Throughout the year’s we’ve always showcase Gift Guides for the Holidays on my website. More times than not they look like everyone else’s Guides. This year I wanted to have something new and unique to share with you.

I would like to share something new that is coming to the Greatful Moments Halloween Gift Guide, which is a Interactive Halloween Gift Guide. Before we start our first interactive challenge on Tuesday, I want to help you get ready because this year, our Halloween Gift Guide isn’t going to be just about things you can buy.

This year, our Halloween Gift Guide isn’t going to be just about things you can buy. We’re going to have gifts, recipes, Dallas-Fort Worth events, books, movies, crafts, activities and ideas for families. But we’re also going to make the guide interactive.

That means we’re going to give children opportunities to get up and move, create something, help in the kitchen, read, play, explore and spend time with their families. And along the way, they’ll be able to earn Halloween Tickets.

Those tickets can eventually be traded in for special rewards. But before we start handing out those tickets, there’s one thing I want families to understand. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to participate.

Before you head to Walmart or another store looking for prizes, take a look around your house. If you’re anything like me, you may have things sitting in drawers, cabinets, closets and craft containers that you completely forgot about.

You might have a package of stickers left over from another project. You might have pencils from back-to-school shopping. You might have erasers that were never used. You might have crayons, coloring supplies, bookmarks or little craft items tucked away somewhere.

Those things can become prizes. And that’s one of the things I really want this Halloween challenge to teach children. A prize doesn’t have to be something new from the store. Sometimes the best surprise is something you already have.

You can also ask around and see if Grandma has extra stickers. Maybe a neighbor has a drawer full of school supplies their children don’t use anymore. Maybe someone has leftover party favors from a birthday party. Maybe another homeschool family has craft supplies they’re willing to share.

There is nothing wrong with saying, “We’re doing a Halloween activity challenge with the kids. Do you have any extra stickers, pencils or school supplies you aren’t using?” You may be surprised by what people have sitting around. And children can learn something important from this, too. We don’t always have to buy something new to have fun.

Now, if you’re already going to Walmart, Dollar Tree, the grocery store or somewhere else, you can certainly look while you’re there. But you don’t have to make a special shopping trip just for this.

Since it is back-to-school season, school supplies are everywhere right now. Stores are putting supplies on sale, and eventually we’ll see even more clearance items. So if you happen to walk past the sticker section, look. If you walk past school supplies, look.

You might find a package of inexpensive stickers, some fun erasers or a few pencils that would make great little surprises. And here’s something else I really want parents to remember: They do not have to be Halloween-themed.

In fact, I think it’s better if they aren’t always Halloween-themed. If your child loves blue and you find a package of blue erasers on clearance, those blue erasers might be far more exciting to your child than a package of orange Halloween erasers.

If your child loves purple, look for purple. If they love dinosaurs, animals, space, unicorns, sports or something completely unrelated to Halloween, that’s okay!The Halloween part comes from the challenge and the surprise, not necessarily from the prize.

And the child can use those supplies all year long. That makes the whole idea more economical. The Best Rewards May Not Cost Anything As we’ve been talking about this new interactive gift guide, I’ve been thinking about what I really want the children to earn.

I don’t want every reward to be a toy. I don’t want parents to feel like they have to spend money every time their child earns a ticket. Some of the best rewards are things that cost absolutely nothing.

What if ten tickets earned a child a special movie night where they get to choose the movie? What if another reward was one-on-one time with Mom? Maybe they get to help make cookies.

Maybe they choose the family puzzle. Maybe they choose the book everyone reads that night. Maybe they get an extra thirty minutes outside with Mom or Dad. Maybe they get to create the family movie-night snack menu.

Those are experiences. And experiences become memories. I especially love how this can fit into #homeschool. A Halloween craft can become an art lesson. Cooking can become a math lesson. Reading a Halloween book can become part of reading time.

A scavenger hunt can involve reading, counting, colors, shapes or writing. And when we include activities that encourage children to get outside and move for 30 minutes, we’re giving families another opportunity to step away from the table and the screen.

That’s something I want to emphasize throughout this guide. Halloween can be fun and active. It can be creative. It can be educational. It can be social. And it can be inexpensive. Which is a Godsend for my family.

We’re not asking you to do something every Day because I know families are busy. That’s why we’re not going to turn this into another daily obligation. Our interactive challenges will appear throughout the Halloween Gift Guide, generally a couple of times each week God will on Tuesday/ Thursday.

Some will involve food. Some will involve movement. Some will involve crafts. Some will involve reading. Some will be family activities. And some may surprise you. Follow along to see what we will be sharing and share this post with your friends and family and teachers because there students can participate.

You can participate in the activities that work for your family. If you miss one, that’s okay. There is no grade. There is no failing. There is no requirement to complete every single challenge. We’re simply creating opportunities for families to have a little more fun together between now and Halloween.

Today’s challenge is simple. Get ready. Look around your home. See what you already have. Ask family members or neighbors if they have extra supplies. And if you’re already out shopping, keep your eyes open for inexpensive items that could become little surprises.

Then put those things somewhere safe where you can find them when we need them. And don’t forget about the rewards that don’t require shopping at all. Start thinking about the experiences your children would love to earn.

Maybe it’s a movie night. Maybe it’s baking cookies with you. Maybe it’s one-on-one time. Maybe it’s a family game. Maybe it’s a Halloween puzzle everyone works on together. The possibilities are almost endless.

I’ve created a Halloween Interactive Challenge Supply Hunt to go along with today’s post. This isn’t a shopping list that says you have to go buy everything. It’s a reminder to look around your home first, ask around, and only purchase something if you happen to find an inexpensive item that works for your family.

You can print it, check things off and keep it with your Halloween Tickets. And remember, this challenge is supposed to be economical. Use what you have. Share what you can. Buy only what makes sense. And have fun.

Tuesday morning, we’ll be ready for our first official interactive Halloween challenge. So get your tickets ready. Get your imagination ready. And most importantly… get ready to have some fun. Welcome to the Greatful Moments Interactive Halloween Gift Guide 2026.

FREE HTML PRINTABLE: Halloween Interactive Challenge Supply Hunt

Before you buy anything, check your home!

What Do We Already Have?

• Stickers
• Erasers
• Pencils
• Bookmarks
• Crayons
• Coloring supplies
• Small notebooks
• Craft supplies
• Activity books
• Unused school supplies
• Leftover party favors
• Other fun surprises: ______________________

• Who Can We Ask?

• Mom or Dad
• Grandparents
• Brothers or sisters
• Family members
• Neighbors
• Friends
• Homeschool friends

If We’re Already Shopping…

• Check the sticker section
• Check school supplies
• Check clearance
• Look for inexpensive items my child will actually use
• Remember: it does NOT have to be Halloween-themed!

FREE REWARDS WE CAN OFFER

• Pick the family movie
• One-on-one time with Mom
• One-on-one time with Dad
• Cookie-making day
• Pick the family book
• Family puzzle night
• Choose the family game
• Create a movie-night snack
• Extra outdoor playtime
• Choose a family activity

Our Goal

Use what we have.
Spend only when we need to.
Get creative.
Have fun.
Make memories.

WE’RE READY FOR TUESDAY!

Our first Interactive Halloween Challenge is coming!

Name: ___________________________________

My ticket goal: ___________________________

The reward I’m working toward:

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Charlie and I are going to do the activities in our home and we will be creating a Halloween Town and for each activity we finish as a family we will be adding a new piece to our Halloween Town which we can use each year to decorate our home with and add to throughout the years.

Creating a Town Charlie will be able to take with him when he gets his own home. Then during the year we will be creating other Towns to decorate our home with. If you see something new or unique we should add to our Halloween Town leave me a comment so I can check it out.

Grateful, Thankful, Blessed.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates