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Halloween, whether you like the ghosts and ghouls or not, is a huge homeschooling opportunity for education and bonding. We talk all about our best homeschool Halloween activities on our podcast episode #54…but here’s our fearsome four.

1) Dining in the Dark

A few years ago we had the best time hosting a Dining in the Dark experience at our home. Restaurants in big metropolitan cities offer a similar experience, but your home is less expensive and lets you be the creative director. For costumes, blind-folds, treats, spooky music, and more, check out our blog about how-to dine in the dark with your friends and family here. It’s a deliciously dark time!

2) Party with your Homies

…as in your homeschool homies! Last year we attended our co-op’s first Halloween party. Each mom was responsible for one craft/activity station, and our twenty children rotated between owl ornament craft, mask etching, an obstacle course, and pumpkin decorating stations for about 1-2 hours. Then after dinner, it was time for an air compressor candy launch, glow gear, trick or treating throughout the property, and an outdoor kid-friendly spooky movie. As the kids fell into candy and popcorn comas, us moms and dads enjoyed our own beverages and bonding time around a warming campfire. We plan to repeat this party annually now - because it was seriously, AMAZING.

3) Costume Opportunities

Costumes can be a huge opportunity to teach crafting and sewing skills, play at pretend, problem-solve for good deals and budgeting, and create a theme day. Our Harry Potter Day was magical, with us moms and dads as Hogwarts professors and our own children as wizards in training. With a quidditch obstacle course, potions class, tea-leaf-reading, activity book, and more, we lived a day at Hogwarts. A Mad Hatter Tea Party was also a crazy opportunity to dress up for tea or as an Alice in Wonderland character. We learned tea etiquette, discussed the book, made key necklaces, and even watched a live performance of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit.” Check out how to host your own Mad Hatter Tea Party here. Other theme days can include a fairytale day with The Sleeping Beauty ballet viewing party dressed in tutus and crowns, a Feathered Friends theme day with Swan Lake ballet or Winged Migration viewing party dressed in feathery fun, a Pirate Day full of treasure hunt, Treasure Island (abridged) read-aloud, and The Goonies with eye patches and torn clothes, etc. Possibilities are endless. Check out how to create your own theme day here.

4) Camping

Fall camping can be filled with spooky stories around the campfire, lessons about owls (dissect an owl pellet!), nature walks and journaling, on-site art painting, and constellation studies. If you go with a group, each tent can have it’s own experience and trick-or-treat moment. Solar powered twinkle lights can light the way and each tent and table can have its own spooky theme. If you are near a pumpkin patch, stop in for a couple hours of fall fun during the day! For more about camping with others, check out our free downloadable packing lists, camping tips, and more here.

These fearsome four opportunities are nothing to fear - they are opportunities to grow imagination, life skills, relationships, and memories. Mix up your October with this fantasy fun! (For more ideas, check out our Halloween podcast episode here.)

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