It's as easy as saying "boo!"

Decorate the house with traditional jack-o-lanterns and Indian corn, or go with a spooky theme and suspend fake cobwebs, bats and pretend witches. Let kids invite friendly spooks and goblins, turn on scary music, play a few games while you serve easy-to-prepare, kid-friendly snacks. Enjoy the party!

"My kids love having friends over for a Halloween party," says Ann Freebing, mom to five in Austin, Texas. "The gang has a place to go after trick or treating. They hang out, check out their loot, watch a scary movie, and feast on homemade treats. They can't wait."

Ghoulish steps for a perfect party

Plan ahead so all you'll have to do Halloween night is put on your costume, put out the refreshments, and start the activities.

• Invite guests
• Decorate the house

Two weeks ahead:

• Decide what treats to make and serve; keep it casual with things you can prepare in advance (and remember to ask about food allergies)
• Ask kids to help choose music and a scary movie to watch
• Plan tried-and-true activities such as pumpkin carving and bobbing for apples
• Older kids will enjoy setting up a haunted house and planting spooky surprises in the bathroom, stairway, basement, garage, or back yard.

Two to three days before the party:

• Complete grocery shopping
• Baking and store goodies in airtight tins or freeze
• Set up the party room, haunted house, pumpkin carving area, etc.

The day of the party:

• Arrange the party room if necessary, set the table, organize drinks
• Make homemade Halloween face paint
• Set up a carving station and set out pumpkin carving tools, carving templates, markers, sponges and paints
• Arrange serving plates with home treats
• Set up music, DVD player, etc.

Whip up some edible face paint

• 3 tablespoons, plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons all purpose flour
• 5 teaspoons vegetable shortening
• 1/8 teaspoon food coloring

Stir together the cornstarch and flour in a small bowl, and blend in the shortening. Add food coloring, drop by drop, to desired color. Stir in the glycerin and mix well. To apply face paint, use a brush, fingers or a make-up sponge. Make additional batches for multiple colors.

Decide on devilishly delicious treats

Buy or make guaranteed kid-pleasers such as homemade cookies or a festive cake, brownies, cupcakes and rice crispy treats. Honor the occasion with pumpkin-flavored goodies. Or serve a meal with kid-friendly chili, mac 'n' cheese, or sloppy joes and coleslaw. Try these treats:

• Screeching Sloppy Joes
• Grandma's Creepy Coleslaw
• Frightening Fudge Cupcakes
• Scary Oatmeal Spice Cookies
• Poisoned Peanut Butter Granola Chewies
• Aweful Apple Spice Cake
• Crazy Cranberry Ginger Cider