This post was originally published in October 2019 and revised in October 2024 by other contributors.
Image courtesy of au pair Remata
October is a magical month for children. Everyone is settled into their new school routine, the trees are changing color, and one of the most fun holidays is around the corner: Halloween!
Halloween, with its scary motifs and creative costumes, is acknowledged in many countries, but it’s probably the most celebrated in the USA. Your au pair will be excited to experience a classic Halloween like what they see in the movies.
Here are eight ways your au pair can help your family make the most of this unique holiday.
1. Halloween Costumes
Store-bought Halloween costumes can be expensive and are often only used once. Why not have your au pair help your child make their own costume? Even better, your au pair can create a themed or matching costume set for them and the kids. After Halloween, ask your au pair to make a costume box and store it in the kids’ play area. This way, your little ones can flex their imaginations all year long.
2. Decorate the House
No time to put up the spooky themed decor? Ask your au pair to help! They can involve your kids and have your house looking like a haunted one (if that’s your vibe) in no time at all. Most au pairs would enjoy this fun activity, especially since it’s not usually done to the same extent in other countries. So, get your scarecrows, spiders, and witches out and get ready to come home to a spooky scene! Doing DIY Halloween decorations this year? Check out these ideas for inspiration!
3. Pumpkin Mania
Ask your au pair to supervise your children as they carve their favorite Jack-O-Lantern pattern or paint a pumpkin. This is a great activity for rainy days or for entertaining the kiddos while you sneak out for some ‘me time’. After carving the pumpkins, teach your au pair how to roast the seeds while sipping on a pumpkin spice latte. It’s likely they’ve never done this before and is a great opportunity to foster some added cultural exchange for them!
Image courtesy of Pexels
4. Trick-or-Treating
Trick-or-treating is an American tradition that children absolutely love. It’s their one night to shine and gather loads of treats. Encourage your au pair to join in on the fun by chaperoning your children as they go door to door in your community. If your kids trick-or-treat early, have your au pair answer your door and pass out candy once your children are done scouring the neighborhood.
5. Safety First
After a night of gathering treasures, the your child will probably want to do is face-plant into their pile of candy. Have your au pair help with going through the loot to make sure it’s safe to eat. Remind your au pair that candy should be in its original, unopened wrapper. Unwrapped candy should be thrown out, and children should only eat fruit or homemade sweets from people that your family knows and trusts. And don’t forget to remind your au pair of any food allergies in your family! Your au pair can also help with monitoring your child’s intake of sweets for the many weeks after Halloween.
6. Spooky Treats
Don’t have time to bake cookies for your child’s classroom party this month? Your au pair can teach your children how to make a traditional treat from their home country. Encourage your au pair to put a new spin on it by decorating the food for the festive season. Not only will your child get to learn about different cuisines, but they’ll also be able to share that cultural exchange with their class.
7. Volunteering at the Halloween Party
Besides memorable moments of cultural exchange, there are also many practical advantages to having an au pair support your family with the Halloween season. For example, if you’ve got multiple kids at multiple schools, or even a baby at home, an au pair can allow for you to be present for the Kindergarten Halloween parade or the classroom Halloween party. They can manage preschool pick up or baby’s nap time at home so you don’t need to miss out on the fun at the elementary school.
8. Childcare for Halloween Fun
Maybe the Friday before Halloween, you get invited to a grownup-only costume party? No need to start texting a bunch of neighborhood babysitters (who probably are also going out to their own Halloween parties). You have the flexibility to adjust your au pair’s schedule so you can enjoy a spooky night out.
Hosting an au pair during the Halloween season not only gives them great insight into American culture, but will also give you some time to enjoy a treat or two yourself. Just don’t let your little ones catch you stealing from their stash!