. What’s good for one child isn’t appealing to another. Try candy that you already know is a hit with all ages—like chocolate bars, gummy worms, and fruit-flavored soft candies. And, if you're ready to splurge, full-sized treats are always a winner.While unknown varieties may be on sale this time of year, don’t go exclusively for the lowest-priced option. Opt for a budget-friendly mix. Allergies vary widely, but it’s best to skip anything with nuts. And parents of small kids will thank you for avoiding hard candies and gum, which present a choking hazard.Also, consider handing out the treats instead of leaving them unattended for self-service. After all, you don’t want your house to be remembered as the place where all the candy ran out. Offer non-candy alternatives. Not every kid can or wants to eat candy. Whether for health reasons, allergies, or pure choice, candy may not impress. Have alternatives, such as granola bars, fruit snacks, chips, kettle- or popcorn, or dried fruit roll options to make your house stand out as the best on the block for all varieties of trick-or-treaters. Always keep non-candy treats in a separate bowl to minimize any allergy interactions. While it may seem like a nice touch, avoid homemade or baked goods when dishing up for people you don’t know. Stick to store-bought or individually wrapped items instead—but check the wrapper for any intermixing of allergens like nuts or fish in the same facility. Remember, some kids might opt for a trick instead of a treat, so be prepared to go completely treat-free. Have glow sticks, stickers, or Halloween-themed stationery as alternatives.Go for funny, not scary. While some kids prefer spooky scenes, those easily frightened won’t soon forget. Avoid being infamously known as the house full of ghosts and goblins all year round by going for silly rather than scary decorations.Ditch “Fright Nigh”t and go for fall whimsy instead. Makeover your garden with harvest-ready hay bales and pumpkins by the dozen. Get giant googly eyes, attach them to wooden skewers or dowels, and stake them in your bushes to create a funny monster effect. Add gnomes with candy in weird places and make visitors hunt for their treats. If Halloweeners in your house are still insisting on scare tactics, tap into a well-known on-screen theme, like Beetlejuice, Vamparina, or The Addams Family, that children already know is fake.Offer adult refreshments. Although the night is geared toward children, they are always accompanied by an adult—usually a tired one. While parents and caregivers aren’t much for handfuls of candy, they do appreciate refreshments for the marathon of door-knocking. Set up a refreshment station for the parents with filtered water, coffee, or hot cocoa. If your lawn is well situated to see up and down the street, you can even set up chairs as a rest station where they can sit while waiting for older kids to hit a few houses at a time. This tip is especially useful for newcomers to the neighborhood who can use Halloween to their networking advantage.Put on a show. Make Halloween the new Christmas by going overboard with exterior decorations. Use your garage, lawn, or rooftop to showcase epic levels of creativity. Add larger-than-life characters, such as blow-up lawn figures or set up a maze from the curb to your treat distribution point. Have fun-loving characters like Casper the Friendly Ghost looming in window panes or lurking from the chimney. Use lighting, movement, and sound to give visitors a real show. After all, you too can show your Halloween spirit by dressing up in a costume that syncs with the theme.Consider offering age-appropriate options, like a haunted house or graveyard-themed obstacle course in one area and pumpkin decorating or coloring page stations in another. If you don't have much exterior space, try easy trivia or strategy activities to unlock the doorbell to your home or apartment. Make trick-or-treating more memorable by putting on a show.Don't ask, "What are you?" One of the best parts of Halloween is the costumes. Most kids and parents spend a lot of time planning and creating their costumes. The last thing they want is to be asked over and over, “What are you?” If you don't recognize the character or superhero fishing for candy, opt to compliment the outfit and ask how they came up with such a cool idea. Parents and kids will appreciate the enthusiasm and interest, and their answers will likely give you clues to draw from. If you can’t hold back your curiosity, ask the parents discretely rather than asking the child. Halloween is all about making visitors feel special, so don’t ruin the moment by putting your foot in your mouth.Ensure the treats are accessible. All jokes aside, getting safely to and from your home is serious business. Unless you’re deliberately creating scavenger hunt-like conditions, the walk from the curb to the candy should be obstacle-free, wheelchair accessible, and well-lit. Turn on outdoor lights, especially along walkways and stairs. If there are lips or steps that would make it hard for strollers or scooters to come to you, you can come to them instead. Set up on the grass nearest the curb or along a driveway. Proactively walk up to visitors who look like they might have a hard time making it to you. After all, extending a generosity of spirit is what Halloween is all about. For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Parents.

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