Your Unschooling & Halloween Hub: Resources, Learning Ideas, and Inspiration for Parents
Halloween is full of curiosity, creativity, and connection — everything unschooling families value most. 🧡
Whether you love the costumes and candy or just want to enjoy the season without pressure, this page gathers my favorite unschooling resources, learning ideas, and encouragement to help you see how real learning happens through life, not lessons.
This page gathers the stories, movies, memes, and encouragement to help you enjoy the season without losing sight of what matters most: the relationship you have with your kids.
🎃 What You’ll Find Here
This Unschooling + Halloween Hub brings together ideas, stories, and resources for parents who want to make the most of this season — through connection, curiosity, and creativity.
Here’s what you’ll discover as you scroll below:
- Examples of Subjects — Halloween is FULL of opportunities to learn. That's what the 2025 Podcast is all about!
- Candy & critics conversations — handle sugar, judgment, and those big-kid trick-or-treat debates
- Encouragement for parents — reminders that connection matters more than approval (+ link to Critics & Naysayers Guide)
- 80+ movie recommendations — spooky fun for kids, tweens, and teens
- Book suggestions — cozy reads for October nights
- Fun ideas & crafts — pulled from Unschooling Mom2Mom’s Halloween Pinterest Board
- A gallery of Halloween memes — because humor is part of surviving the season!
- A gentle wrap-up reminder — to trust your kids, relax about the candy, and choose joy over judgment
Edited: October 26, 2025
🎃 Unschooling Halloween:
Everyday Learning in Disguise
(Episode #188 – Unschooling Mom2Mom Podcast)
Transcript — lightly formatted for readability.
Hey friends — welcome back to the Unschooling Mom2Mom podcast.
Pull up a chair, maybe grab your warm drink — and let’s just chat for a minute. 🍂
It’s Halloween week, and for a lot of families, that can stir up a lot of mixed feelings.
Some people love it — the costumes, the candy, the decorations — and others, well, maybe not so much.
Maybe you’re not a big “holiday” person. Or maybe you start to wonder… how does something like Halloween fit into unschooling?
The short answer? Perfectly.
Every season — every celebration — offers natural ways for kids to learn through curiosity and connection. That’s why I include holidays in the Seasonal Unschooling Guides.
Because you can see it so clearly: the learning isn’t separate from life… it is life.
Listen:
All Transcripts are here on this page.
Watch:
🌕 Using the Holiday as Your Curriculum
Now, if you’re someone who’s almost unschooling — maybe you still have a little curriculum plan sitting on the table, or you’re not sure what to do when the school rhythm gets interrupted — this is the perfect time to experiment.
Set the plans aside for a week.
Just use the holiday.
Not only will it “cover” the subjects — if you need that reassurance — but it’ll help you see what unschooling really looks like in action. You’ll start noticing how learning weaves naturally through your days without any major orchestration on your part.
You’ll be living what unschooling families already know: that life itself is full of lessons, patterns, and discovery. And when you lean into what’s already happening in your home and community — instead of trying to manage every moment — you create space for curiosity to show up all on its own.
Even if you are unschooling, but you get little twinges of doubt when it feels like an awful lot of playtime, let’s look at how that happens — just through the lens of Halloween.
🎃 Everyday Learning in Halloween Moments
- Language Arts – read spooky stories or poems together, or have your kids write their own haunted-house tale. Create a Halloween comic strip or record a story in spooky voices.
- Math – sort candy, estimate how many pieces are in the bowl, divide it up between siblings or friends, even figure out which houses give the best “return on investment.” (That’s probability, by the way!)
- Fine Arts – design costumes, make masks, decorate the porch or house, carve pumpkins. It’s all art — design, expression, imagination — and often collaboration.
- Science – explore how pumpkins grow, how light and shadows work when setting up decorations, or how bats and spiders fit into ecosystems.
- Social Studies – learn about the origins of Halloween, its Celtic roots, and how traditions have changed through time and across cultures.
💀 Día de los Muertos Connections
If your family or community has Hispanic influences, this week might also include Día de los Muertos — the Day of the Dead. (please excuse my pronuciation!) That adds another beautiful layer of learning.
It’s a holiday that celebrates connection — remembering and honoring loved ones who’ve passed away.
- You might read poems, listen to folktales, or write stories about family memories (Language Arts).
- In Math, kids might explore symmetry and geometry through sugar skulls or calculate what’s needed for an ofrenda — the altar honoring loved ones.
- In Science, study the life cycle of monarch butterflies, deeply symbolic during Día de los Muertos, or talk about decomposition and renewal in nature.
- Social Studies ties it together — the blending of Indigenous and Catholic traditions, the beauty of Mexican culture, and how remembrance rituals help people worldwide honor their ancestors
- Fine Arts shines here too: making papel picado, sugar skulls, or decorating colorful altars.
It’s learning that touches both the heart and the mind.
🕯️ A Reassuring Reminder
Sometimes parents worry that all this play and celebration doesn’t “count.”
But here’s the thing — these moments are the foundation of real learning.
Kids are curious, observant, and creative. When they get to live the season, they’re building memories, vocabulary, math sense, and empathy — without a worksheet in sight.
And honestly, that’s what we’re doing, too.
As parents, we’re learning to see differently — to trust that a full, connected life is enough.
🌙 Before You Go…
If this feels comforting, I have a little something for you.
I’ve built a growing collection of ideas that connect Halloween and Unschooling — you’ll find it right here on the Halloween Hub page.
And in case you missed it, last year’s Unschooling Nightmare podcast is worth another listen — playful, fun, and a reminder that we’ve already left the scariest parts of schooling behind.
If I get organized this week, there’ll be a video for you too!
Look for it Thursday — and if you
subscribe to the channel, you’ll be notified as soon as it’s up.
If you’re more of a Fall person than a Halloween person, grab the Seasonal Guide for Autumn — it’s full of examples of learning for all ages using the season. We only have so many Fall seasons with our kids under our roofs; be sure to tap into it.
None of this is about doing more.
It’s about being deliberate and intentional — adding sparkle to your kids’ lives.
The learning will happen; you just have to notice it. It’s all tangled up together in the fun, the laughter, and the connection.
Happy Halloween, everyone. 🎃
And as always — happy unschooling.
Podcast Transcript: #118 - Halloween, Big Kids, Candy:
A few topics come up each year as we approach the "holiday" season. Like what?
- Candy consumption
- Big Kids trick-or-treating
- Critics & Judgement
And at the bottom of this post:
- A list of spooky movies that are kid-friendly
- Halloween Memes
- Pinterest Links for fun activities
With Halloween around the corner, if you’re on any of the Unschooling Mom2Mom social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest), you’ve seen a few memes! We really get into holidays! And Halloween is no exception!
But with this particular holiday, parents bump into some tough decisions.
So that’s what I want to talk with you about in this last week of October.
Things like Candy Consumption, whether to let Big Kids Trick or Treat, and what to do with the Critics in our lives - those people who don’t like the decisions we’re making.
Candy Consumption
So let’s start with all that candy. Yes, lots of people give out other things besides candy - and you may do this too. But if your kids trick-or-treat, they’ll be coming home with a whole lot of sugary loot!
Realistically, even if you don’t do Halloween, we’re entering The Candy Season. So this candy issue starts at Halloween and then continues on through the end of the year right? The Holidays are full of sweet treats!
In general, most parents have been learning more about nutrition and there are some pitfalls that can come with our sugary obsession.
That being said, candy and sweet desserts are woven into our holiday experiences.
So...what's a conscientious mom to do?
Everyone is going to handle this differently, but there are a couple of points I want to remind you about the concept of .... forbidden fruit!
Forbidden Fruit
When we're told we can't have something, it makes us want it more, right?
So if you fall into the camp of wanting to dole out the candy a little at a time, you’re going to elevate it’s importance to the kids. This often leads to kids sneaking to get more or lying about how much they’ve had. But when we parcel it out - making it the forbidden fruit - we’ve created that dynamic.
Lots of parents think,
"Oh! But if I don’t put some limits on them, they’ll eat it all and make themselves sick.”
And if you HAVE been limiting it, that may well happen. But they’ll learn from that tummy ache.
And you’ll have the opportunity to talk with them about what’s going on. Remember, it’s about partnering with them - even on topics like candy.
An Exception?
I was talking to a grown unschooler who was a new mom. She had grown up with this unschooling approach to Halloween.
But when she left the candy on the coffee table, her toddler was devouring it all. But, it’s ok, especially for little ones, to put the bag or bowl of candy out of their line of sight. They WILL learn to manage it, but toddlers aren’t really there yet. Enjoy the candy
with them - sprinkle in other food they like.
Solutions
Many Unschooling moms, over the years, have shared how their kids pick through what they like first, then didn’'t seem to be as interested in it later on. It takes a little bit of trust on your part though. But time and time again, we see kids learn how to manage this freedom.
- Create their own fruit roll-up style of “candy” from dehydrated fruit like this grown unschooling mom did. Her child didn’t really see the difference between that and the other candy. And the interaction between mom and child stayed positive.
- At our house, we kept this black plastic "cauldron" near our front door full of the candy that had been collected at Halloween. Year after year, I'd have to dump it at the end of the following summer to get ready for the NEW candy that would be coming in. For a while, we lived on an Air Force Base, and with three kids, they had quite a haul! Interestingly, the kids who had their candy rationed out or removed entirely - they were the ones who dove into that cauldron whenever they came over. My kids kind of shrugged it off.
- 🗣 Follow the conversation over the Unschooling Mom2Mom Facebook Group - here
- 🍬 Read real-life examples of unschoolers who have dealt with candy consumption from an unschooling perspective:
True Tales of Kids Turning Down Sweets
What about Cavities ?
Lots of parents are worried about the damage sugar can do to teeth. But research shows that your DNA - whether you have strong healthy teeth - has a lot more to do with whether or not you'll get cavities. Kids who have a tendency for cavities will probably get them even if you skipped the Halloween candy altogether.
Parents in the FB group shared ideas for how to approach this:
- Rinsing with water after eating
- Eat foods that are "natural teeth cleaners" like celery, apples, hard cheeses
- Offer xylitol gum after eating candy (apparently bacteria doesn't like to grow around xylitol)
- Bringing kid flossers to them while they're watching YouTube or playing something while sitting still
- Brushing teeth before bed so it's not sitting there all night
- From a dental care standpoint, getting molars sealed and finding a dentist who works quickly with problem teeth
🍎 Interesting study: Tooth Decay Bacteria Evolved as Diet Changed
Practical Tips:
Make sure the kids are full before they go trick or treating.
We used to host a little potluck with macaroni and hot dogs as our the kids’ friends assembled before hitting the neighborhood.
Other moms I know have had pizza.
My friend and nutritionist, Karen Kennedy advised us all to have a BIG lunch and then a protein-packed smaller dinner.
This is the nutrition-smart way to offset the sugar that’s coming to their systems.
Eat a big lunch and some protein for dinner.
Instead of fighting the candy, be smart.
Have a big, healthy lunch for Halloween day.
Then have a small, early dinner with plenty of protein...
something like turkey sandwiches, scrambled eggs or a lentil soup.
Yeah, they'll have more candy than you'd like. 🍬
But it won't cause as much trouble if they leave with some protein in their belly.
Have fun!! 👻👻👻
From Karen Kennedy
@karenkennedynutrition
Certified
Nutritionist at Real Food Matters
Karen also shares some tips if you're planning the food in
Healthier Parties for Children
________________
"We make sure everyone eats a couple slices of pizza before we head out trick-or-treating."
FB Group member/mom
________________
"We invited kids over to get ready at our house - while we served a potluck dinner full of kid-friendly foods! Nothing like filling up their tummy BEFORE the big adventure!" ~Sue Patterson
When we can stop being so fearful about candy, we can plan ahead and then also prioritize the connection.
The stress and the tension will decrease.
Big Kids Trick-or-Treating
Lots of people feel like the big kids need to leave it with the littles. But I think that’s an anti-teen sentiment that’s really prevalent in society. Sure, they want free candy.
On one hand, we complain that kids grow up too quickly.
Then, we tell them they're too big for trick-or-treating!
Let’s look at what else is maybe going on:
Think of these things:
- They want to enjoy a holiday that has special memories for them
- It's an opportunity to have fun with their friends in a safe way
- Maybe they love having the chance to dress up and "play make-believe" (even though they've "outgrown" it!)
- They're part of your community too!
Don't be afraid of bigger kids!
Also Remember this...
A Child taking more than one piece of candy may have fine motor needs.
A Child taking a while to choose their candy may have motor planning or processing needs.
A Child who doesn't say, "Trick or Treat" or "Thank you" may have communication needs.
A Child without a costume may have sensory needs.
Model kindness.
You might be the only adult advocating for the big kids - but other adults have maybe just not thought of it… and they’re kind of swept up in the anti-teen sentiment that’s so common in society.
Be kind.
And remind the other adults around you to be too.
Advocate for children - all children - yours, mine, everyone's!
The adults nearby may need you to remind them to be kinder.
Childhood ends all too quickly - and some of these big kids are noticing that.
Give’em the candy - what’s it going to hurt?
Critics and Judgement
So about these other adults in our world. Some of them may be critical of you and your choices. Maybe it’s about the candy, the costumes, the big kids...oh, people have all sorts of reasons to criticize us, right?
Sometimes we need to stop and evaluate how much influence we want other people have on what we're deciding to do as parents. I saw a meme the other day that said, if you don’t like someone else’s parenting, why would we listen to their criticism?
That’s something to remember - whether it has to do with halloween or not, right?
Sometimes we've even internalized some of these judgements and we're our own worst critic!
As we move through this parenting phase of our lives, we often bring a need for approval with us. An unschooling approach would be to prioritize the relationship you have with your own children over the connection you have with other parents.
You don't need their approval. Odds are, SOMEONE is going to dislike SOMETHING you do - no matter what you choose. So continue to move in the direction of strengthening those bonds with your kids!
Need Help with the Critics in Your Life?
This Unschooling Guide will give you the practical tips you need to deal with the friends, family, spouse, and even strangers who disagree with the choices you're making.
Grab this guide so you can feel more confident!
Wrapping Up
About the candy...
Don’t ration it, don’t keep it from them, don’t buy it back - whatever the latest thing is.
Making it more forbidden makes it more important. The more you restrict it, the more they’ll focus on it.
About those critics, take a deep breath and make the choices YOU want to make.
About the children...prioritize advocating for the kids - big kids, little kids, your kids, my kids, everyone's kids!
Be the grown up that stands up for them.
80+ Movie Recommendations from Unschoolers
Feel free to add more in the comments!
- Original Twilight Zone episodes
- The Blog
- Godzilla
- King Kong
- Dracula
- Frankenstein
- Young Frankenstein
- The Mummy
- Svengoolie
- Alien
- Nine
- Casper
- Van Helsing
- The Goonies
- Clue
- The Lost Boys
- Fear Street
- The Story Teller
- Twitches
- Dr Who
- It
- Lady in White
- The Gremlins
- Halloweentown
- Dark Shadows
- The Witches
- Werewolf By Night (Marvel)
- The Addams Family
- The Munsters
- Teen Witch
- Hubie Halloween
- Halloween 1 and 2
- Goosebumps
- Ghostbusters
- Just Add Magic
- Practical Magic
- Beetlejuice
- Corpse Bride
- Gravity Falls
- Hotel Transylvania
- Teen Witch
- The Craft
- Practical Magic
- April Fools Day
- Scooby Doo
- Elvira
- Gravity Falls
- The Others
- Drop Dead Fred
- Coraline
- The Birds
- Shaun of the Dead
- The Simpsons (Edgar Allen Poe)
- Hocus Pocus 1 & 2
- Edward Scissorhands
- Monster Squad
- The Haunted Mansion
- The Ghost & Mr.Chicken -DonKnotts
- Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
- Creature from the Black Lagoon
- Nothing But Trouble (Chevy Chase)
- The House with a Clock in the Walls
- The Boy Who Cried Werewolf
- Legend of Sleepy Hollow
- Don't Look Under the Bed
- Something Wicked This Way Comes
- The Curse of Bridge Hollow
- Poltergeist (new and original)
- The Electric Grandmother
- Watcher in the Woods
- Interview with a Vampire
- Pirates of the Carribean
- Nightmare Before Christmas
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Little Shop of Horrors
- Witches of Eastwick
- The Littlest Vampire
Book Recommendations
Not as many as movies, but still might help you get your wheels turning! Reading together under the covers is so fun. Especially if it's a rainy night - what other books can I add to this list?
- Room on the Broom
- The Little Old Lady who was Not Afraid of Anything (don't forget the hand motions!)
- Coraline
- The Headless Horseman
- House of Leaves
- A Tale Dark and Grimm series (Adam Gidwitz)
- The Bogwater Witches
- The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Ghost
- The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat
- Creepy Carrots
- Dragon's Halloween
- Bunnicula (#1-#3)
- The Best/Worst Halloween
- The Little Witch
- Halloween I Spy
Fun Things to Do with the Kids!
Unschooling Mom2Mom on Pinterest!
Lots of fun ideas over here!
How 'bout some Memes?
