Trick or treating alternatives for Halloween 2020

For a frighteningly fun time in, we suggest stocking up on your favorite candy and a few good scary movies...if you dare. We break things down by age, so little ghosts and goblines can enjoy the likes of Monsters Inc and The Addams Family while your teens indulge in the scariest Halloween movies for kids around. (Hint: Pennywise made the list.)

Our favorite Halloween songs for kids will make your little pumpkins scream in the dead of night. Drawing on inspiration from our favorite scary movies for kids and best bands for kids, we've assembled a mighty-fine list of creepy, kooky and spooky tracks. 

Looking to add a few screams to those nightly bedtime stories? Not a problem: The best Halloween books for kids will gladly do the trick! From Goosebumps and Coraline to Spooky Pooky and Big Pumpkin, this roundup has a story for all the ghosts and goblins in your crew, whether they're looking for something scary or silly. 

Are you ready? We came up with 13 tales that will delight and frighten your crew—the list starts with silly stories suitable for young listeners, then creeps up the scary scale to ancient myths so terrifying they might keep you up at night. How horrifying are these stories? It's up to you. Remember, it's all in the telling—and how you use dramatic pauses and ghostly whispers.

After you find the gourd of your dreams at a nearby pumpkin patch, turn it into a masterpiece with your little ones. (Mom and Dad, we suggest you do the carving.) Don't be afraid to get creative: Michael's released a variety of pumpkin decorating videos for children and families, so have a look and take your imagination to the next level! 

You probably know by now that 2020 has no rules, so why not make up your own? Combine Easter and Halloween with a family candy egg hunt rather than trick or treating from door to door. Or, you can set up shop in your apartment and make your own scavenger-hunt like adventure for the kiddos.  

From BAM's BamBOO! to Laurie Berkner's concert, plenty of Haloween events for kids are going virtual. Check out what's taking place in the digital space. 

Even if you're staying in with your loved ones, there's still an opportunity to dress up in super spooky garb. Why not? 

Ah, fall—the leaves begin to change, sweater weather swoops in and "Apple cider donuts near me" becomes your favorite Google search. What better way to welcome New York City's most beautiful season than with something sweet? Whether you opt for treats from your local farmer's market, Doughnuttery's cinnamon-citrus blend or Dough's apple doughnut with almond streusel, you can't go wrong. The only wong way to snack would be skipping out on some cider or cocoa with your order.