Kindergarten Halloween Party Organization Help Please

I teach second grade but I have taught kindergarten in the past. Here;s what my room moms did...

1. stations
pin the nose on the witch
decorate treat bags
made place mats with the foam cut outs
hot potatoe (but they used an eyeball)
snack station

the kids had a blast and it was pretty cost effective
Have a great time. Teachers really appreciate good room moms!

I've been asked to be a Head Room Mom for quite a few of my kid's classes. I have also assisted other room moms. Kids enjoy the parties because I like playing games (older kids think playing games and eating can be equally fun!) Teachers appreciate me because I don't abuse their classroom and parents like an organized party. Over the years, you figure out what works and what you will NEVER do again!

Yes, the idea of four "stations" are a great idea. Easy way to divide them up is name tags. Ask the school for 3 sheets of 30-up labels and use your computer to print the names on the labels (you'll have the names typed for future parties - make first name easy to see). The schools usually have die-cut machines so for Halloween, you can make four different name tag shapes...i.e. pumpkins, ghosts, apples and stars... that way, if you have one table that you really need all the kids to visit in a group, you can call, "Time for all the "pumpkins" to get their snacks and the "stars" can go to the craft table. Just remember to tape string - on die-cut because name tags must not be a choking hazard. Also, one extra set of labels can be used at the craft table to easily put names on craft and the third can be for any treat bag that will be going home.

Meetings are really a waste of time, especially in people's homes. If you really want to get to know people, just invite them for an afternoon snack and chat. Room mom meetings have always frustrated me..I quit having any more by the time my daughter was in first grade. People either don't show up or you spend two hours trying to figure out if you should play "hot potato" or duck, duck goose!"

Figure out what you want to do and delegate. Someone may grumble that you didn't have a meeting. Don't let it bother you. I usually am set on what will happen at the snack station but I listen to other's opinions on games and crafts. I have my back up games too. When they are older, the craft station is the one that goes away.

Re. treat bags: One parent can donate bags if you are having these. If you ask for bags....make sure they are flat-bottom-type paper lunch bags. If they are too expensive, individually, just buy red or blue lunch bag pack (of 50) at Target. Are you asking parents to donate treats (i.e. pencils, stickers candy, etc...) for a treat bag? Send the letter out...not too early, not too late. Delegate one of the parents to fill the treat bags in advance. Much easier to pass out a bag to each child than to sort stuff during a party. On your note that you would send home, ask parents to get the treats to the classroom, by (specific) date and give yourself the padding of one day for late-comers. Make sure you list the "allergy alert" on the parent note. Parents generally don't like treat bags, especially for Halloween; kids think they are great. I still do them and figure that, if a parent doesn't want to send in something, they won't.

Also, days before the party, depending on your school, the office will want a list of moms who will be attending party. It is also a nice idea to drop the teacher a note, days in advance, and let her know what you have planned in her classroom (i.e. 4 stations....here's what we'll do. Questions for you: So-and-so's mom will be picking up all treats for treat bags. Is there a date/time that I should tell her is convenient for you? Can we borrow your cd player? Do you have a table to set up snacks? Can I come in the day before to make sure all paper/food donations are in? ....

Also, those moms who are unable to attend, REALLY do want to be involved so make sure you call them so that they can help donate.

As far as food allergies, get the parents involved whose children have allergies. The "peanut" allergy mom may really want to be the one to create the snack or send in a snack for her own child. The "latex" allergy mom may inform you that there are other things that their child must avoid. These parents will really appreciate a call - they are the ones who hold their breath before every party in the hopes that their child doesn't have a reaction, especially Halloween.

Delegate, delegate, delegate and plan on being the "floater" mom. Should one station need you, you'll be able to give that area your attention.

Keep it simple. (Example) Station 1: Goulish (green Hawaiian) punch and halloween cookie...Station 2: Bat craft (make a bat using their white painted, hand prints on black foam or construction paper and use googly eyes...Station 3: Pass the eye-ball (hot potato)...Station 4: Some variation on ring toss, bozo buckets (or I have others!)

Have fun and good luck!

I'm a middle school teacher so I'm not the best person to answer this, but I'll tell you what thoughts I do have since no one has responded to your request yet.

Instead of gathering at your house to plan which may be awkward for moms that might not be comfortable with new people or moms that work, plan to meet up at a place like McDonald's with a playground after school. That way you can catch them during a time that they have to pick up their little one anyway. Also, if you meet at a place where the kids can entertain themselves you can accomplish more. They can also get an after school snack. When you set up the meeting, ask the moms to "bring ideas written down" for snacks and activities. That way people aren't sitting around saying, "What do you think we should do?" You will all be prepared with thoughts to share then you can pick the best ideas as a group. Over plan activities! You'll be surprised how quickly kids can get bored with a project or distracted by another student and lose focus.
Activities could include a cut and paste craft, a circle time story about Halloween read by a mom or a book on tape, even a short Halloween video (no more than 15 minutes long). This is good for transitional times when you need to clean up one thing before you can begin another. A coloring activity, Pumpkin (Bozo) buckets, pin the face on the Jack-o-lantern, etc are good games. Keep to non-food goodies like stickers, pencils, and little notepads, dollar store items. They won't need any candy after trick or treating. This will solve the peanut allergy problem too. For a snack, what about popcorn? You can pop it fresh with an air popper at school - kids love to watch that, plus it smells great. Keep drinks clear - 7up and water. Your teacher will appreciate that.
Once you determine a outline of ideas you can assign other volunteer moms with their duties like buying glue for a craft, pre-cutting items to paste, or writing all the kids names on goody bags.
Good luck and enjoy the party!

I agree with what Karen typed. I helped with the parties last year when my twins were in kindergarten and centers is the way to go. Things run smoothly this way. I played a bingo game, another mom did a craft, another mom was in charge of small group game, and another mom did a listening game.

We normally did small groups, but once we did a race with two teams (about 10 on a team) and the kids had to put a coat, hat, mittens, etc.. on and run down the hallway. That was a lot of fun for the kids... a bit crazy, but worth it for them. (I would have personally made more teams so there would be less waiting time in line.)
We did have them all sit in a circle for the winter/holiday party and they passed a present around. When the music stopped, the child holding it got to open it up and keep it. We got money from the PTO for the gifts which were bought at the Dollar Tree.

I don't think it's necessary to have a meeting at your home. Just my thought, though. But... it's kind of nice to have some time to socialize with the moms outside of school. I would just ask the moms to pick an activity that they would like to lead at the party. Give them some ideas. I think communicating via email about the party would be sufficient.

Hi Chrissy,
I have had both the great experience and the bad the the party planning.
For my first son we had the "Room Mom" that was great! Everyone got a list asking what they wanted to do (plan -ie come up with activity, help out, or send in). She then came up with the game plan so to speak. She had decided that Centers was the way to go so she had the "Planners" come up with an art activity (we had 2) and each parent was in-charge of coming up with the idea and bringing everything ready to start. They were also given the name of a person that wanted to help by sending in any supplies needed. Then we had 2 game people. The same as the art person, this person decided what two SIMPLE games were to be played. We also had a Snack person. This person could either finish making a snack or just bring one in. Then Helpers were very clearly there to help out. Each person checked in with the "Room Mom" just to let her know what type of space was needed (tables, chairs, glue, etc) and if memory serves me correctly she was one that had decided an art activity. This "Room Mom" was great because everyone was included and felt like they were a part of the party even if they could come.
The Bad experience came with my second son and was when the Mom called and said she had these games, these activites and these snacks which did I want to help with. She had very clearly don several parties and was very organized but it was really no fun because I had no input and felt like I was an intruder at her party (the kids enjoyed themselves and had no idea)!
Another suggestion, is to have someone taking pictures. Have them try to get atleast one of every child and then when they are developed send them home. Sometimes I think the parents that can't come in are over-looked and that is a great way they can see what is going on at school. You might also let "Goodie Bags" be brought in just for the purpose of being sent home so everyone that wants to can send something in (my kids love to make them and we do it together).
Hope this helps! Good luck!

HI--I love Family Circle magazine as well as family fun magazine---they have a lot of ideas for food, crafts and the like. here is the website for family fun--under halloween. I would check out the whole site--it has some great things. Also if you are looking for coloring sheets or something they have a lot of free coloring sheets if you just google it.

http://familyfun.go.com/parties/holiday/specialfeature/ha...

Hope this helps,
K.

E-mail communication is the way to go. BUT one caveat--solicit input from the other moms about their thoughts and ideas don't just dictate/delegate. I was a room parent last year with 2 other moms and the head mom had everything decided and done without asking the rest of us a thing. She had printed out BINGO cards, bought treat bag and gift items, decided on the craft--everything. I felt like her staff rather than a mom planning a party for my child and her classmates. I went into the party angry, unhappy and unappreciated. Remember people volunteer to have fun and plan something nice for their child. As head room mom, you should guide and organize not dictate.
As far as games...we found the kids LOVED BINGO done with pictures. There are many websites to help you create a board. Be sure to play until everyone gets a BINGO.
Finally, remember when the party is, when the kids go home, and if the craft will be dry by then. Paint isn't a good idea unless there is a lot of time to dry. If you are making handprints or finger prints on something...use ink pads instead of paint.

Hi. My son is just in preschool, so I don't have organizational tips, but I do have a "fun" activity that was a big hit at our Halloween party (at our house) last year. Have the kids make their own "treat bag" from paper lunch bags and markers or by glueing jack o' latern features onto their bag (whatever is age apropriate). Then have the kids go "trick or treating" to stations set up around the room -- each one manned (or womanned) by a costumed parent. Or even better, if the room has a few doors you can use have parents be dressed up on the other side of the doors to give them a treat. The costumes don't have to be elaborate -- I had a mom with a clown nose and funny hat, someone with pop-eye glasses, someone with an eye patch and pirate hat, etc. You don't have to have a lot of stations -- maybe 3 or four. And the treats don't have to be candy since they get so much candy at everything else. You can have small toys or stickers.

Another hit we had was "Mummy pizza". It's little pizzas made on English muffins -- use string cheese split into strips for the "wrap" and olive slices for eyes. You can serve them cold. I think the other thing that was popular was graham crackers shaped like bugs (I think they were Keebler brand) but I don't know if those are made in a factory with nuts.

Hope that helps! Good luck.

I was the room mom when my daughter was in Kindergarten. I also had about three other moms who volunteered to help. We decided to have four stations at the party and each mom was in charge of creating one station. We divided the kids into four groups and rotated them between the stations. Our stations were 1) the kids listened to a halloween story 2) craft station were I think they made witches 3) game station were we played a memory game. The mom had about ten or twelve items on a platter. We had the kids close there eyes while we removed one or two items. Lastly they had to remember what was missing 4) this mom had the kids decorate halloween cookies to eat.

I just called each mom and asked them to pick a station. The party went very well with very little chaos!!

Good luck!