Tips for Throwing the Perfect Spookfest!

My Halloween party tip is make sure when you have a party that you have a cool adult supervising. When you tell people about the party tell them not to tell anyone else because then you won't have people coming to your house and crashing the party. It can really get wild with kids you don't know. Things get broken, etc.

Joanna, 14, Canada

BASIC PARTY TIPS: First I would make up the list of all the people that you're going to invite. Then I would make up the invitations and send them to the people at least a week before the party (just so they can have it planned). I would have lots of food and ask around what kind they would like. If you have to have someone looking after the party, I would strongly suggest that you would ask a brother or a sister, rather then a parent. Try and make it so there is an even number of boys and girls. If you want to have a party people will be talking about, have music that they like. Try not to put too many slow songs on but wait until kids ask for slow songs. Keep it lively or your guests will start to get bored. During the party try to make sure that not too many people are sitting alone on the side lines. Try and say hi to everyone that is there so they don't think that you are trying to avoid them. D.J., 13, Canada

Have a Polaroid camera by the door and, as you welcome your guests, snap their picture - Use this for your scrap book or as a parting gift to your guest. Lois, Mississippi

If it is a co-ed (boy girl) party and you want couples, make as many couples as you can. If the other people who aren't paired with anyone have boyfriends/girlfriends who go to different schools, tell them to let their boyfriend or girlfriend come. Or if you know some one who could be paired with a person who goes to another school invite them!

Jessica, 12, Alabama

Lets,see (lots of food coloring) Get lots of craft stuff & make grapes into eyeballs Take a food pen & draw eyes on the grapes Get a tape of scary sounds & have lots of decorations. And get a book on the scariest stories.

Noel, 11, USA

Make everyone dress up in fancy dress and have a fashion show. Who ever wins gets a prize.
Emma, 11, U.K.

Make Jell-O monsters! How to make a monster: Take a melon and cut it into two. Take one half and start carving a monster with a spoon. Open a package of lime Jell-O (or any green Jell-O). Follow the instructions in the package and pour the liquid into the carved half melon. Now put the melon with the Jell-O in the refrigerator. Wait about an hour or until the Jell-O is ready and turn the melon onto a plate and you have a jelly monster.

Sheila, 14, Israel

I have never celebrated Halloween but I know what can spook your friends up ! We know that you have watched the movie "The Sixth Sense" and it does spook you out. Same for "Scream" and others. Grab your best friends ( 5 to 6 ) and act like characters from a movie . You could be locked in a storeroom knocking continuously when it is dark . Make bloody-faced and pale characters .You can act out scenes from other horror movies you love! Just no real knives or chain saws!!!

Diana, 11, Singapore

TIP# 1. Plan with a buddy. Party's are always easier when you're not the only one with the responsibility. TIP# 2. Make Guest, Food, and Activity lists so you know all the info. TIP# 3. Make sure there is never a part of your party that doesn't have something to do. That way no one will ever be bored. TIP# 4. Decorate with dry ice, scary figures, and anything glow-in-the-dark. Looks are everything!!! TIP# 5. Always have prizes. People are more motivated for fun when cool gifts are up for grabs. Hope you have the scariest party ever!

Ally, 12, Washington

Always keep a stereo and a couple of good CD's on hand to get people talking. People tend to have a better time when there isn't tension in the air!! Another good ice breaker is to leave a few disposable cameras lying around the room/house/whatever so people can snap a few photos if they don't have anything to do (remember, more than one, or else people will fight over them!!)

Jessica, 13, California

If you have any old moldy food lying around the house, try using it as a Halloween decoration. We know it sounds gross but it looks very spooky. We had leftover wedding cake that was in the garage for about 1 month and a half and we put it outside to use as wedding cake for a skeleton bride. That's our tip.
Danelle and Claire, 12, Canada

What I would suggest for the scariest Halloween party ever, all you have to do, is to buy these materials: ~ Glow in the dark paints ~ Balloons ~ black crepe paper. You girls might wonder what on earth I'm having in mind with such a few materials. But, just wait and see... Okay, now, inflate the balloons as large as you wish (don't get too over-excited! You might pop the balloon!) and cover it with the black crepe paper. When you're finished, slowly paint a scary face on the black paper with the glow in the dark paint. Now, go try it at night, turn off the light and see the awesome effect! You might see the scary face floating around the room (if the balloon is helium-filled). Well, that's the only Halloween Blast idea I've got in mind right now!
Sasha, 13, Indonesia

You need dark lightbulbs, music, candy( bugs frogs etc) black and orange streamers and movies. I'd have it dark and have the streamers on the ceiling. I'd have a movie playing so anyone can just sit and watch it and have the candy on a table with music playing.

Michelle, 11, Canada

Create a haunted house illusion. Hang streamers from all doorways and keep it dark. Set up different stations in your hallway/room before entering the main party room. Have one station be the brains, a table with bowls of cold spaghetti. Have people put their hands in and guess what it is. Another could be olives or something small and round for eyeballs. Think of gross stuff like that. Then, in the main party room, have streamers and balloons in orange and black and plastic skeletons and creepy stuff like that. Have one area for dancing and one for relaxing; set up the food and drinks in this area. In the relaxing area, have couches/chairs and tables. If you have a large stereo system, hook the speakers up in corners of the room (diagonal if two, parallel if four) and if you have a small one, set it in the middle of the room to distribute the sound evenly. This is a cheap and fun way to have a spooktacular party!

Katie, 12, Canada

I think you should have a little ride to lighten things up and give them a real scare, like a haunted hayride for instance. Just use a lawn mower or a 4-wheeler,hook it up to a wagon, get some scarers to jump out at people and you've got yourself a scare.
Ashlie, 13, West Virginia

Make a tunnel that goes through your downstairs out of sheets or big boxes. Put gross stuff to feel in the dark tunnel and have lots of junk food and candy.
Jazzy, 10, Washington.

Crowded Party Tips: Pretend this is you: You want to have a party with all the kids in your class for Halloween. Your mom thinks it will make a mess, and be too noisy. What do you do? This may not be you, but it is me. And believe me, with 22 kids (not including me) running around a 3 room bungalow, that's already super messy, I don't blame her for not wanting to do that! So here was my solution: More than half the party will be spent outside! When I told her that, she automatically said yes. SO here's my party tip: Compromise. She thinks it's gonna be messy, have it outside! Alright!

Cecilia, 10, Canada

You have to make the house look like a haunted house from the outside and don't have the party in the room where they first walk in 'cause you should use that room to have scary noises and spooky objects. Here are some things to have in the room 1.shadow puppets (ghost, etc.) 2.glow in the dark ghost 3.spooky tape playing in the party room there should be fake bugs in all the food and inside some to scare some one out their pants. Have fake webs hanging up and cool music playing. Have a costume contest and other contests. You should have trick or treat bags as prizes. This is pretty much all the things you need to have a booing party!

Epiphany, 12, South Carolina

1. Use Cooked spaghetti covered in spaghetti sauce for a brain. Put it in a big bowl. Have people touch it with their eyes shut. 2. Use peeled grapes for vampire eyes. Put them in a large bowl and make people touch them with their eyes shut. 3. Use peeled carrots for Frankenstein's fingers. Put them in a rage bowl and have people close their eyes and touch them.

Amanda, 12, Minnesota

Halloween games, lots and lots of lollies, music, prizes, most of the games have to be in the dark!, food and games. You have someone to stand in front of the door giving out candy and lollies to all the kids that are invited, those streamer poppers. You must have balloons. Invite the most kids you can, have drinks, decorate your house and make a Halloween cake like a pumpkin.

Bianca, 9, Australia

If you want to plan a cool party, an important part is to invite people you know will get along and behave. I know it sounds stupid but if you have two big enemies at your party they won't end up having any fun and it could mess up your plans. Also, try to invite friends you know but not as well as you would like to. This could lead to greater friendships and a whole lot more fun! You should also try to give the room and/or favors a special Halloween look. You want everything to scream Halloween. Like don't just make plain brownies or cookies. Add a little touch like cut them in spooky shapes or add orange and brown sprinkles on them.
Kerry, 12, USA

1. What room do you have the Halloween party in? I would pick the biggest place in the house. A living room is good. 2. How do you decorate? First, I would rearrange the furniture so I will have enough room. Next, put glowing decorations on the walls and spider webs everywhere (on the ceilings, doors, every place you can.) Then, put pumpkins with lights in them all over the room ( after all, you want the room dark) 3. When your friends arrive, to give them a scare, have a family member hide in a coat closet, jump out and spray silly string all over them. 4. Have some good games of first, you can tell scary stories. Next, watch scary movies. Then, have a dance contest. You can also play Truth or Dare or have a scavenger hunt.

Lauren, 12, New York

For my perfect parties, I always ask my guests before the party sometime, like a few days ahead, and ask them what they would like a great party to be like ? Then, from their opinions, I will have a party that everyone would like ! Elizabeth, 13, Missouri

If I want to serve my fave drink but it isn't very spooky looking I just add some black or red food colouring to it and it looks much more scary. (You could even serve it in a punch bowl and float some plastic spiders in it)

Jenny, 12, U. K.

Invite only people you are comfortable being yourself around. Don't invite people you are trying to impress or get to like you. For example don't invite a popular girl who isn't your friend, invite people whose company you are going to enjoy. You'll have a better party and most of all you will have fun. That is what most parties are supposed to be and being yourself and having fun is a big rule to follow, but it should make the party more fun and interesting for you and your friends! Deaira, 13, Georgia

Get a dark room and put a disco ball in the middle. Get like colored lights and put them in. Have people bring friends and boyfreinds, have soda get lots of candy, have nachos, pretzels, hotdogs and things like that. Get a D.J. and have people pick what they want to play for ages 8-16. Have some chaperones for safety.

Jessica, 9, Pennsylvania

My Halloween tip is to have some fun while you get read for the party! While setting up all the decorations, just have some fun. Fun is key to having a scary and exciting Halloween. Lori, 17, Massachusetts

When you make a decision for the perfect party make sure you know if the date is suitable for everyone attending and if the place is within reach and easy to get to.

Anissa, 11, New York

1. Don't invite too many people or to few for that matter. 2. leave room for disaster. eg: someone going home or being sick. 3. Make it very clear what to bring and wear on the invitation. 4.Plan what you're going to do. Don't be distressed if you can't do everything. 5.Make sure you've got everything ready at least an hour before it starts. 6. have fun!

Monique, 10, S.A

Put fake body parts on the floor all over and make a Haunted House. Whenever all of the people get there you can give people a tour. Neha, 11, Texas

Make a list of toys or favors you want to give to your guests to bring home after the party. Make them or buy them as soon as possible so you don't forget something. Laura, 13, Connecticut

See how many sweets you could make like (cookies, ice cream ,chocolate or make them together at the party. Dalia, 8, Lebanon

To plan the perfect Halloween party, *Firstly find a good place to hold your party (ask your parents permission first) and take into consideration how many people you're planning to invite *Then you can set to work on planning the details like if it's going to be a fancy dress party or a disco etc *You can then plan what decorations you're going to put up (bear in mind the cost) *If you're going to have food, try and make your own creations like biscuits and sweets with a Halloween theme *After that you can start planning who you're going to invite (remember you should have adult supervision just incase anything goes wrong). If you don't want your parents there you could always ask an older brother or sister if they could be there. *Have fun and enjoy everyone complimenting you on what a good party it is! Louise, 13, U.K.

My Halloween tip is to use cool invitations. Try making your own on a computer program! Amy, 15, Mississippi

What I do is I first get everything ready like the food and then I think of what I could do. I am having boys so I have to think of what they would want to do. I thought and asked my older brother and he suggests that we watch like horror movies, play night games, have a bond fire, and just have munchies sitting around. I have a lot of things to decorate with so I am set on that stuff so I have everything, but what should we eat? Well I asked some of my friends what they would like to have at the party so here is a list for some ideas. Some good candy, green punch in a witches bowl, chips, and puppy chow with Cheks. Caitlin, 12, Minnesota

First, bring down the boom box and the latest music. Second, buy and make a whole bunch of weird food dishes. But they must taste good. Next have some cool games, like a scavenger hunt. Make them hunt for creepy things, like a bloody arm. Lastly, pull a really scary joke, like pretending to get stabbed by a masked murderer. I guarantee if you do these things you'll have a smashing Halloween party.

Ashley, 11, Missouri

Amy's Party Planning List

1. Am I giving this party alone or with friends? (Remember, friends mean more helping hands and costs shared!)
   
   
2. What do I picture happening when my guests arrive? Do I have activities planned - do I know when food will be served, when crafts will be made and games played?
   
   
3. What food and drinks will I serve? Only desserts? Dinner? Snacks?
   
   
4. How will I serve the food? Will guests serve themselves? Is this a sit down dinner? Where and how will my guests get drinks?
   
   
5. What will my guests put their food on?
   • Do I buy paper plates?
   • Do I use mom's good dishes?
   • Do I have flatware or plasticware?
   • Do I have tablecloths and napkins?
   • Do I have cups and glasses?
   • Do I have ice?
   • Do I have serving utensils?
   
   
   
6. Do any of my guests have food allergies or special needs? Are any allergic to milk or fruit or cats, dogs and birds?
   
   
7. Who will buy the food?
   
   
8. Who will make the food? If a group of girls are giving the party, can each of us make a dish and bring it?
   
   
9. How much will the food cost?
   
   
10. Who will set the table?
    
    
11. Who will do the dishes and clean up?
    
    
12. Who will buy the materials for the decorations?
    
    
13. Who will make the decorations?
    
    
14. How much will the decorations cost?
    
    
15. Who will put the decorations up?
    
    
16. Who will take them down again?
    
    
17. Who will decide on games to play and things to do?
    
    
18. Who will lead the games and activities?
    
    
19. Who will find music to play? Who will put the music on?
    
    
20. Who will take photographs?
    
    
21. How much will this party cost? $100.00? How much can I spend per person? $5.00? (This is why sharing the cost of a party between friends works!)
    
    
22. Based on the amount of money I can spend, how many girlfriends can I invite? 5-7 10-20?
    
    
23. Make a list of those girls to invite. Don't forget to get their addresses.
    
    
24. Two to three weeks before the party, send out the invitations.
    
    
25. Place a pad and pen next to the phone to record RSVPS.
    
    
26. Remember safety in your party plans. Do you have a fire extinguisher and first aid kit handy?
    
    
27. Consider making some of the party decorations during the party. Guests can carve pumpkins, bake cookies, hang spider webs and skeletons, make ghostly mobiles. It's fun to create something together!

With all the hard work you're doing, it's easy to forget that part of the job of "hostess" is to remember to go to your own party. Have fun! When the first guest comes through the door, stop worrying about the food and the decorations and the games. Start thinking about jumping in and joining the fun. Don't be left watching the show. Be part of it!