You remember when you were young. Ok, younger. Trick or treating was the highlight of your year and during all of the other seasons you walked by certain neighbourhood houses and smiled. The man in the tudor house made you tell a story before being given candy. And there was the dentist who handed out toothbrushes. You were certain the yellow house was haunted. Why your dad always wanted to linger at that place that gave him a hot drink is still a mystery… As a child you build relationships and memories with neighbours, and when you make your house memorable on Halloween it creates a perfect opportunity to reach out to your community.

The notion that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ is powerful and true. This opportunity once per year where you meet children and neighbourhood families is powerful and should be used to make lasting connections to others. Let’s make your house the one the kids remember for years and years shall we?

Top Eight Ways to Make your House the Coolest Hallowe’en Destination on the Block.

1.  Let your profession or passion trickle into the treats. An actor? Hand out chocolates wrapped in old theatre tickets. Doctor? Tape a bandaid to the top of a candy wrapper. It’s the little inspirations that kids remember.

2.  Give out amazing candy. Even better? Bag it individually so that kids can feel the joy of opening their ‘special’ packages later.

3.  Follow our scariest House on the Block décor ideas. Dress up, create an atmosphere and stimulate the senses as the kids approach your house.

4.  Hand out an alternative to candy. Depending on how many children come to your house, little dollar star balls that light up or bugs made out of pinecones with googly eyes can be fun.

5.  Think charity. Now that Unicef boxes have gone by the wayside (sniff), there are still lots of ways you have give back at Hallowe’en. Kids Help Phone is a great charity, and you can even print off a blurb about it to include with your treats.

6.  Have a party on hallowe’en night and have lots of people in costume come to the door each time the bell rings.

7.  Offer water for the kids to curb dehydration, and a little hot toddy for their parents. The extra minutes they remain at your house will create some time for families to get to know each other.

8.  Take time to carve an incredible pumpkin like this deathstar pumpkin from Mental Floss. Websites like Pumpkin Masters or the Pumpkin Lady have carving patterns that will make you a superstar.

Image credit: Mental Floss

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