Whether you are toning down your Halloween activities or skipping the tricking and the treating altogether this year, chances are we all will have more time on our hands. Why not spend that time crafting with your loved ones to create a spookier atmosphere both inside and outside your home? With just a few simple items, you can enhance the scare factor of your home instantly!

Materials:

Everything you need should be easy to find at a nearby grocery store or craft store. If you can find larger sheets of black construction paper, try making larger bats.

• Black construction paper 8.5” x 11”
• Scissors
• White colored pencil
• Tape
• String

Step 1 – Fold and Draw:

Fold your construction along the longer side so that you end with two 8.5” x 5.5” folded halves. Then draw an outline of a bat on the folded half with the white colored pencil. Pay special attention to the ears and the shape of the wing. You should be able to outline two bat halves on each sheet.

Step 2 – Cut

Carefully cut along the outline with your scissors and unfold the bat shape. Feel free to experiment with different sizes of bats.

Step 3 – Tape and Decorate!

Tape the bats to your wall or door, if there are white lines visible you can flip the bat over and tape the other side. If you have some extra string lying around, you can also hang some bats from the ceiling.

Share With Us!

We would love to see how your bat decorations turned out! Share some photos after you are finished on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #mothergooseclub.

Happy Halloween!

This year presents some unique challenges, especially for normally festive occasions such as Halloween. While the safest option would be to simply stay home, the area you live in might allow for a higher level of participation than others. Whatever you decide to do, it’s important to have a plan before throngs of goblins and superheroes knock on your door or you yourselves head out into the evenings to fill your bags. I strongly suggest you check with your local, county and state governments for rates of community spread and adjust your exposure risk accordingly.

No matter where you live, you should still consider avoiding large gatherings and events where people from outside your community are likely to be present. This includes festivals, parties, and public haunted houses. It would be best to forgo leaving the house on Halloween and stay home for movies, games, spooky decorations, or baking together. If you decide not to go out but expect costumed visitors to come knocking, leave a table in front of the house with some packaged goodies laid out separately next to a bottle of hand sanitizer. If you are in an apartment building, try handing some string on your door with clothespins to hold pre-packaged candy such as M&Ms or mini candy bars.

If you are planning to trick or treat, a detailed strategy is a must to reduce risk and still scare up a good time for the little ones. It all starts with the costumes you pick this year. Try steering your children to outfits that incorporate masks and gloves. You can also make your own mask at home or visit your local sporting goods store to find coverings in a variety of designs and colors. Fishing gaiters make great face coverings as they completely cover the mouth and nose yet are comfortable enough to be worn under a plastic mask.

Gloves are crucial for trick or treating given the number of treats your children may come into contact with. Carry extra pairs of latex gloves with you, as well as a packet of sanitizing wipes. You might want to take a pair of tongs with you to pick up candy for your kids to avoid them handling any at all. Maintain your distance from other groups, and avoid houses that are handing out candy or have a communal bowl out front.

After you return home with your sugary loot, wash all clothing immediately and wipe down everything else. Throw away any disposable gloves, masks and bags that were used. It is very important that you wait at least 72 hours before touching any of the candy that was collected, and make sure to dispose of any items that are not in a sealed package or damaged. Prepare ahead of time by stocking up on some of your family’s favorite sweets so that they are not tempted to dip into the quarantined goods ahead of time.

Regardless of how you decide to spend your Halloween, remember to wear a mask and gloves, keep your distance, and wash your hands. While this year Halloween may be a bit scarier than in previous years, let’s make it a safe and fun event for everyone.

Did someone in your family dress up as a Mother Goose Club character? If so, please be sure to share it with us by posting and tagging with #mothergooseclub!