When my twins were toddlers I was incredibly excited about celebrating Halloween with them. They were finally old enough to walk and we would be able to go out and explore a handful of houses on our street before retiring home to give out treats to older kids. What I wasn’t expecting was two entirely different Halloween experiences: one with a child who couldn’t wait to show off her costume to as many people as physically possible, basking over how cute everyone was telling her she was and another with a child who alternated between lying on the sidewalk refusing to move and trying to break inside the house of every place we visited (in one case making it most of the way down a hallway before he was apprehended and finally taken home). Managing exciting, sugar fueled holidays with one child is hard enough….when you have multiples….
Below are eight tips for surviving Halloween with young children (multiples or otherwise):
- Fill them up with a warm hearty meal (that they’ll actually eat) before they start filling up on candy.
- Try to meet their costume requests….get creative if you have to. It’s amazing how much you can impress a toddler with your ingenuity.
- If it’s going to rain….clear garbage bags can become excellent make-shift raincoats that ensure everyone can see their costume.
- Have extra adults on hand in case some of your children tire of Trick or Treating before others.
- Go out early…the closer it is to bed time, the more likely you are to have meltdowns.
- Be prepared for surprises. Your child(ren) may decide that there is no way that they are going to wear the costume that they picked out themselves just two days ago. Yes, it’s annoying, but it happens. The sooner you move on the better, trust me.
- Take breaks if you need to. This is not an all or nothing situation. There’s no rule that you can’t recharge for half an hour before heading back out.
- Remember to have fun, take lots of pictures and enjoy yourself!
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Gorgeous photo, Sara. Bit lucky (or not) down here in Australia. Halloween is a bit of a non event. You can participate or not. Last year I dressed my kids up and wandered about the streets, but this year we will be going away, so not planning anything….BUT…my son does watch an awful lot of American shows on TV and has been asking about Halloween…not sure quite how I’ll deal with that one, yet… Thanks, Anna #TwinklyTuesday
Anna Brophy recently posted I could get used to this….
The big one wants to be batman. Third year in a row! He used to try and get in the houses too! #twinklytuesday
Claire at Life Love and Dirty Dishes recently posted How to Make Friends & Influence People – For 6 Year Olds
we don’t really take part in this tradition in Australia although people are starting too, so my kids haven’t done this. Looks like fun #TwinklyTuesday
Mackenzie Glanville recently posted time to pop the popcorn #mummyandus
Love the clear garbage bag idea! Will remember this! #twinklytuesday
Mini Travellers recently posted Fabulously Appointed Large Cottage in the Lakes
Haha this is great – I only have one and he’s a nightmare when it comes to dressing up! he’ll have the same outfit choice until the day and then how dare I put him in it! :p not sure I do get over it though :p you have two cuties
charlotte recently posted Useful Parenting Blogs
Adorable photo! I think I’ve got one more year until my daughter demands to go trick or treating. I am going to make the most of my last quiet Hallowe’en for a long time!
thanks for hosting #twinklytuesday
Lovely post
The Speed Bump recently posted Reflections On Two Years of Blogging
Great tips! Especially the clear bag idea. This year we are skipping trick or treating as feel Leo is still too small but will take your advice on board for next year xx p.s that photo is gorgeous #TwinklyTuesday
wendy recently posted Vodafone, don’t interfere with our parenting…
My little boy is going to be 10 months in 2 days, first Halloween, making his costume – I can’t wait!!! The only problem is we live in the UK…It’s just not as popular over here which is a total shame because it’s like “Hello, free candy! Costumes! Awesome decorations!” I actually put mine up on the 1st – definitely alerting my neighbo(u)rs that I’m the American on the block! #TwinklyTuesday
Apparently Awkward recently posted A Little Bird Told Me…
Your twins are super-cute. The tip about eating is such a good idea, so obvious, but I bet lots of people forget in the rush to get ready! #TwinklyTuesday
Sarah recently posted Edible Fruit Scabs
so important to make sure they have eaten – otherwise it is a candy fest and they never sleep! #twinklytuesday
Rebecca U recently posted Snug as a Bug with Vertbaudet | Review
Good tips! Luckily, Tyger’s too young to really know much about Halloween yet. I’ve told him about it because before that he wouldn’t stop going on about Christmas (which he *does* know about) but all he knows is he’ll get to dress up, have some chocolate and there’ll be a pumpkin.
Since he has ASD, costumes are a bit of a minefield. We have builders in at the moment and he’s obsessed with them so I’ve opted for a high-viz vest, hard hat and tool belt as a pretty safe/comfy option and something he’ll enjoy past Halloween. I though about all the cute costumes I could put Baby Bear in and then came to the conclusion it was safest to dress him the same to avoid jealousy!
Hope you and your twins enjoy it this year.
#TwinklyTuesday
Lady Nym recently posted So…What *Is* Autism?
We don’t do Halloween so much in the UK so ignoring it until it goes away is another option! Love the photos
Have a wonderful time Trick or Treating
#twinklytuesday
I find Halloween a tricky one. My boy is not a happy costume wearer. Photo is so cute. Have a good one! #twinklytuesday x
Super tips! Thank you #TwinklyTuesday
Mummy Fever recently posted Family-friendly days out: part ten
What a super cute photo! A great list, impressed with the ‘clear garbage bags’ suggestion! Genius. We’ll be trying that if it rains this year
#TwinklyTuesdsy 
Great tips
We have quite a few events to get through… Hoping that it all goes relatively smoothly this year, and I managed to persuade all three of them to wear last years costumes…! #twinklytuesday
Sara | mumturnedmom recently posted On Writing: or not
Fab tips! Especially the garbage bag one! Love the adorable picture. Thanks for sharing
#twinklytuesday
So cute. Halloween isn’t big where I am in the UK, but I took my daughter to a Halloween party last year (manic, packed with screaming exciteable kids) and she seemed to really enjoy it. Some really good tips here for making Halloween stress-free. #twinklytuesday
Alison recently posted Finding My Blogging Niche
We don’t really do Halloween other than dressing up for a couple of parties at preschool/toddler groups but these sound like great tips, especially the clear bin bag as an emergency raincoat. Making sure that the children don’t go out hungry sounds like a very good tip too. #TwinklyTuesday
Louise (Little Hearts, Big Love) recently posted Bye-bye boobies: the end of our breastfeeding journey
Fab tips! My little girl is just about old enough to do Halloween! I’m not sure if we will trick or treat but we are going to have a party and do a pumpkin! Exciting. Thanks for hosting xx
Sarah Howe (@RunJumpScrap) recently posted How to deal with Cold Callers – the Chris way….
Really good tips, especially the filling up on a good meal beforehand! We usually have a party at our house but always have plenty to eat before the trick or treating begins! Love halloween x #twinklytuesday
Julia @ Rainbeaubelle recently posted Halloween baking – cobweb cakes and witches fingers
Here in Germany Halloween isn’t really celebrated. I usually have a party for the boys and their friends since I am Irish and Halloween has an Irish origin, the feast of Samhain. This year we are spending it with friends near Munich. I’m excited to see whether there will be trick or treating there. In the far west of Germany there isn’t.
#twinklytuesday
Fionnuala recently posted Toy Grocery Shop Restoration Project
I think I am going to let Halloween pass by for my toddler this year, as I think she is a little to small for it still. Next year she’ll appreciate it more! But as for the older ones, we have a zombie surgeon & a day of the dead girl. x
Debs @ Super Busy Mum recently posted Nominating my favourite Park with Fields in Trust Charity #ParkMoments
I have to admit I’m not a big fan of Halloween but Ava is four now so I think I might have to take her this year for the first time. Thanks for the tips! Becky x #TwinklyTuesday
Becky at PinksCharming recently posted What Ava did next: her Christmas list, and nins and peedles
Good tips. Love the photo – so cute! My two and a half year old is quite excited this year about the fact that she’s going to dress up. #twinklytuesday
Silly Mummy recently posted Two Year Development Reviews: Do They Work?
I love Halloween, but as I have no children, I don\’t have trick or treating to contend with! I have the nice job of filling other people\’s up on candy lol
Thanks for hosting #TwinklyTuesday
Debbie
Random Musings recently posted 5 Steps To Throwing The Perfect Halloween Party!
We have never really done much for halloween in outhouse. Now we have our daughter I think it may be something to think about. She is only 9 months old this year but maybe next year or the year after we may well get into the spirit. I’ll try and remember these tips when the time comes
#twinklytuesday
Good tips! There’s no trick or treating here but my husbands school PTA hosts a big Halloween fair, I’m slightly nervous for it this time as Arthur gas started to be scared of people in fancy dress!!!
Seychellesmama recently posted Freddie’s first swim
We have so far escaped going trick or treating but I’m guessing that my son will be wanting to in the next couple of years! #twinklytuesday
helen gandy recently posted Throwback Thursday Linky #7
Feeding them up before is such a good idea! With all the stuff in the media at the moment I’ve become really aware of the amount of sugar our children have, it’s scary really. I’ve decided once this last box of coco pops is empty, that’s it. Wish me luck! x
Kerry recently posted Back to the Beginning