When was the last time you had a family movie night? It’s one family tradition that we’ve been doing with our five kids for over a decade. Movie nights are special nights that we plan things around, that’s how important they are for our family.
Throughout the years as the kids have gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate family movie nights more and more. Now with kids that are 16, 15, 14, 13 and 8 years old, I’ve realized that movie nights are so much more than just movie nights. It’s time together. It’s time without technology. It’s time without outside distractions. It’s time to laugh and have fun together as a family. It’s time to unwind and relax. And it’s time to build and create memories with each other.
Since Halloween is around the corner, I thought it would be fun to share a fun family movie night idea! The cool thing is that movie nights can be done at any time throughout the year, but there’s something about having a theme that just makes them extra exciting.
Our family loves our annual Halloween Family Movie Night. There are so many amazing Halloween family movies to choose from and it really gets the kids into the spirit of the upcoming holiday. My advice? Start in September and have a Halloween Family Movie Night every week leading up to Halloween. This will get everyone excited for Halloween.
To create the “perfect” Halloween Family Movie Night for your family, there are certain things you can do to ensure that it’s a success for everyone. Your main goal is just to make sure everyone is having fun, but there are definitely things you can do to make sure it’s a seamless, spooky evening for all. I’m a big believer in planning ahead, especially when you’re taking on a theme.
Tips for a Successful Halloween Family Movie Night
Pick a Date and Time: With Halloween weeks away, now is the time to plan ahead for your Halloween Family Movie Night. Pick a few dates on your calendar and reserve these nights now for your family movie nights. Circle the dates on your family calendar for everyone to see.
Watch Halloween-Themed Movies: That’s right! Pick movies that are Halloween themed. The good news is that there are so many amazing movies for you to choose from for you and your family. To get your Halloween creative juices flowing, here are a few suggestions: Cruella, The Addams Family, Goosebumps, Ghostbusters, Frankenstein, The Haunted Mansion, Casper, Hocus Pocus, The Witches, Beetlejuice, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, Halloweentown… just to name a few!
Comfy and Scary Setup: A great part about a Halloween Family Movie Night is that you can create any kind of environment that you want, as long as it has a cozy feel to it. What we like to do is take out our Halloween decorations and have some fun with the atmosphere. We also grab tons of pillows and blankets and set up cozy spots (that’s what we call it) for everyone in our family. It’s easier to “assign” spots for the kids because this way there won’t be any arguing about who sits where (pro mom tip)
Snack Time: This is the most important part for my kids, it’s ALL about the snacks. Snacks are what make every Family Movie Night. Since it is Halloween time… chocolate is the only way to go. We’re huge Hershey fans, so what we do is stock up on all of their favorite treats: HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate Bars, REESE’S Peanut Butter Cups and KIT KAT® Chocolate Bars and make a candy bar. It’s easier for me to get the snack sized bars because this way I can create a fun display for them. By creating a cool and fun looking candy bar on my coffee table, the kids can grab what they want and enjoy throughout the movie.
Costume Fun: This one is completely optional, but fun to do. Normally it’s just my daughter and I who partake in this, but it’s fun nonetheless. I opted for a fun rainbow headband and Victoria opted for her unicorn sleepy suit. Dressing up gets everyone into the Halloween spirit.
Hopefully these tips will help you out as you plan your Halloween Family Movie Night. It’s such a fun time of year, so really take the time to embrace this family tradition and keep it going throughout the year, too.
There are two more quick tips I want to share with you that are helpful to keep in mind. One, if your kids are on the older side (like mine) make sure all technology (phones and tablets) are put away. You really want to make sure that there are no distractions for them because family time is family time. Two, take time after each Halloween movie (or any movie you watch) and have each member of your family rate it from 1 to 10 and give them own little review. This has become one thing I look forward to after each movie we watch as a family.
Happy Halloween everyone! I hope Family Movie Night helps get you and your family extra excited about Halloween!
Audrey Mc Clelland
Influencer
Audrey Mc Clelland
Influencer
Audrey is a nationally recognized parenting expert (and mom of 5) who has appeared on national and local broadcast stations. She has worked online as a parenting influencer for 16 years, and the founder of MomGenerations.com, an online destination for mothers. She has been named one of the most influential moms online and is a long-standing contributor to the TODAY Show Parents Network.
