Conjuring community
The first step to creating a more mindful Halloween is taking time to figure out your vision for it. In doing so, you're more likely to create a sense of meaning and belonging for your child. "We live in a time that is fast-paced and in a culture that can be intrusive," says Meg Cox, author of "The Book of New Family Traditions: How to Create Great Rituals for Holidays and Every Day" (Running Press, 2003). "Rituals are so important. They are a way that we can show our love for our children, help them develop a sense of identity, feel connected to something."

Know ahead of time what you want to preserve and what you're willing to let go. Maybe you'll host a potluck block party where neighbors carve and light their pumpkins together. Or maybe you'll want to reintroduce rituals from your childhood, such as bobbing for apples or roasting pumpkin seeds. Whatever the event, creating a zero-waste celebration is easy: Ask families to bring their own plates and flatware, have recycling bins and compost containers at the ready, and serve drinks in glass or compostable containers made from corn instead of plastic. By figuring out your goals in advance, you'll more likely guide the holiday.

Start small and you won't get spooked
So you've settled on costumes from scratch, all-natural treats, and a homemade haunted house as your Halloween priorities. Corey Colwell-Lipson, the founder and director of Green Halloween and co-author of "Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family" (The Green Year, 2008), says there's no problem thinking big, as long as you start small. "Just start with one thing this Halloween. Say, for example, 'We are not going to buy new costumes this year. Let's put our heads together. How can we do this?' Roam around the house, use that piece of cardboard, go garage sale shopping instead."

Have fun with making simple changes. Looking to limit candy? Invite the sugar sprite to your home. Have your child select a few choice candies to savor, then leave the rest out for the Halloween fairy to collect during the night. Or, treat kids to a bowl of treasures. These can be found objects, such as feathers or stones, or homemade things like fortunes, folded origami shapes, a small package of greeting cards. Ask each child to take one, and watch him spend more time selecting and cherishing the treat.

Tap your kids' creative spirit
Young children more easily adapt to new customs, but how can you help an older child accept that you are veering away from traditions that they are already attached to? "When kids have the chance to come up with the ideas, not only are they more likely to implement them, but their ideas are fantastic," says Colwell-Lipson. "Allowing them to come up with creative solutions can be empowering."

Colwell-Lipson likes to give older children more choices. For example, tell them you'd like them to eat less candy, and let them decide how to limit their booty. Or, suggest Halloween be more community-oriented, and ask them to come up with ways to do that, such as hosting a neighborhood party at a retirement community. By working together to make Halloween a green, sugar-lean, community scene, you'll create a larger sense of meaning for friends and family.