The kids won’t actually be knocking on doors and shouting out “trick-or-treat!” this year, so I wanted a way for them to at least simulate the fun. An easy alternative? Have all the dolls in your house stage a practice round before the big day!

This was a fun way to show Veronika, especially, what the holiday normally looks like since she’s too young to remember last year. We used a pack of Smarties (the perfect doll-sized treat) and sprinkled a few behind the door of her dollhouse.

The kids were having so much fun with the charade that we set up a whole neighborhood. Soon there was a castle and a stable in town, with treats behind each door. Knock knock!

I loved watching the kids play this simple game together as our countdown nears the grand finale.

It’s safe to say this was Travis’s favorite of our countdown activities so far this Halloween season. We decided to “Boo” a few friends with goodie bags, a tradition that seems to be gaining traction.

First up was a trip to the store to select goodies for the Boo Bags. A local retailer had all the treats we needed for this trick, including goodie bags and little Halloween trinkets (think stickers, wind-up monsters, pencils, and individually-wrapped candies).

At home, we printed out the Boo note to go with each bag. If you’re new to the tradition, the recipient hangs a “We’ve been BOO’d” sign in the window, then copies the directions and “Boos” two other friends, keeping the fun alive. Travis loved stuffing the bags with our treats.

We colored in the notes since our printer is black-and-white, and then it was time to sneak off and drop them at doorsteps.

The goal is to be as sneaky as a ghost and try not to get caught!

Well, it turns out that Travis and I are terrible ghosts! We were spotted at every single one of our drop-offs, but it gave all the kids a good laugh which turned out to be half the fun.

Did you Boo someone this Halloween? Please share in the comments!

Forget hairdos; tell your kids that today you’re giving them boo-dos!

This is a fun game to play in the tub, especially if your kids aren’t big fans of shampoo and need a boost to make it playful. Travis’s ‘do looked like a little ghost tail.

Or perhaps the top-knot of a samurai warrior.

Veronika had spikes just like a stegosaurus. “I’m a dinosaur!” she said with delight.

The kids loved looking at pictures of their silly ‘dos long after bath was over. This was the easiest way yet to dress up in costume as Halloween approaches.