A Pathway to Trick or Treat

Halloween is a great time of year, especially for children. Trick or treating, dressing up, apple bobbing, carving pumpkins… it’s all so much fun for the small ones. But let’s be realistic, not all towns, cities and villages are as safe as we would like to think when it comes to allowing our children out to trick or treat. So it got me thinking about how it would be nice to create an area in my garden, or indeed in any garden, where children could trick or treat in a totally safe environment.

My nieces are not quite two yet but they are incredibly inquisitive and love being outdoors. They love touching things and investigating all the little areas in the garden. Although they do not understand the idea of Halloween just yet, creating a trick or treat area in the garden is a safe and fun way to get younger children involved.

I felt that the perfect place in my garden for something spooky was this pathway, lined with pumpkins and lights and leading to some treats.

To make a giant treat bag I glued felt letters that I’d cut out to spell “Treats” on to a hessian sack that I’d picked up at the garden centre. It was then filled with all manner of very sugary things (well it IS Halloween after all).

I lit the surrounding trees with some outdoor lights and added colourful paper chains.

I used a pathway that existed in my garden but this set-up can be created anywhere. On the grass, on the driveway, in the front garden, in the back garden or even in a neighbours garden if you don’t have one (remember to ask them first though!)

I can almost guarantee that as soon as the kids see what you have created for them they will love it.

This trick or treat pathway will be put to great use this Halloween as the children of family and friend’s have been invited over to trick or treat in the garden whilst the parents can relax with a beverage safe in the knowledge that the children are perfectly safe and having great fun.

But if you’re not exactly brimming with children of various shapes, sizes and ages this idea can certainly be modified for the adults.

Swap the hot chocolate and marshmallows for hot chocolate and Irish liqueur. Serve baked potatoes with the spiciest chili you can handle and put scary movies into the trick or treat sack and see what comes out first!

Just remember…….