This year’s Halloween presents all of us with some unique challenges. You may be conflicted, wondering if it’s safe to answer the door when all those costumed trick or treaters come knocking.

When in doubt, the obvious answer is always crafting! This Haunted House is simple to make, and can be taped to your front door or even a cardboard box in your front yard. It will hold between 10 – 15 self-serve treats and helps you to social distance while distributing them to your visitors.

Most materials can be found around the house or at a local store. If you are not able to find clothespins, you can use large paper clips as substitutes.

Materials:

• Colored paper (black, white, orange, 2 sheets of purple, gray)
• Large piece of cardboard (approximately 20” x 20”)
• Scissors
• Gluestick
• Tape
• Yarn
• Clothespins
• Black Sharpie

Approximate crafting time: 30 minutes

Step 1 – Cut

Cut the purple paper in half and form the roof of the haunted house according to the picture.

Cut out ghost shapes from the white paper, use sharpie to draw faces.

Cut out the windows from the black paper.

Cut the gray paper into strips to form the panes for the windows.

Cut out window shutters and frames from the orange paper.

Step 2 – Glue

Glue the purple roof on top of the cardboard house. Next, glue the window pieces in this order: black window, ghost figure, gray strips, orange shutters. Use leftover pieces of purple to make the door and cover the tops of some windows. Don’t worry if some pieces are not completely straight, it is a spooky old haunted house after all.

Step 3 – Tape Yarn

Securely tape the ends of the yarn to the back of the cardboard. Repeat with another piece of yarn but no more than 3 total, make sure there is at least 4 inches of space between each. Clip about 4 clothespins to each piece of yarn.

Now you are ready to hang your treat dispenser on your front door, a table, or a stand alone cardboard box! Be sure to have items that will clip easily to the clothespins such as bags of M&Ms or small candy bars. I would also recommend adding a small sign that says “Please take one” and check on it frequently so that it be refilled. You can decorate your own haunted house treat dispenser anyway you like, but be sure to share it with us!

Post your own haunted house on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #mothergooseclub.

Have a safe and treat-filled 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!

Our favorite fall holidays are right around the corner, and while the kids are inevitably more excited for Halloween than you are (or…not), the days leading up present valuable opportunities for some family bonding!

This haunted house craft is a great compliment to the usual pumpkin carving and Halloween decor plans. Pair this activity with our video, “A Haunted House on Halloween Night“, for a rhyme-filled, interactive and spooky time with your loved ones.

Materials:

All the materials you need are below. Most everything can be found around the house or at your local store. Get creative, improvise and let us know what works for you!

• Construction paper or foam (Halloween colors!)
• Orange paper cup
• Orange and black pipe cleaners
• Hole puncher
• Glue
• Scissors

Part 1 – The Spooky Tree:

• Draw a diagonal line across your brown construction paper (see ours above). Then start cutting strips, about 1-inch across, up to the line.
• Use your colored construction paper to cut out some fall leaves.

• Flip the construction paper so that the strips are now at the top. Apply glue below the lowest point of the marked line, and slowly roll the paper into a cylinder.

• Fold the slits down and out to create your tree branches. Give them some extra folds and twists to add some character!
• Lastly, glue your colorful leaves on and lay some underneath.

Part 2 – The Haunted House & Jack-o’-Lantern:

• Cut out the mini jack-o’-lantern’s mouth, nose and eyes using your black construction paper.

• Now glue the mouth, nose and eyes onto your orange cup. Punch a hole on top of each side of the cup so you can apply the orange and black pipe cleaners (twist them together first).

• Using your remaining construction paper and our example above, cut and glue together your haunted house! We encourage the kids to get creative here with their own colors and design – let those imaginations run wild!

Share With Us!

Thanks for trying our haunted house craft! What spooky Halloween-themed activities does your family have planned this year? Share your thoughts and creations with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using #mothergooseclub.

Happy Halloween!

In a haunted house on Halloween night,
Ghosts and goblins, what a fright.
Bats and jack-o-lanterns too.
A scary, ghostly, ghastly zoo.

In a haunted house on Halloween night,
Ghosts and goblins, what a fright.
Slippery, flippery, drippery frogs,
Hiding under rotting logs.

Chains are rattling, voices cry,
Lightning flashes in the sky.
Spiderwebs and monsters too.
I wouldn’t go in if I were you.

In a haunted house on Halloween night,
Ghosts and goblins, what a fright.
Creepy, crawly, grimy goo,
A wormy, squirmy, slimy stew.

In a haunted house on Halloween night,
Ghosts and goblins, what a fright.
Skeletons and vampires too,
Cauldrons filled with witch’s brew.

Chains are rattling, voices cry,
Lightning flashes in the sky.
Spiderwebs and monsters too.
I wouldn’t go in if I were you.

In a haunted house on Halloween night,
Ghosts and goblins, what a fright.
I wouldn’t go in if I were you.
You just might hear someone say, “Boo!”

View on YouTube!