Hello, lovely mums, welcome!
Halloween is around the corner, and I understand how you’re feeling right now. Your to-do list is miles long: laundry to fold, dinner to cook, work deadlines to meet, and kids to keep happy. On top of all that, you’re also thinking about a 'Trunk or Treat' setup for the school or church parking lot.
It is a lot! There's often a lot of pressure to be the "perfect mom" with the flashiest car decorations. But as a mom myself, let me share a little secret with you: your kids don't need everything to be perfect. They want to spend time with you and have fun. They love the simple things!
You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars at the store or spend all day crafting. You can create a beautiful and fun 'Trunk or Treat' display using items you already have at home.
Here is a list of five quick, easy, and super fun 'Trunk or Treat' ideas that you can pull together at the last minute. Your kids will love them, the neighborhood kids will be delighted, and you won't lose your peace of mind!
1. The Pumpkin Bean Bag Toss
This is a classic game, and it takes less than ten minutes to set up. Kids love throwing things, so this is always a huge hit!
- What you need: Two or three plastic pumpkin buckets (the cheap ones you use for trick-or-treating) and some small bean bags or soft balls.
- How to set it up: Open your car trunk. Line up the pumpkin buckets inside the trunk. If they slide around, you can put a small rock or a heavy book inside each bucket to keep them still.
- How to play: Draw a line on the ground using chalk. Have the kids stand behind the line and try to toss the bean bags into the pumpkins.
- Motherly Tip: Give the tiny toddlers a step closer to the car! It makes them feel so proud when they get the ball inside the pumpkin.
2. Feed the Ghost Monster
This game looks so adorable, and it costs almost nothing to make. It uses a cardboard box, which most of us have sitting in the garage anyway!
- What you need: A large cardboard box, white paper or white paint, a black marker, and some fake plastic spiders or small treats.
- How to set it up: Wrap the box in white paper or paint it white. Cut a big, round hole near the bottom of the box—this will be the ghost's mouth. Use your black marker to draw big, silly eyes above the mouth. Place the box right in the middle of your trunk.
- How to play: Give each child three plastic spiders or wrapped candies. They have to slide or toss the items into the ghost's mouth to "feed" him.
- Motherly Tip: Make the eyes look silly, not scary! We want the little babies and toddlers to laugh, not cry.
3. Spider Web Ring Toss
This is another great game for fine motor skills, and it looks very festive with very little effort.
- What you need: A few cheap plastic witch hats from the dollar store (or you can make cones out of black construction paper) and some glow-in-the-dark plastic rings or necklaces.
- How to set it up: Place the witch hats on the floor of your trunk. You can stretch some cheap white cotton spider web material over the floor of the trunk around the hats to make it look spooky and fun.
- How to play: Kids stand back and try to loop the rings over the tops of the witch hats.
- Motherly Tip: Use glow-in-the-dark necklaces as the rings! If your Trunk or Treat goes into the evening when it gets dark, the glowing rings look magical.
4. The Witch's Counting Cauldron
If you have very young children or toddlers coming to your car, this is the perfect game. It is calm, sweet, and very easy for little hands.
- What you need: A large plastic black cauldron pot and a bag of plastic eyeballs or green foam blocks (to look like monster slime).
- How to set it up: Put the cauldron in your trunk. Fill a small bucket with the plastic eyeballs or foam pieces.
- How to play: Hand the child a big spoon or a pair of kitchen tongs. Ask them to scoop up the "ingredients" and drop them into the cauldron while counting out loud. For example, "Can you help me put three eyeballs into my soup?"
- Motherly Tip: Little ones love the texture of things. This is a great way to keep them happy and busy without any loud noises or scary surprises.
5. Halloween Memory Match Game
This is a wonderful game if you do not want any throwing or mess. It is just clean, simple fun.
- What you need: 10 or 12 orange paper plates and a black marker.
- How to set it up: Turn the plates upside down. On the bottom of the plates, draw matching pairs of simple Halloween pictures. For example, draw a smiley ghost on two plates, a bat on two plates, and a star on two plates. Mix them up and lay them flat in your trunk with the drawings facing down.
- How to play: The child gets to flip over two plates. If the pictures match, they win a treat! If they do not match, flip them back over and let them try again.
- Motherly Tip: Do not make the game too hard. Let them keep trying until they find a match. Every child should leave your car with a big smile and a treat.
Super Easy Last-Minute Decoration Ideas
You do not need a giant theme to make your trunk look nice. Here are three super fast ways to make your car look cozy and ready for Halloween:
- Use a Cozy Blanket: Throw a nice, warm orange, black, or plaid blanket over the floor of your trunk. It covers up the car carpet instantly and makes it look like fall.
- Hang a Simple Banner: Buy a cheap "Happy Halloween" paper banner or make one with your kids using construction paper. Hang it from the open trunk lid with some tape.
- Bring the Pumpkins: If you already bought pumpkins for your front porch, just pack them into the car! Line them up around your trunk on the ground. It looks beautiful and takes zero extra time to make.
A Quick Reminder from My Heart to Yours
Mama, please remember to take care of yourself during this busy season. Your children will not remember if your trunk looked like a movie set.
They will remember the cool autumn air. They will remember the smell of sweet candy. Most of all, they will remember the sound of your laugh and the warmth of your hand when you hold theirs.
So, do not stress. Choose the easiest game on this list, grab a bag of candy, and go enjoy the night with your beautiful family. You are a wonderful mother, and you've got this!
Disclaimer:
This post is written mother-to-mother for inspiration and entertainment purposes only. While I love sharing these fun, last-minute game ideas, please remember that your children's safety is always the top priority. Always supervise your little ones closely while they play these games, especially around small items like bean bags, plastic toys, or candy that could be a choking hazard. Every family and child is different, so please use your own best judgment as a mother when setting up these activities. Happy Halloween!
This post is written mother-to-mother for inspiration and entertainment purposes only. While I love sharing these fun, last-minute game ideas, please remember that your children's safety is always the top priority. Always supervise your little ones closely while they play these games, especially around small items like bean bags, plastic toys, or candy that could be a choking hazard. Every family and child is different, so please use your own best judgment as a mother when setting up these activities. Happy Halloween!
Comments
Post a Comment