We had a great Halloween here this weekend.
The Kid had two friends over, in their costumes and with masks. I had made an 18-piece puzzle for each of them, different color for each, and hid the pieces around the yard. The assembled puzzles revealed a joke and a clue for where they might find treats. Each hiding spot had three treats (one for each child) and a puzzle piece. Those puzzle pieces led to three more treat hiding spots. Each child ended up with a bag, a pillow box, and a coffin with candy; two finger puppets—one eyeball and one cat or alien; two books.
After the hunt, they were charged with a task: use the characters you’re dressed as and create a short play. While the final product was not easy to follow, it did not disappoint.
One of his friends yelled, “This is the best Halloween ever! Can we do this every year?”
In talking to The Kid later, he agreed that it was better than trick or treating.
I had a lot more fun than I have trick or treating.
Other friends with kids who weren’t trick or treating did a variety of things to still have something fun for the kids to do … and every one that I’ve talked to liked it better.
Which strengthens my wondering: what else would be better if we took this opportunity to break old habits and try something new?