- Provide a safe and spooky haven for your teen and his friends on Halloween night.2067 image by TMorgan from Fotolia.com
Too old for trick or treating and too energetic to stay home, teenagers may not know what to do with themselves on Halloween. If you want to keep them out of trouble, throw an irresistible party and make your house the place to be on Oct. 31. Chaperone them but don't get in the way; let your teen and his friends take over for a spooky night to remember. - Teens are at a perfect age to solve a mystery. Download a murder mystery game from the internet or purchase one at a retailer. The game will take about two hours and teens will have to stay in character, reveal "clues," and interact with each other without giving too much away. Provide some costume pieces appropriate to the characters they will play so they still get to dress up. This is a fun way to celebrate Halloween and gets everyone involved; no one sits out. Teens will have a good time collecting clues and solving the murder.
- Help your teen pick out classic horror movies and host a movie marathon. Old spooky flicks such as "Nightmare on Elm Street," "Poltergeist" or "Friday the 13th" lack the special effects today's movies offer, but are often as funny as they are scary. Serve popcorn, movie candy, caramel apples and sodas during the movie. For games, download or create a trivia game based on the movies you watch or horror movies in general. Have party guests act out their favorite horror character in a game of spooky charades.
- Enlist the help of other parents or friends to throw a party with spooky entertainment. Have someone read palms and tell fortunes using tarot cards. Purchase a Ouija board so the teens can contact the dear departed. Light the room low for a scary atmosphere and have a buffet table set with snacks. Teach the teens to play, "Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board" which is a levitation game that has been around for years. Pick a person to "levitate." Everyone places two fingers underneath the person and chants "Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board," picking the person up gradually. It will feel as if the person is actually rising off of the ground. Teens will enjoy bobbing for apples and a costume contest is always a good idea. Give out a great prize such as a horror DVD or a CD of scary music.
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