What Do You Do For Halloween?

[Cradle2crayons]

We do big on Halloween. I take all the kids to different functions the week of...

And since I'm afternoon care I generally have daycare kids on Halloween trick or treating night... So we all load up and go !!

Nobody trick or treats at my house because I live 300 yards into the woods and nobody knows is place exists....

[jenn]

I have a young group and most the parents don't really seem to care about the crafts. Last year, I found some pumpkin shaped pretzels that we had for snack.
I do encourage them to pick up their kid early on Halloween, so that they can get their kids ready and I can get mine ready. I also remind them that if their child is too tired to participate or sick from tons of candy, they will be sent home the next day.
Party pooper.

[Sugar Magnolia]

What do I do for Halloween? I get older ::

What do I do with daycare kids on Halloween? NOTHING! I actually HATE the holiday and usually close.

I know, probably a party pooper...but this is a holiday the kids can enjoy with their families.

I already party pooped this thread!::

[MamaBear]

I usually decorate like crazy and we have a little Halloween party... Which is basically little goodie bags.. cupcakes and they take home a little pumpkin trick-or-treat pail with their goodies in it. I used to have the kids wear costumes here, but it was too much of a pain upkeeping them and I think its better if they save that for their evening with mom & dad. I just feel bad if anything on their costume gets messed up.

I love this time of year!

[MsLaura529]

I'm excited for my first Halloween with the daycare We will do costumes, but not the entire day. I'm going to have some kids' Halloween music on for a dance party in the costumes and take some pictures. Otherwise, we'll do some Halloween crafts (painting pumpkins, coloring and Halloween stickers) and I'll have little goodie bags for each of the kids - not a bunch of candy, but some tattoos, stickers, and some other little Halloween type trinket.

[KSDC]

We do Halloween/pumpkin crafts during October. On Halloween I usually do fun foods for lunch and snack. (Crescent roll wrapped hot dogs to look like mummies were a big hit last year.)

I don't send treats home. But, I do let my parents know what times I will be home for them to come trick or treat at my home. My munchkins always get a special goody bag then. Usually a bit of candy, some Halloween toys, and a juice box or pop.

[grandmom]

Zip. Zilch. Nada.

I don't do scary with children in any form.

There are too many good things in this world to focus on.

lovethis

[Unregistered]

Fall crafts / fun day. I'm planning on giving out candy in the evening (first time) for the sole purpose of marketing my business .

[Sunchimes]

I will decorate outside and some inside. I only have 1 old enough to know what's happening, and she is already making plans. Last year, she had just turned 2. We spent the day teaching her to trick or treat by closing a door, having her knock and say trick or treat, then opening the door and giving her a treat (a piece of play food), then having her say thank you. We did it dozens of times that day.

She started talking about Halloween a month ago. I'm always a witch, but it scared the kids. Even my dcks wouldn't come to the porch. A month ago, she said "You were a witch and you scared me last year. Don't be a witch this year." I am planning to be Cat in the Hat, but she said no, I must be a princess. I'm going to look silly as a princess, but she is going to be so disappointed if I'm not. Hubby said if I do, we will have to move. ;-)

Because of her, I'll probably fill the week before with Halloween stuff. The rest of the month will be fall stuff.

[Sunchimes]

Fall crafts / fun day. I'm planning on giving out candy in the evening (first time) for the sole purpose of marketing my business .

Don't dress up as a witch. Last year, I painted a yard sign with chalkboard paint and wrote on it "I have 1 opening for a child 6 weeks to 4 years. Ask for information." No one asked. Late in the evening I overheard a parent point out the sign and laugh about what a good joke. sigh I finally realized that everyone thought "witch, opening for 1 child, ha ha, good joke".

[jessrlee]

Two years ago I went all out. I dressed up as a southern belle, set a whole scene with lanterns and candles, you name it. I had about 200 scholastic books I taped my business card in, and had pencils and candy besides. I had ONE bleeping trick or treater!! We had just moved into the house and I didn't realize that none of my neighbors did Halloween

After that I just go to a friends house and hang out so I can see the cute costumes

[LaLa1923]

What video do you use? I wouldn't mind one that wasn't scary if such a thing exists!

I'm thinking of letting them watch Monsters Vs Aliens Halloween edition. I think it's cute and my kids get a laugh from it!

[Lyss]

I LOVE Halloween but other than a few art activities and books throughout October I don't do much. We do go to the pumpkin patch but no party or anything. I did a party & activities in the past, but last year was my last one.

I had a parent try to tell me to take her kid trick or treating last year, DCB was my latest pick up (6:15, rest gone at 5:30ish) and that was my last straw. I felt like even though I did a party (they dressed up, made special treats, went to the nursing home across the street and we had a monster play date with a fellow DC provider nearby) the parents still expected more and that was the last straw. so I now I do less ::

[Crazy8]

they come in costume, we take some pics, have some snacks/treats and then I undress them before nap. Its a very hectic day, but I feel that way about all holidays.

When I started I closed about 2pm on halloween - right before my kids got out of school. But that was a pain because it was nap time. Then I bumped it to 3pm for a few years and just this year I bumped it to 4pm. My kids are older and don't need to go TorT'ing the minute they get home from school anymore.