Kelly Rowland Is Planning a Disney Theme for Son Titan's First Halloween

"It's all about family time," the Destiny's Child singer tells PEOPLE of Halloween

For Kelly Rowland‘s first Halloween as a mother, she’s keeping things simple and focused on family.

“It’s all about having family time and this moment to really bond because everybody’s on the go now,” Rowland tells PEOPLE. “I think Halloween just gives you time to celebrate with the ones closest to you.”

This year’s costume theme is Disney. The Destiny’s Child singer is going as Minnie Mouse and hopes she’ll be able to convince her husband, Tim Weatherspoon, to put on some Mickey Mouse ears. Rowland is dressing up her 11-month-old son Titan Jewell as a skunk, à la Flower, the skunk from Bambi.

“I thought he would look so cute in his little skunk costume,” Rowland says about picking out her “little stinker’s” outfit this year. “We tried it on him the other day and he looked adorable.”

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As of now, the plan is to have some friends who also have babies over to the house and to give the children some costumed playtime. However, Rowland says they might go for walk in The Grove later on, but nothing’s set in stone quite yet.

Halloween is an important holiday for Rowland. The 34-year-old recalls celebrating the night with her mom, shortly after they moved from Atlanta, Georgia to Texas, and admits the distraction helped her adjust to her new surroundings. That year, she dressed up as a cowgirl and went trick-or-treating in the community.

“When I got out and started going door to door and I met other children, I felt so much happier,” the “I Know What You Did Last Summer” singer tearfully shares.

“When you’re a kid and you’re moving to a new place and you meet others and they’re having a good time and smiling, it just makes it so much better for you.”

That first Halloween in Texas also showed Rowland how this spooky holiday could help strengthen a community, and that’s part of the reason why she’s working with M&M’s this year. This week, M&M’s and Rowland are setting up a pop-up shop in Newark, New Jersey, where they will distribute free costumes to families in the area. On Wednesday night, there will also be a free family fun zone.

“I’m working with M&M’s to help make Halloween safe and easier on the family,” Rowland explains. “I think Halloween just creates another memory for children … that they’ll be able to share when they get older.”

Speaking of getting older, Titan will celebrate his first birthday on Nov. 4. In the past year, he’s become a big music fan; it’s his main form of learning and his favorite song is “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.”

“It was a song his baby cousin sang to him when he was 2 days old, and to this day, he just stops whatever it is he’s doing and just stares and stares,” the Empire actress says. “It’s just really cute.”

For his upcoming birthday, Rowland and Weatherspoon are planning to keep things simple. They’re inviting family and friends over and are going to get little Titan a smash cake.

— Chancellor Agard