| Although there really is nothing to fear about bats, | | | | gets a prize too.) |
| and they don't really attack people to drink their | | | | Owl and Bats Game |
| blood nor are they blind, it's fun to let your | | | | You will need either some plastic or rubber bats. |
| imagination run wild, especially around Halloween. | | | | There should be one less bat than the number of |
| The days are growing shorter, the air is crisp, and | | | | players. For example, if you have 6 players, use 5 |
| the leaves are dying-the perfect conditions to let | | | | bats. Before the game, color or paint a spot on |
| your kids go batty. This year, forget the ghosts | | | | the bottom of each bat. Have children sit in a |
| and witches and take a cue from Edgar Allan Poe | | | | circle. Put the bats, marks facing down, on the |
| and plan your Halloween party around these scary | | | | floor in the middle of the circle. Have children |
| black mammals. Find everything you need for a | | | | choose one bat. The child without the bat is the |
| "horror-ble" party that will drive your guests | | | | "owl." Have the "owl" sit in the middle of the circle. |
| batty, from invitations, to crafts, to games. | | | | The "owl" points to one child and tries to guess |
| Invitations | | | | the color of the spot on that child's bat. If the |
| - Use a white paint pen to write party details on | | | | "owl" guesses the correct color, the child with the |
| black bat-shaped cut-outs. Glue onto orange craft | | | | bat runs around the circle and the "owl" tries to |
| paper and send out to guests. | | | | catch him/her before he/she sits down at his/her |
| - Decorations | | | | spot again. If the "owl" catches the child with the |
| - Set the mood for your party by hanging | | | | bat, he/she will be a bat again. If not, the "bat" |
| inverted bats made out of black construction | | | | takes a turn to be the "owl." |
| paper from trees or the entrance to your house | | | | Party Favors |
| - Trim the front door with bat decals or cut-outs. | | | | Visit your local party store or discount store, |
| Add a banner with a scary saying. | | | | looking for inexpensive bat-related novelties such |
| - Carve bat shapes into pumpkins and display on | | | | as key chains, plastic toys, jewelry, etc. |
| the front porch and inside the house. For an extra | | | | Bat Cookie Decorating Activity/Snack |
| ghoulish effect, light candles and place inside the | | | | Let children decorate their own bat-shaped sugar |
| pumpkins. | | | | cookies. Set up a table with paper plates, plastic |
| - Using black and orange ribbon, hang bat shapes | | | | knives, napkins along with sugar cookies cut in bat |
| from the ceiling along with black and orange | | | | shapes, different colors of frosting, sprinkles, |
| balloons. | | | | candy corn, etc. |
| - Make a bat banner out of construction paper | | | | Snacks/Drinks |
| - For your a table center decoration paint a large, | | | | - Ice cupcakes with black and add bat-shaped |
| bare tree branch black and attaching black | | | | edible decorations. |
| construction paper or plastic bats to it. | | | | - Use bat-shaped cookie cutters to make bat |
| - Spread bat-shaped confetti on tabletops and | | | | sandwiches or pancakes. Using a bat shaped |
| counters. | | | | cookie cutter, cut flour tortillas into bat shapes. |
| Bat Hunt Game | | | | Lightly brush both sides of each bat shape with oil. |
| Hide some toy bats or construction paper bats | | | | Place tortilla shapes on cookie cutter and place in |
| around the house inside or outside before guest | | | | oven. Broil tortilla shapes, flipping chips once when |
| arrive. Give each guest a paper bag and a | | | | they begin to brown. When brown on both sides, |
| flashlight and turn off the lights or go outside. | | | | sprinkle lightly with salt or a mixture of cinnamon |
| Have guests search for the hidden bats. The | | | | and sugar. |
| person who finds the most bats is the winner. | | | | - Bat grog: Combine 2 cups grape juice, 2 cups |
| Give a small prize to the winner if desired. | | | | lemon-lime soda, lime sherbet, and lemon sherbet. |
| (Variation: You could have one special bat for | | | | Chill. |
| guests to find, and the person who finds that bat | | | | |