There are limitless ideas to the fun you can have at a Halloween party. Over the years, Halloween has grown into a sophisticated, adult celebration. Return to the fun kids had years ago with these basic but fun Halloween party ideas for kids.

Apple bob – Fill a large tub with water and apples. Let kids take turns bobbing for apples.

Costume contest – Once all your guests arrive at the party, take a vote on the best and scariest costumes. Add as many categories to your list as you want and hand out a grand prize …

Ingredients:

3 oz lemon gelatin
1 cup hot water
1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
1 cup pineapple juice
1 8-0z. pkg cream cheese
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
1 cup mayonnaise

Instructions:

Dissolve lemon gelatin in 1 cup water in double boiler.  Add marshmallows and stir constantly to melt.  Remove from heat and add the pineapple juice and cream cheese, beat together until smooth.  Fold in whipped cream and mayonnaise.

Allow to cool until firm. Get out the melon baller and scoop full balls.  Decorate using food coloring and a clean small paintbrush (the kind that kids get with watercolors)  Now you have gross slimy eyeballs …

Making a mummy costume for Halloween can be hilarious.  However, if you want it to truly be a unique and authentic mummy costume, here are some ideas you can try.

There are several ways you can make the costume.  Using strips from a white sheet and wrapping the mummy with them is one idea.  You can adhere them using white medical tape.   Leave the eyes, nose, and mouth uncovered, but use a light brown powder to cover the areas of skin exposed.  You can use eyeliner to add under the eyes, like the Egyptians.

Another method you …

Haunted houses can be a fun part of Halloween, but many times they are too expensive or too scary for younger children.  A simple haunted house in the backyard can provide all the thrills while still having that comfort zone of home.  A few simple decorations and a bit of imagination can provide an evening of fun.  By making it large enough that kids and grownups can go through it together you’ll also help the younger ones feel a bit braver.

Some cardboard boxes, sheets and clothesline can become a maze for the kids to go …

It just turns out that pears are just the right shape for making spooky ghost treats!  These are an interesting alternative to the traditional candy apples.

Ingredients:

Wooden craft sticks, like for a popsicle
6 medium sized pears
10 – 12 squares of almond bark (2 ounce squares)
Handful of mini chocolate chips for ghostly eyes
Halloween cupcake papers

Instructions:

Line a cookie sheet or other flat serving tray with waxed paper, we aren’t actually putting in the oven so any moveable flat surface is good for this treat.  Line up the cupcake papers across the sheet.  Melt almond bark following the package …

A scavenger hunt is a fun activity and party game that not only provides a chance for kids to get outside before the weather gets colder, but it can help them think creatively too.  There are a few different ways to do a scavenger hunt.

Depending on where you live, you can have different kinds of scavenger hunts.  If the children are too young to go on their own, you can team them up with older children or adults or even have small teams.

Nature Scavenger Hunt – If you live in a rural area or have …

Ingredients:

2 cup granulated sugar
2 cup corn syrup
1/3 cup cinnamon candy
1 cup water
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon cloves
3/4 teaspoon red food coloring
6 of your favorite type of apple, roughly medium in size
wooden skewers (these are often found in the produce dept this time of year)
cookie sheet sprayed with no stick cooking spray or a long sheet of waxed paper

Instructions:

First thing you want to do is as you usually would remove the apple stems and wash them up.   Grab a skewer and stab it right into the middle of the apple and repeat for each apple.  …

Ingredients:

1 1/4 pounds lean pork stew meat (buy whatever cut is on sale and cut into chunks to save some money!)
1 medium (1/2 cup) onion, sliced
2 cups baby-cut carrots
1 cup frozen whole kernel corn
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with chile peppers, undrained

Pastry:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup butter or margarine
2 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
3 tablespoons cold water
Chili powder or seasoning to taste

Instructions:

Brown pork and onion in skillet over medium to high heat, stir occasionally to get an even brown (just browning, not cooking and if you …

Making a scarecrow costume for Halloween is not only fun, but you can allow the creative juices to flow endlessly.  This is one easy homemade costume to make.

You’ll need blue jeans, preferably faded; a flannel shirt – size large; a straw hat; some fabric to make patches; rope; straw and make-up.

Now that you have the necessary items, you can begin.

Match some patches using fabric, and sew them onto the jeans in no particular pattern.  Dress the intended scarecrow with the flannel shirt and jeans.  Use the rope as a belt.  Ensure the jeans are long …

Part of the fun of Halloween is playing silly games.  When planning the games, it’s best to keep the costumes in mind and plan things that will work around them.  Games should be simple with easy to follow rules.

Bobbing for Apples – A classic Halloween party game has always been bobbing for apples, however some kids don’t like putting their face in the water or don’t want to mess up the make up that took a long time to perfect.  One variation of this game is to tie the stems of the apples to varied …