Trick-or-treat and thrive! The ultimate Halloween survival guide for parents

As the temperature starts to cool and warm pumpkin spice lattes make a return, it’s a reminder that Halloween is just around the corner. Whether you’re trick-or-treating, hosting a party or just enjoying the eerie atmosphere, here are some top tips for a stress-free spooky season:

Plan your costume in advance

We’ve all been there, scrambling the shelves to find something that matches the last pair of cat ears you’ve found in the supermarket. This year, avoid the last-minute stress and splurge by planning. Whether you're buying a readymade getup or going down the DIY route, make sure you have all of parts of the costume and accessories secured in good time.

Set the scene with spook-tacular decorations

Get creative with your Halloween decorations and go all-out to create your own haunted house. Using black paper, cut out bat shapes and stick them to your windows to turn your home into a creepy bat cave. Or for a fun activity to do with your little ones, save some empty jam jars to create mystical mummy lights. Wrap the empty jars in bandages or tissue paper, add some googly eyes and place a tealight candle inside. Guide your guests with flickering lanterns, and don’t forget to play some eerie music to set the spooky mood! 

Frightening family fun  

Plan plenty of indoor games and activities for all ages to enjoy (...and tire them out!) - whether it’s bobbing for apples, setting up a spooky scavenger hunt, musical zombies, pinning the tail on the black cat or having a scary movie marathon, it’s the perfect time for the whole family to come together, keep warm and get involved.

Create a Halloween hydration station

With little ones working up a thirst collecting their Halloween loot, why not stock up on a family-favourite drink and set up the ultimate hydration station? Fill a spooky cauldron with ice and Capri-Sun’s limited-edition Halloween character pouches and offer trick or treaters a ghoulishly-good thirst-quencher that parents will appreciate too. Look out for the golden ghost in your Capri-Sun Halloween packs to be in with the chance of winning the ultimate Halloween treat - £1,000!

Beat the supermarket frenzy and stock up early

Shops have limited stock of Halloween sweets and pumpkins every year, so it’s always a good idea to stock up as early as possible. Picking up sweet treats in good time will also help you avoid the seasonal price hike. Aim to get goodies sorted at least two weeks before Halloween to avoid being haunted by empty shelves on the day!

Capture the memories

Don’t forget to take plenty of photos! Capture all the Halloween fun, from the best costumes to the mishaps, try to snap everything. In years to come, the chaos will be happy family moments to look back on. Why not set up a homemade photo booth? Find an old cardboard box and create a Polaroid frame. Make it even more interactive with petrifying props for some extra fun!

Have a very happy and most importantly, stress-free Halloween!