8 Halloween Kids Party Tips from Mokena's Monster Party Pro

Kim McAuliffe is the owner of kids party companies and in Mokena.

• For the children in your life, first think of a party theme and plan your whole celebration around it! Do you like monsters? Then "Frankenstein (meats) the Mummy" is for you.

• Please make age-appropriate decision because young children scare easily and older children don't scare enough. (You: "Pick up your room or else." Them: "Or else what?" See what I mean?) 

• Decorate your smaller garbage cans with construction paper monsters. This way they can feed the monsters what they love to eat – garbage.

• Don't try to decorate every room tremendously. A little bit here and there goes a long way. As for your party room, feel free to go to town on that one!

• Have the kids get involved with the snacks, food preparation and decorating. Try monster marshmallow ghosts (take a marshmallow and use black icing to decorate the face. Have miniature cupcakes prebaked and frosted. Let the kids decorate them with monster face on each one with candies, Laffy Taffy – I'm sure you get the idea. I like mini cupcakes because then each child can decorate and eat three small cupcakes instead of one big one.  

• Kids love monster games. Here are a few suggestions: Monster Toss, Monster Bowling Monster Catch, Monster Buckets and Balls, Monster Can Knockdown. You can purchase all of the items or make them yourself if you are wickedly crafty.  

• For the adults, the same principles can hold true. Maybe make them a little more age-appropriate like Beanbag Toss and a fire pit to roast marshmallows. Let the adults decorate their ghosts with icing, just like the kids.

• But please, skip the bobbing for apples. That is just too gross for anyone. I can't believe we used to do that. YUCK!