As October approaches, it’s time to start planning for Halloween activities! Whether it’s a delicious treat to make and enjoy the week before, or an activity to complete at home instead of going door to door on the day of, we’ve got some recipes and examples below on how you can have a spooky and fun time without extensive planning – or an expensive price tag!

These three ingredient Halloween treats from Chelsea’s Messy Apron are perfect for all the right reasons. Not only do they truly embody the spirit of Halloween, but they are adaptable for any situation. Use either pre-made ingredients for the bases or homemade treats for an extra activity, these treats mean Halloween can be fun without being too complicated. Cookie decorating is another simple Halloween treat that can be economical and relatively simple to put together. This activity doesn’t require much planning – the only thing that you need to do ahead of time is bake the cookies! Veronika’s Kitchen has a recipe for cookies and instructions on how to decorate them with a Halloween spin. However, you can easily pick-up pre-made sugar cookies at your local grocery store. For decorations, you can make and dye your own icing or find other sprinkles and decorations at the dollar store or online.

For craft activities, there are many different ideas that can utilize items you may already have at home. These Paper Plate Monsters from Simply Everyday Mom only require paper plates, googly eyes, glue, paint and construction paper. For these Toilet Paper Roll Halloween Crafts from The Best Ideas for Kids, start collecting your empty toilet paper rolls, and together with a few other craft items like paint, coloured paper, and glue, you can have a collection of Halloween monsters to decorate your home. You can also check out Michaels Canada for Halloween-themed kid craft kits that can be ordered online or picked-up curb side.

Halloween may not be quite the same this year, but there are still many different ways you can enjoy the occasion with your family! Share your Halloween crafts and treats with us in the comments or our social media.

Valentine’s Day is only a couple weeks away – which means it is time to start planning now what you and your family can do to celebrate the occasion! From shopping to baking and signing cards, there’s plenty to get started on ahead of time:

Planning

First, it is important to decide what you and your family will be doing for Valentine’s Day. For example, instead of just handing out paper cards, consider decorating special Valentine’s Day cookies or treats? Not only will this be a fun activity your whole family can get involved in, it will make for a sweeter and tastier treat for people to receive on the day! Before getting started, you’ll need to consider who your recipients are – is it just family or friends, or maybe classmates? Consider how many treats you’ll need and if there are any dietary restrictions you’ll need to accommodate.

Shopping

Now is the time to start shopping for any supplies you may need, like cookie cutters, sprinkles, icing, food colouring, piping bags, and any other accessories. If you’re looking to add chocolate or other candies, many grocery stores start selling them early so you can be sure to get what you need well before February 14. Make sure to pick up any supplies and accessories you need to put the treats together, like little bags or wrapping material, as well as ribbon, pens, cards and/or tags to include a small message.

Putting it Together

Make sure to set aside some time in advance for you and your family to put together these Valentine’s Day treats. Too often people make plans to bake or make a craft together but either forget about them or find they just don’t have the time to do it. Mark a day or weekend in your family calendar and ensure that everyone is aware of when and what you are all doing. It can even be a simple weeknight activity throughout the week, where you decorate and wrap a few treats each night before bed. Remember, the intent of this activity is to have fun together as a family and create a fun treat to give out to others. It shouldn’t be too stressful or time consuming, but an engaging and simple way to celebrate Valentine’s Day!

For a list of ideas on what to make, check out this post on Valentine’s Day recipes.