Hallow-Teen Party

Kick up the fright factor. Go all out with ghoulish decorations. This group loves strobe lights, fog machines, spider webs and haunted house effects! The darker and creepier, the better.

Create a costume theme. Think video game characters, sports teams, etc. Or if you really want to gross them out, have them dress like their parents!

Costume contest. Enough of the "every person is a winner" thing. This age group clearly likes competition. Encourage the kids to dress up by offering a cool prize, such as gift cards for music downloads, free food from a favorite fast-food restaurant or a pass for a no-chores week (consult other parents, first!).

Game time? Sure, they may be too cool for pin-the-nose on the pumpkin, but with a little pushing and prodding, they may just have a little fun (don’t expect them to admit it).

• Graveyard Twister: Spread out our downloadable gravestones in a 6 x 4 grid. Make our simple spinner or one of your own. Last zombie standing wins! Tip: Parental supervision recommended and a “spinning bottle” may not be the best idea for this group. :-) Free Download: Graveyard Twister
  
  
• Scavenger Hunt: Send the groups out just after dusk…give them 30-45 minutes to collect 10 things from your neighbors. Have them hunt up Box Tops for Education (ask for 3-5 from each group and donate them to a nearby grade school), wacky stuff like popcorn seeds, double-sided tape (make them prove it) or a sock with a hole in it.
  
  
• Bobbing for Apples: What can be more fun for teens than seeing their friends dunk their perfectly styled hair into a tub of water? Splash warning: Make this an outdoor game!
  
  
• Gamer ON! If your teens are hard-core gamers, it may be worth setting up a video game tournament. Think of elimination rounds or game rounds with definite ends (for example, Guitar Hero limits you to one song and score). Short and quick is better than having one gamer dominate.