Help - Halloween Fancy Dress Party Problem

[jodee]

DS aged 4 has received his first party invite from a child in his Reception class in his new school. I was expecting it to be a Birthday Party, but it's a fancy dress party for Halloween - but we don't "do" Halloween in our house.

DH and I are both keen to meet the other parents and make new friends (I've said "hello" to the Mum across the playground) and the child also lives the closest to DS of his other classmates.

I was hoping to avoid the whole Halloween thing completely but DS likes the other boy and is keen to go. He doesn't actually have any concept of what Halloween is all about, and although he enjoys playing "monsters", he finds the masks in the shops quite scary.

I would like DS to go, but dressed up as something other than a ghost, etc. Maybe a pirate? Or do you think he would feel the odd one out if the other children were in Halloween garb? Or at that age, maybe neither he nor the other children would care or notice?!

Also, do you take a present to a fancy dress party? As far as I know it isn't anyone's birthday (there is more than one child in the other family?)

I think any kind of dressing up would be ok!

OTOH if you want to do a Halloweed costume, just use an old white sheet, cut out holes for the eyes and mouth, paint round the holes with black poster paint and you have a lovely ghosts outfit - and not too scary IYKWIM!

I'm not sure what the parents at your school tend to do, but at ours the reception parties are 'dropping off' ones - i.e. the parent's do not stay. So you might not get the opportunity to meet other parents that you were thinking of!

my child went to a halloween party as batman - sort of a link to Halloween there

I probably wouldn't take a present if it wasn't a birthday but maybe give him some cakes, sweets, chocs etc to contribute to the party tea.

I don't think it matters if he is not dressed in a halloween costume, anything fancy dress would be fine I think.

My DD (5) went as a black cat (witch's cat) to a halloween party last year.

Thanks all for replies! Batman is quite a good one, thanks for that Iota.
Kbear, would you really take food?

DS should be going as Spiderman to his own fancy dress/birthday party. I would have thought Buzz Lightyear or pirate costume, otherwise.

Wouldn't think you need a gift...

My DS went to a halloween birthday party on Saturday, one of the boys was dressed as a wizard, very Harry Potter. This isnt Halloween but fits the theme. He had a great purple cape and a point hat and a wand.

Or better still could he go as Harry Potter?

Well DS wants to go to a halloween party as an ewok

I don't think it matters what they wear, or whether they dress up at all

Check out woolworths for some decently priced costumes if you want to go down the birthday route

As for stuff to take to a Halloween party .. how about asking the mother if you can make something like gingerbread pumpkins?

my dd went halloweening last year as Glenda the good witch of the North, (from Wizard of Oz) [GRIN] who says that halloween costumes HAVE to be scary?

Does the invite say Fancy Dress or Halloween? But yes certainly take a pressie.

Re taking food - I haven't myself but when I had a summer holiday party just before they broke up some mums gave a pack of choc mini rolls and other munchies. A nice thought, I thought.

jodee, regarding you and dh staying I've been to lots of parties and stayed. Plus other mums/dads did too so I'd stay as it's a great way to meet people. If you're unsure just ask the mum?

Oh, just seen all these replies, thank you! I'm going to confirm to the Mum tomorrow so will ask her direct if I should bring anything. CKC it says both Fancy Dress Party and Halloween, so I guess anything goes.