Halloween can feel boring when you’re trying to find activities that are fun without being too frightening for little ones.
Parents want their kids to enjoy the holiday, but many typical Halloween events are either too scary or too complicated to pull off at home.
Well, not to worry anymore; creating memorable Halloween experiences doesn’t require elaborate setups or big budgets.
This blog shares simple halloween activities for kids that strike the perfect balance between spooky and age-appropriate.
Safety & Setup Tips Before You Begin
Before starting any Halloween activity, take a few minutes to create a safe and organized space.
Clear the area of breakable items and cover surfaces with newspaper or plastic sheets, especially when working with paints or glue.
This simple prep work prevents accidents and makes cleanup much easier afterward.
Keep these essentials in mind:
- Supervise scissors and small decorations that could pose choking hazards for younger children
- Test face paints on a small skin patch first to check for allergic reactions
- Keep cleaning supplies nearby for quick spill management
- Set boundaries for outdoor activities and ensure proper lighting after dark
Crafty Halloween Activities for Kids
Get ready to spark creativity and excitement with these hands-on halloween activities for the young ones.
From simple crafts to creative challenges, these ideas are perfect for keeping young ones entertained, be it indoors or outdoors, or in a classroom.
Gather your craft supplies and let imagination take center stage for an enjoyable crafting session.
Spooky Decorations
1. Paper Plate Ghosts
Kids can make floating ghosts using paper plates, tissue, and markers. It’s quick, easy, and great for younger children learning to use scissors safely. Hang them from ceilings for a cute, spooky effect.
2. DIY Pumpkin Lanterns
Use orange paper cups, glow sticks, and black cutouts to make glowing pumpkin lanterns that light up any space. A perfect, mess-free alternative to pumpkin carving.
3. Cotton Ball Spider Webs
Stretch cotton balls over black paper to form spider webs. Add tiny plastic spiders for an eerie touch while improving fine motor coordination.
4. Handprint Bats
Trace handprints on black paper, cut them out, and add googly eyes. They make adorable wall or window decorations that capture a keepsake of little hands.
5. Egg Carton Monsters
Cut egg cartons into small cups, paint them, and glue on paper teeth and eyes. Each one becomes a one-of-a-kind monster creation.
6. Shadow Silhouette Art
Trace Halloween shapes like cats, witches, or pumpkins on black paper and place them against bright backgrounds. This simple art project transforms a plain wall into a spooky display.
7. Popsicle Stick Haunted Houses
Kids can build haunted houses from popsicle sticks and decorate them with paint, paper ghosts, and cotton smoke for extra spookiness.
8. String Light Ghosts
Wrap tissues over small string lights and draw tiny faces on each. These glowing ghosts add an enchanting Halloween vibe when the lights go down.
Costume and Accessory Crafts
9. Paper Plate Masks
Turn plain paper plates into colorful masks shaped like pumpkins, witches, or vampires. Add yarn, paint, and markers for a fun finishing touch.
10. DIY Witch Hats
Make cone-shaped hats from black card paper and decorate them with stars and ribbons. Perfect for pretend play or classroom Halloween dress-up.
11. Magic Wands
Create wands from paper straws or sticks and decorate with shiny stars or ribbons. An excellent way for kids to add sparkle to their costumes.
12. Monster Headbands
Use paper strips, glitter, and foam cutouts to craft monster crowns. It’s an easy wearable craft that doubles as a photo prop.
13. Superhero Capes
Turn old pillowcases into quick Halloween capes. Let kids decorate them with fabric markers or felt patches for a personal touch.
14. Pumpkin Crowns
Cut orange paper into pumpkin shapes and glue them into a crown band. Simple and festive, they’re great for school events or parades.
15. Skeleton Gloves
Draw white bone designs on black gloves using fabric paint. When kids move their fingers, the skeletal hands come to life.
16. Spider Necklaces
String black beads and plastic spiders on yarn for a wearable Halloween accessory that kids can make in minutes.
Sensory and Science-Inspired Crafts
17. Bubbling Witch’s Brew
Mix baking soda, vinegar, and food coloring to create a bubbling potion. It’s a safe, exciting way to mix Halloween fun with simple science.
18. Slime Cauldrons
Make stretchy slime using glue and a safe activator. Add glitter or small toy insects for an extra creepy texture that kids will love.
19. Glowing Ghost Jars
Fill jars with glow sticks, cotton, and ghost faces. When the lights go out, these jars glow softly, adding to the spooky atmosphere.
20. Pumpkin Volcano
Scoop out small pumpkins, add baking soda, and pour vinegar to watch them fizz. A fun, hands-on experiment disguised as a Halloween craft.
21. Dancing Skeletons
Attach paper skeleton cutouts to a string and pull them to make them “dance.” A creative way to teach movement and coordination.
22. Floating Eyeballs
Place plastic eyeballs in a bowl of soda water and observe them float and spin. This activity combines simple science with Halloween humor.
23. Magic Color Potions
Mix red cabbage water with lemon juice or baking soda and watch the colors change. Kids learn chemistry basics while feeling like potion masters.
24. Monster Goo Bags
Fill zipper bags with hair gel, googly eyes, and small trinkets. Kids squish and move them around for a satisfying sensory experience.
Fun Keepsakes and DIY Gifts
25. Trick-or-Treat Bags
Decorate small paper or cloth bags with paint, stickers, or markers. Perfect for collecting candies or giving as gifts.
26. Halloween Bracelets
Thread orange, black, and white beads on a string to make festive bracelets. Kids can trade or gift them to friends.
27. Spooky Bookmarks
Cut cardstock into monster or ghost shapes to make fun bookmarks. A creative activity for young readers.
28. Pumpkin Picture Frames
Use cardboard frames, orange paint, and glitter to craft pumpkin-themed photo holders. Add a Halloween picture for a personal keepsake.
29. Painted Pebble Monster
Collect smooth pebbles, paint them with monster faces, and display them around the house or garden.
30. Halloween Greeting Cards
Create handmade cards with spooky messages and drawings. Kids can share them with classmates or family members.
31. Candy Corn Necklaces
Use beads in yellow, orange, and white to mimic candy corn. A fun, wearable Halloween craft.
32. Mini Memory Jars
Write favorite Halloween memories on paper slips and store them in small jars. Kids can decorate the jars and revisit them each year.
33. Bat Wing Book Covers
Make paper bat wings and attach them to the corners of books or notebooks. A creative way for kids to personalize their school items.
Party and Group Halloween Activities
34. Monster Freeze Dance
Play spooky music and let kids dance like monsters. When the music stops, everyone freezes in their best monster pose. A lively, laughter-filled party favorite.
35. Pumpkin Ring Toss
Arrange small pumpkins on the floor and toss glow stick rings over their stems. A simple, glowing game that adds excitement to any Halloween event.
36. Witch Hat Hoop Toss
Make cone-shaped witch hats from cardboard and toss hoops to land on them. This easy game helps with coordination and is great for teams.
37. Ghost Bowling
Decorate empty bottles as ghosts and use a small ball as the “pumpkin.” Kids take turns knocking down the spooky pins for candy rewards.
38. Spider Races
Cut out paper spiders and blow them across a table with straws. This simple craft-turned-race encourages focus and playful competition.
39. Mummy Wrap Challenge
Pair kids up and give each team a roll of toilet paper. One child wraps the other into a mummy as fast as possible: fun, silly, and perfect for photos.
40. Halloween Scavenger Hunt
Hide small themed items around the room or yard. Give kids clues or riddles to solve for each hidden surprise.
41. Eyeball Spoon Relay
Use ping-pong balls decorated to look like eyeballs, and have kids carry them on spoons. A hilarious, active game that’s great for group play.
42. Pin the Smile on the Pumpkin
Draw a large pumpkin on paper, and let kids try to place a paper smile on it while blindfolded. It’s a Halloween twist on a classic party game.
43. Haunted Obstacle Course
Set up a course with crawling tunnels, broomstick jumps, and ghostly hoops. Kids can race in teams while cheering each other on.
44. Monster Parade
Let everyone show off their crafts and costumes in a mini Halloween parade. Play fun music and reward creative effort with small treats.
Classroom and Learning Halloween Crafts
45. Alphabet Ghosts
Cut ghost shapes and write a letter on each. Kids can arrange them in order or match uppercase and lowercase pairs.
46. Counting Pumpkins
Draw pumpkins with numbers and have children place the correct number of seeds or buttons on each one. A fun way to blend math with Halloween.
47. Halloween Word Search
Create a themed word search with terms like bat, moon, and broom. A quick and easy literacy activity for all ages.
48. Rhyme Time Monsters
Make monster cards with rhyming words for matching practice. It helps children recognize sounds and patterns through play.
49. Story Cube Adventure
Design dice with Halloween pictures like bats, ghosts, and pumpkins. Kids roll the cubes to create their own spooky stories.
50. Candy Pattern Puzzles
Use colored candies or beads to make and copy simple patterns. A creative blend of art and learning that reinforces sequencing skills.
51. Halloween Crossword
Design a crossword with kid-friendly clues related to Halloween. It builds vocabulary while keeping the festive spirit alive.
52. Batty Math Match
Write math problems on bat wings and the answers on their bodies. Kids must match them correctly to “complete the bats.”
53. Spooky Story Chain
Each student writes one sentence of a spooky story on a paper strip. Link them together to form a fun classroom storytelling chain.
54. Color Sorting Cauldrons
Label paper cauldrons with colors and have kids drop in matching pom-poms or paper pieces. It’s perfect for younger learners.
55. Halloween Fact Hunt
Post Halloween-themed trivia questions around the classroom. Kids move in groups to find and answer them, combining fun with learning.
Finishing it Up
Halloween is the perfect time to nurture creativity, laughter, and togetherness through fun crafts and imaginative play.
These halloween activities for kids inspire hands-on learning while turning everyday moments into festive fun.
From spooky decorations to DIY costumes, each idea sparks curiosity and joy.
Ready to make this your most creative Halloween yet? Gather your supplies, pick your favorite halloween activity, and start crafting memories that will last long after the candy is gone!
