[ErikAndre]

What do you think about offering a bean toss game on Halloween night in the driveway for kids to play if they want?

I have mixed feelings and slightly leaning against it.

On one hand, it would be fun for them to play. On the other, I can see parents just wanting to have their kids knock on the door, get the candy and move on without any distractions.

Thoughts? I mean, honestly.

 

[Saruman of Many Colours]

It's not as if it'd be mandatory, so why not?

Whoever doesn't want to do it can just move on. *shrug*

 

[Blarghity]

Kids love interactivity, because it is something different from repetitive and rapidly boring "Trick or Treat" routine.

Instead of a bean bag toss,try a body part toss. Get some zombie hands, feet and a head. Get a sheet of plywood and mount a fake torso on it. Cut holes for the head, hands and feet where they would normally be, but big enough to easily allow the proper part to pass through. Kids get 5 tries to get a part through a hole to get their candy instead of ToT. I did this years ago and the kids loved it. Having multiple sets of hands/feet/head will help speed things up, too.

If that is too much work for the time left, get some rubber bats or rats to substitute for the bean bags. Just remember, make the rules simple enough to speed things up and always offer a candy consolation prize.

 

[ErikAndre]

You have a good point.

We have a full theme Minecraft bean toss to knock over Minecraft characters (hinged to the table) that we borrowed from a friend, so it does have entertainment value with children. Since we borrowed it, we're a little committed to it if we decide to move forward with it. Your zombie idea is pretty amazing. I may just replace the bean bags with rubber bats (that sounds like fun!). Thanks.

 

[UnOrthodOx]

Fluorescent chalk. I'm constantly shocked how many stop to write rather than just rush off. Bet the game would surprise as well.

 

[HalloweenieChallenge]

Do it!

It sounds like a lot of fun!

And if they don't want to play... well they don't have to!

The driveway is so cool!

 

[SpookyBlackKat]

Yes! I've wanted to do this and may try next year. Depending on your neighborhood the parents may like it more than you think. We have lots of you get kids so the parents really love anything extra that makes the night special for their kid.

 

[Scatterbrains]

That's not for me...there comes a point when I want people to move along, so I'm not going to give them a reason to hang out longer...I'm busy enough as is, and that would require another volunteer to monitor. But if you are going to do it, body parts sounds like the way to go

 

[zombieprincess]

Oh sounds fun! Especially for the little ones that come before dark.

 

[the_great_gazoo]

Wonderful idea a lot of parents these day welcome anything that slows the kids down from bringing more candy into their houses. The families that want to stop and enjoy the hollween experience the families that just want to fill their candy bags will keep going.

 

[Wolfman]

Where we haunt now is fairly quiet, around 140 TOT's. And we've done a game to determine what treat any particular kid will receive. A full size chocolate bar, bag of chips, gum or a DVD. The game is "Toss Your Cookies". A simple grid, each square listing the type of prize to be collected. All fluorescent under black lights, and we play the "thinking" music from Jeopardy while playing. We use real cookies... It adds a little to the experience, doesn't require any time, and is a great prelude to entering the Haunted House.

 

[matrixmom]

Ok I'm going to be the negative Nellie here - if someone gets hit by beanbag, you are liable. Not that anyone would be seriously hurt- but there's always THAT family.
Just watching out for you!!
I think unorthodox idea is different no one could potentially get hurt.

 

[UnOrthodOx]

I think unorthodox idea is different no one could potentially get hurt.

Kid leaves chalk on sidewalk, granma steps on chalk, it rolls, granma goes down on concrete.

Safer to be hit with a bean bag.

Seriously, there's possible concern with ANYTHING you do.