Trick or treat – it’s Halloween

It’s that time of year again – Halloween! The American import we are now have embraced, even though it used to be widely mocked by Aussies everywhere. But here we are, another occasion that requires a costume and as a parent, a few other challenges. I am talking about sugar highs, re-buying copious amounts of share packs because they keep getting eaten, and possibly trying to carve a pumpkin without losing a thumb. Here’s a guide to help you prepare your little monsters for Halloween.

Costume Chaos

Forget the cute little homemade costumes you see on Pinterest. Children really don’t appreciate your two hours of hot-glue gun magic when their mates are all wearing shop-bought gear. Save yourself the stress this year and hit up Kmart or Big W. Pro tip: go at least two weeks before the big day.

 Sugar Highs and Lows

This is important. Your kids are about to consume more lollies in one night than they have all year. Trying to be reasonable and save some for later might work with some kids, but for most of us,  you are just going to have to ride the wave. Let them stay up, prepare yourself for yelling screaming, meltdowns and stomach aches knowing they are eventually going to crash and fall asleep (possibly with chocolate still in their hand). 

Or you can try to convince them to give some sweets to the "Switch Witch", then overnight she will replace the lollies with new toy (obviously you will need a new toy at the ready). 

Trick-or-Treating Etiquette

Trick-or-treating is becoming more common in Australia, but the rule is that if your house is not decorated then you are not up for giving squealing children lollies. So if it is not obvious the house is a Halloween fan, give it a miss. This will save you and the kids from some very annoyed or very confused people greeting them at the door.

Pumpkin Pandemonium

Apparently carving pumpkins is a fun Halloween activity, but keep in mind pumpkins can be expensive and hard to find this time of year, and the warm temperatures mean they rot. Quickly. If you’re feeling creative, try alternatives like carving watermelons (they’re much easier to cut and more delicious) or decorating a foam pumpkin from craft stores like Spotlight.

Dealing with the Aftermath

Just make sure you’ve got an exit strategy for when the sugar crash hits. Ideally, this should involve them passing out on the couch from exhaustion while you raid their stash. Grateful that you’ve got 364 days until you have to do it all over again.

So, embrace the chaos, Aussie parents. Halloween may not be our tradition, but we’ve made it our own – Happy hauntings!