Teens Halloween Party Ideas Cool Activities

10 Halloween Decor, Games, and Activities for Teenagers
 

Ah, your little preschool darlings have blossomed into not so darling teenagers. Sigh. At least a few times a year, you'll still get some of those old time, good vibes with birthdays and holidays. Halloween is our favorite time of the year. Rarely have we lived in a place where trick or treating door to door was a possibility, so we've always gotten creative. Throw your teens a Halloween Party with these cool ideas and activities for Halloween! Oriental Trading generously sent us the supplies for this post. We hope you enjoy our tips for Halloween decor, games, and activities for teenagers!

This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links. 

Teens won't admit it, but they love to play funny games and win prizes. Sure, they'll groan how uncool you are, but inside they'll feel all giddy and look forward to the fun! This Halloween, tone it down, be cool, and have fun!

10 Cool Halloween Activities for Teens

Dragons guard the Halloween candy dish.

• These Cheesy Ghost Chicken Nuggets taste delicious and make a spooky appetizer for a Halloween Party. Be prepared to work quickly, the cheese gets solid fast.

• Use a paint marker to write 'Boo' on the bottom of one mini popcorn bucket. Have everyone check their  buckets. Whoever gets the 'boo' wins a special prize. Be sure to tell everyone else to boo the winner! Teens like that stuff, you know.

We like to use these Mythical Halloween Creatures from Oriental Trading as boo prizes.

• Tell teenager party-goers the story of how the Jack-o-Lantern originated and carve Halloween Turnips instead of Pumpkins to keep with the tradition.

The REAL story of the Jack-o-Lantern started with a turnip.

Oriental Trading has tons of cool decorations for Halloween parties. Our teens chose to go with a dragon theme for their Halloween party. We ordered dragon skeletons, swords, gloves for knights in shining armor, and more. 

• For the Halloween party tablescape below, we used a black light up bat wreath as a centerpiece decoration for our candy dish. If you're having a sleepover party, build memories by making a Halloween wreath as a favor to take home. 

• The black light up bat wreath is perfect for various themes. In fact, it can be used as a centerpiece decoration for a Medieval-themed Halloween party. Be sure to include other Medieval decorations. For starters, give your walls an ancient look by covering them with stone wallpapers and hanging shields. Also, provide minimal natural light using chandeliers and torches. Equally important, don't forget to dress appropriately for the event. Men can sport a "noblemen" look by wearing tunics, leggings, and breeches. Meanwhile, medieval costume ideas for women include long gowns and ankle-length tunics belted at the waist.

We filled these mini milk jugs from Oriental Trading with assorted M and Ms.

• Play ring toss with the candy filled milk jugs and some Halloween bracelets. When the kids toss a bracelet over a jug, they win the jug and the bracelet!

Halloween Party Candy Theme Table Decorations.

• Creature Pizza Biscuits are easy and fun to make as a Teen Halloween Party Activity. Just dip them in marinara sauce for a tasty appetizer. Learn how to make them here: Pumpkin Face Pizza Biscuits.

Edible Art: Pumpkin Biscuits.

• The large Dragon Skeleton is perfect for posing for pictures for teens to share on their social media! #HalloweenGames  After they've posed, blindfold them, tape a paper flame (with tape on both sides) to the end of the sword, and play PIN THE FLAME ON THE DRAGON.

Pin the Flame on the Dragon Party Game.

• Make your own Halloween Pumpkin and Ghost lights with plastic cups and cheap string lights. Learn how here: Pumpkin and Ghost Lights for Party. When teens arrive, give them each a cup and some markers. Let their creative juices flow and then collect the cups and pop them on a strand of lights. Hang it on your entry way, so they can see their art work as they head home.

• Don't forget the worms! For a cool teen HALLOWEEN party the best ideas are the grossest (is that even a word) ones. Our world famous SLURPIN' FOR WORMS game is a necessity! Especially, when you use the realistic gummy earthworms from OTC.

Realistic Earthworm Gummy Candy from Oriental Trading.

How to Play Slurpin' for Worms Game.

• On Halloween, a house party full of teens needs haunting! Hang sheets to make mazes throughout the rooms, turn out the lights and light the way with strobe lights or flickering string lights. Add creepy creatures at every corner, and make the final exit a 'dead' end.

Dragon Skeleton for Yard.

Follow us on Pinterest and Instagram for more fun Halloween Party Ideas!

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How to Save for a Rainy Day Fund

Emergency Cash Sources Every Mom Should Know About

Everyone needs a rainy day fund. Don't get me wrong, being a full-time mom is great, but raising children is very expensive. Especially, when you're a single mother. Whether you've raised many children from birth to adulthood or you're taking care of your first child, there are always extra expenses that don't fit into your weekly budget. With the price of childcare rising, along with all of the other unexpected expenses you'll experience as a parent, you need to know about available emergency cash sources. Here are some tips on how to save for a rainy day fund and ensure that you have access to extra money for your family should the need ever arise... And, you know it will.

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.

Get this Rainy Day Fund Bank on Amazon.

Credit Cards and Mattress Money 

If you try to save on every purchase that you make, you might be able to store away a little extra money for a rainy day fund. For example, utilizing coupons is a great way to see your weekly grocery bill go down. With the money that you don’t spend on household expenditures, you can start your own ‘mattress money’ fund. Of course, you don’t actually need to keep your savings under the mattress, but keeping tangible funds somewhere in your home will come in handy during an emergency. Alternatively, using a credit card when you are in a pickle isn’t a bad idea so long as it is for an absolute emergency. In fact, having a couple of credit cards with large available balances is great for when you have an unexpected, last minute child related expense.

Learn to Get out of Debt Math Lesson for Homeschoolers

Short-Term Personal Loans

A lot of people still think that the only types of personal loans available are the ones that are offered by local banks. The truth of the matter is that there are all sorts of lenders who regularly make short term personal loans. At loanpig.co.uk, for example, small to mid-sized personal loans are often approved online in minutes. So, if you have a big expense that you only have a few days to come up with the money to pay, a short-term loan can save the day. These types of loans also come with manageable repayment terms, so you don’t have to worry about your debt skyrocketing. While you may not want to take out a short-term personal loan to pay for a child’s birthday party, it's certainly reasonable to take advantage of a small loan to help deal with emergencies or to help bridge the financial gap between pay periods.

Tips for Traveling on a Budget with Kids

Charities and Fundraising

There isn’t anything wrong with accepting or even asking for a little financial help whether you're a busy mom or anyone else. There are charities that help moms furnish their nurseries, aid them in rebuilding after tragedies, and just give a hand where needed. A friend might start a fundraiser for a working mom who has always been frugal and yet still is barely managing to make ends meet. There are charities that help moms get toys and clothes for their children during the winter holiday season as well as fundraising efforts that have given working class families the ability to go on amazing international holidays. Find what funds might be available to your family for emergencies and more. 

It is often very difficult for moms to think clearly when facing a financial emergency. You may go whizzing about looking for ways to pay an expense when the solution is right below your nose. Take a breath, relax, and think back to all of the ways you have prepared yourself and your family for the future when seeking a solution. These days, there are all kinds of ways to earn money online. Got stuff to sell? Give Facebook Marketplace a try!

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What are Good Outdoor Games to Play?

10 Great Outdoor Games for Kids

The days of simple parties where balloons, music, and a cake with candles were enough are long gone. In 2019, fun birthday ideas are at a whole new level. You need these 10 great outdoor games for kids to get moving and enjoy their special day.

Kim and Kanye set the bar high with a "kidchella" themed party, featuring bouncy houses, a Ferris wheel, and several music stages. While you won't have the same budget as the Kardashians, take inspiration from their intuitive ideas and create a party with good outdoor games to play.

If you're arranging a summer party for your kid's birthday bash, what outdoor games can you play? Read on for the 411 on which outside games your kids will actually love!

This post contain Amazon Affiliate Links.

Outdoor Games Kids Will Love

We all know the math. Kids + Birthday parties = Chaos!

Instead of expecting kids to sit around, drink tea, and chat like adults, prepare some cool games that will burn all their pent-up party energy. We've chosen 10 outdoor games that will have your guests giggling from beginning to end. Are you ready? Let's get this party started!

1. Hop Your Way to Victory

Try a traditional sack-race to get the kids moving. Give each child a good quality burlap bag or king-size pillowcase. Line them up in a grassy area and have them hop their way to victory down a marked path.

To mix it up a little, decorate the plain sacks. Make it more challenging and make the marked path curvy. Even if you just do it the old-fashioned way, it'll get a lot of laughs on the way, Scout's honor!

2. Make Your Birthday Party Pop

Balloon stomping is one of the best group games for parties. What's a party without balloons popping?

Before the party starts, prepare by blowing up at least one balloon per guest and a few extras just in case. Tie a long string or ribbon around the end of the balloon so that it is long enough to tie around the children's ankles.

When the party gets started, tie a balloon around the ankle of each child. The aim of the game is to pop everyone else's balloon while protecting your own. The last kid with an intact balloon wins.

3. Jump to It

Let the kids blow off a little steam before you sit down to open presents. One of the best outdoor games for kids, is an outdoor bouncy house. Hiring a bouncy house is an exciting treat for the kids! It really is fun for all ages (even big kids!)

From bouncy houses and inflatable water slides to blow-up climbing walls and bouncy bungee runs, knowing which one to choose boggles the mind. Do your research to find out more about the options and you'll find the perfect match for your big outdoor birthday bash.

4. Treasure Hunt

Treasure hunts have been around a long time, but they're still one of the most interesting outside games for kids to play. Adapt the hunt depending on the ages of the guests and the style of the party. Be sure to offer prizes and other birthday party favors for the winning team.

For instance, create a list of items in nature they have to find in a certain time limit. Give each guest some magnifying glasses, binoculars, and a treasure bag for their adventure. They can search for various bugs, pinecones, daisies, leaves, and more on a nature scavenger hunt or you can hide items throughout the yard and give them a list of riddles to solve to find the next treasure. As an alternative, hide pieces of treasure and candy for the kids to find. Give them a bucket and send them on their scavenger hunt,

5. Cool Pool Party

Fun birthday ideas for the summer usually involve water. Wet and wild games give kids the chance to get soaked and cool off. A pool prize search is one of the most fun outside games for a kid's party.

Use an inflatable pool filled with water. Hide weighted treasures at the bottom of the pool. Then, fill the rest of the pool with floating toys and balls, so that it's hard to see what's at the bottom. Give the kids a time limit and tell them to find the treasures at the bottom of the pool.

If kids are a bit older and it seems too easy, try blindfolding them. Their teammates can shout out directions to help them find the treasure.

6. Use Your Noodle

One of the cheapest outside games for kids is Pool Noodle Croquet. It's budget-friendly but takes a little bit of time to set up.

Create several pool noodle arches in your back yard and stake them into the ground. Give each child a pool noodle and an inflated beach ball. The idea is to be the first to get the ball through the course of arches.

7. Make a Splash

Another variation of a classic game is water balloon baseball. It's one of the easiest outdoor games for kids and parents because it's so easy to set up.

All you need is a baseball bat and some pre-filled water balloons. Make sure the guests are ready to get soaked!

8. A Tasty Mess

Fun birthday ideas have got to include cakes and treats, right? So why not turn your dessert into a game? When played outside, this donut game is lots of fun.

Tie dangling donuts from a high place, such as a tree or doorway. Then have a donut eating race, without using hands. Chocolate donuts make the most mess, so be ready with a cleanup team when the game is over.

9. Water Shoot

Here's another outdoor water game for you. Divide the party into two teams. For each team, string a plastic sand pails onto one end of a clothesline.

The concept of this game is for each team to work together to move their bucket along the clothesline, using only the spray water guns. Of course, if you don't have enough squirt guns for the party, you could fill up plastic bottles instead. Be sure the squirt guns are powerful enough to make the pails move!

10. An In-Tents Party

Another awesome outside party activity is camping. If camping somewhere remote is too much of a task, just set up a camp ground in your backyard.

Set up tents and a supervised fire-pit. Play some camping-themed games during the day. And when it gets dark, roast some s'mores on the campfire and tell scary stories.

Keep Calm and Party On!

We hoe you like this list of outdoor games with a twist for parties. Pick one, two, or as many outside games as you want, to make your birthday bash super fun!

What if it turns out to be a rainy day and you can't have fun in the sun? For some more games inspiration, both inside and out, check out the "Games" section of our blog.

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Things to do in Indy with Teenagers

Fun Activities to do with Teens in Greater Indianapolis

Did you type in your search bar, 'fun activities with teens near me' or  'things to do with teens near me?' If you're looking for fun things to do with teenagers in Indiana, we're compiling a list and editing it often! No matter the season, whether you live in Indiana or you're on vacation, you'll find things to do with teens as a family. These Indiana things to do are also perfect for your teenagers birthday parties.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Things to do with Teens in the Greater Indianapolis Area

Fishers Castleton Noblesville Carmel

• Axe Throwing for Kids and Teenagers, ages 10 and up, Castleton, Indiana. Look for Groupon Deals. (Archery coming soon!)

Axe Throwing Review, Kid Friendly?

Oh my gosh, it's fun! Is axe throwing safe for kids? Well, it's no less safe for kids than it is for adults, particularly for adults who've been drinking. Is axe throwing safe? If you follow the rules, if you go slow, if you pay attention to your surroundings, yes! 

They'll give you a quick lesson, tips, and rules to follow. Make sure everyone listens. For me, the hardest thing to remember was to wait for the other thrower to throw BEFORE you go after your axe. Think of it like bowling. Be polite and go one at a time. Then, when you're both done throwing, go together to retrieve your axes. 

Tip:  It's a hour. It seems pricey for an hour, but you'll be tired and your muscles will ache. Got a kid who doesn't listen and likes to run around? Don't bring them here. Everyone is required to sign a waiver.

Love it? They also offer axe throwing leagues... for real.

• Tomahawk Throwing at Conner Prairie, Fishers, Indiana. Ask about Tomahawk Throwing when you purchase your ticket at the gate. There's lots to do at Conner Prairie, but this is probably the thing teenagers will most enjoy. Conner Prairie also offers balloon rides, weather permitting.

• Bounce U,  Read our Bounce U Fishers Review, Fishers, Indiana. (Look for coupon deals with Google Search.)

Tip:  What makes Bounce U more teen friendly than other bounce and jump places? It's not all slides and bounce houses. You can box, sumo, and joust. Also, they lead the teens in the activities while you sit and use the wifi or participate, whichever you prefer.

Inflatable Sumo Suit for Teen Birthday Party

• Dave and Buster's, Castleton, Indiana is a fun place for teenagers. They offer many youth activities including birthday parties for teens and kids of all ages. Enjoy bowling, pool, arcade games, virtual reality games, and dancing games

• Woodland Bowl on 96th Street, Indianapolis offers fun teen activities like bowling, Pirate Laser Tag and Miniature Golf.

Avon Clermont Danville Plainfield Speedway

• Western Bowl, near Plainfield and Speedway Indiana

• Roller City is just across the parking lot from Western Bowl. Offering $2 Tuesdays.

• Beasley's Orchard Apple Festival, Danville, Indiana. Apple Cannons and lots more, but your teen will love shooting the apple cannons. Thank me now.

Get Water Balloon Slingshot 

• Lucas Oil Raceway Drag Races, Clermont, Indiana.

Your teens with racing aspirations can participate in Wild Wednesdays with a signed, notarized waiver. They'll love you forever... if they live through it. 

• Take your Teens to Jail at the Hendrick's County Historical Museum, Danville, Indiana.

Indianapolis Downtown with Teens

• If you're cool with sexual innuendo (and who isn't?) and you have older teens, eat at Dick's Last Resort, downtown Indianapolis, Indiana.

• 10 Things to do in Indianapolis with Kids (Read our list for kids of all ages.)

• Top 10 Things to do with Teens in Indy from Yelp

Beech Grove Greenwood Franklin Whiteland

• Great Times just outside of Beech Grove, Indiana, off I-465 is a fun place to take teens when in the Indy area. Teenagers can race karts, ride boats, and then head next door to the Expo Bowl bowling alley which offers a Laser Tag experience.

• Rascal's Fun Zone, Whiteland, Indiana

• Urban Air, Franklin, Indiana

This place is fun for everyone, but teens will especially like the climbing wall, indoor ziplines, jousting and more. 

Camby Mooresville Martinsville Bloomington

• Dr. Who Store, Camby, Indiana

• Pioneer Park Flying Soaring Eagle Zipline, Mooresville, Indiana. This zipline is mommy friendly too. Afraid of heights? Hold your breath, but take a chance. This is an Eagle shaped car (think an amusement ride) you sit in and fly through the trees. Best part? It's only $5 per rider. The park also has an awesome swimming pool, trails, and a covered bridge.

Ziplines for Backyards.

• Double B Arena, Mooresville, Indiana, Mutton Busting and Bull Riding. You read that right, your teens and preteens can ride a bull for $20 and other rodeo experiences. Bring your ambulance.

• IU Link Observatory, Martinsville/Mooresville, Indiana

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More to come, we'll be updating this post monthly. For more things to do with teenagers in Indy stay informed on our  Kids Creative Chaos Instagram profile.

Looking for 1 Year Old Birthday Gifts?

Best Toys and Gift Ideas for 1 Year Old Girls

Have a one year old baby's birthday coming up? So, what are the best toys and gifts for a one year old? Nothing feels better than watching your baby girl grow. You want to be there when she makes her first step, and you want to be the first one to hear her alter her first word. These moments are magical. Believe me, it gets even more exciting when she turns a year old. It's her first birthday and it's normal to feel super excited and overwhelmed. How do you make it special and unforgettable? Other than holding a birthday party and inviting all your friends and their kids to celebrate, getting the perfect gift is the best way to ensure that your baby girl never forgets the day.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

But wait! Which is the best gift for a one-year-old girl? A toy is the best catch here. You want the best for your daughter, something that she will like and even if you were to keep it and show it to her when she is already all grown up, she would have the same smile she had when you first showed the toy to her when she was one year old.

What to get a 1 year old girl on their Birthday? 

Choosing such a toy can be a daunting task. This article aims to make the work easy for you by outlining a list of the best gifts and toys for a one year old girls.

A VTech pull and sing puppy

Kids love puppies, and they find them to be the cutest thing, and it gets even better when puppies and toddlers are combined. Not all girls are into barking, taking dogs for walks and having a pooping pooch. You do not have to get a real puppy to match the experience for your baby girl. If she loves puppies, a VTech pull and sing puppy is an excellent choice.

The little guy can do tricks and other stuff that real dogs can do and more. He can sing, teach numbers, body parts and colors as the baby pulls him around his leash. It comes with over 50 songs and melodies to keep the kid entertained, and she will never get bored even if you were to leave her alone as you do chores around the house. You, however, need to include a battery.

Baby Einstein take along tunes

Kids are sensory. Its smell and touch alone are enough to make the baby glued to the creature as she tries to figure out how the machine can respond to her queries. If your kid is already a young jammer trying to get her tune in line, this toy will do her good. It's a kind of jukebox that switches between a total of seven melodies.

What's more? It lights up as it sings. It also comes with a volume control button and two AA batteries. It's a perfect toy for small hands, and your kid will not struggle as she plays with it. Even better; it is made of a soft polypropylene surface which makes it safe for children. The color and design are cute, so it does not scare the baby away.

Fisher Price brilliant basics first doll

Girls love trying to play-pretend at this age, and a baby doll is a perfect gift to help foster her imagination. She can tote the doll around as she tries to learn new words and understand different body parts like the mouth, legs, hands, and eyes. Dolls are soft and cuddly which makes it ideal for helping the baby in social recognition and giving them a sense of comfort when playing with it. She will carry the doll where she goes which is also a way of learning a sense of possession.

Fisher-price Baby’s first Blocks playlist

Your child will have a blast with this gift set on her birthday. It features two Fisher-Price toys a baby’s first block and a rock-a-stack. What she has to do is sort them for fun, which is a perfect way to keep baby busy and put her mind at work.

Such toys help develop problem skills too. The toy is meant to prepare kids for preschool through mental development. Grasping, sorting, and stocking the blocks is a fun way for your baby to stay happy as she explores. It will teach her a sense of discovery as she tries to see what happens after all the rings are sorted and stacked.

LeapFrog count and crawl number Kitty

Get your child on the move on many skills with this unique, cute kitty. The doll is designed to enhance a great push and play experience for little ones, keeping them busy and offering them a positive way of having fun. It comes with keys, that when pressed, make the cat start counting in a rhythm. How exciting is that? That's not all.

There are also music mode keys that command the cat to play meows in low and high modes as she makes silly sounds. Pushing the kitty makes her produce fun counting songs that your baby girl will want to listen to the whole day. The kitty can sit, bat, scoot, and crawl. This toy is a perfect way of nurturing mental development and balance in your baby as she explores and counts numbers one to twenty and learns new music. It comes in beautiful colors to keep your baby's attention.

The choices are endless, and these are only a few of the best and highly reviewed toys. The best part is that they are all durable and you can keep them and show them to your baby girl when she is all grown up.

How do you choose a good toy for a one year old?

You shouldn't choose the first toy that comes when conducting an online searches in sites. Let's take look at what should inform your purchase of a one year old's gift. 

Considerations when buying a present for a one year-old girl

• Safety – some toys are just not safe for babies and they even come with a safety warning signs. You will realize that some of them have been written to explain that they aren't recommended for kids under the age of five. This is probably because the toy has some aspects that could compromise the baby’s safety. Kids at this age love putting things in their mouth and you have to ensure that what you get cannot choke your baby. Also, make sure that the toy is non-toxic and doesn't have sharp edges.

• Go for educational toys – it shouldn't be all about play and fun. The child should be able to learn something when interacting with the toy. This is the developmental stage, and therefore, the toy should at least sharpen her mental development, communication skills, and cognitive capacity. Your baby will probably be spending most of her time with the toy, and therefore, it should be in a position to help her learn.

• The toy should enhance coordination – it's around this time of her life that a baby girl will be learning how to roll over and pull up as she tries to take her first step. Choose a toy that can help her enhance her motor skills and coordination as she starts to stand and walk. Keeping baby's hands and legs busy improves her strength too.

• Color and material – these are also aspects to keep in mind. You want something that will attract a baby girl and you should choose brightly colored toys over the dull ones. Pink, blue, yellow, red, and white are the most recommended colors for girls. The material takes you back to safety. Choose something soft but durable.

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