Want your little goblins to have a Halloween full of happy hauntings? Throw them a Halloween party at home. Start with festive decorations. Then try these ideas for a screamin' success.

Bobbing for apples
This time-honored favorite is easy to set up and fun for everyone. Just be prepared for lots of giggles and laughs. For setup, put 10 to 20 small- to medium-sized apples into a low, wide tub that's filled two-thirds of the way up with fresh water. Each person takes timed turns trying to grab an apple between his or her teeth. Just remember the rule: once your mouth touches an apple, that's the apple you have to keep bobbing for. No switching.

Snap-apple
Here's an alternative to bobbing for apples, a game from Ireland called snap-apple. First, make sure you get apples with stems on them. Then, set up two stepladders and run a broom handle from one to the other across the top steps. Finally, tie strings from the broom handle and tie apples to the strings at their stems. Then have kids try to take a bite with no hands! Loads of fun, without the mess.

Scary stories
Nothing gets kids into the Halloween mood more than a chilling tale or two. Make it doubly fun with a few touchy-feely props:

• Bowl of peeled grapes for eyeballs
• Bowl of cooked noodles for veins
• Hot dogs for fingers
• Bowl of gelatin for brains

Show time
Rent a Halloween themed movie, turn down the lights, and pass around the popcorn. “It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown,” “Winne the Pooh: Boo to You Too!” and “Winne the Pooh: Frankenpooh” are perfect for the smaller set. “Hocus Pocus” is great fun for older kids.

Pin the nose on the pumpkin
Give regular party games a Halloween twist. In this one, all you need is a pumpkin made from construction paper, a triangular paper nose, and tape. Place tape on back of nose so that the tape is looped with the sticky side up. Then, place a blindfold on the child to stick the nose on the pumpkin. Spin him or her five times and let the fun begin.