It’s spooky season, which means time for some Halloween fun! Your kids will love these frightfully fun activities. Don’t worry, some are more cutesy than spooky!
1. Fun in the Dark
Nothing is spookier than a little fun in the dark. Give each child a flashlight and let them find each other in a game of flashlight tag! You can give them glow-in-the-dark necklaces, bracelets, and wands to make it easier.
2. Boo Your Friends
One of our favorite traditions is “booing” our friends and neighbors. We put together cute, Halloween-themed goodie bags with candy, snacks and small toys and leave them at their door in a bag that says, “You’ve been booed!” It’s a fun way to surprise your friends and get in the spirit of the season.
3. Play Doh and Slime Monsters
Using Play Doh or slime, have the kids create their own monsters using googly eyes, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks and pom-poms.
4. Pumpkin Patch
Our family loves spending a day at the pumpkin patch. Sip on apple cider, take a hayride and pick out the greatest pumpkin in the patch. When you get home, have a pumpkin carving or painting contest and vote for who has the silliest, scariest and most creative pumpkins.
5. Terrifying Tales
Take turns telling ghost stories or reading scary books around a bonfire with friends and family. Make it s’more fun by making s’mores!
6. Halloween Movie Marathon
Spend a night bingeing all your favorite Halloween movies. If you’re feeling especially festive, make it an outdoor movie night for the neighborhood by streaming the movies onto the garage door with a projector.
7. Worlds of Fun Halloween Haunt
Older kids who love to be terrified will love Worlds of Fun’s Halloween Haunt! Hundreds of scary creatures take over the park in the evening. Please note, parental discretion is advised for his event.
8. Spooky Scavenger Hunt
Create your own scary scavenger hunt. Make a list of spooky items to spot in the decorations around your neighborhood, such as a scarecrow, jack-o-lantern, witch and ghost. You can split up into teams and make it into a race.
9. Terrifying Treats
There are so many fun snacks to make for Halloween. A few of our favorites are spider webs using pretzels and melted white chocolate, dirt and worm cups, mummy pigs in a blanket and Hocus Pocus spellbook brownies.
10. Creative Costumes
Have your kids create their own Halloween costumes. Let their imaginations and creativity take over. They can also use face paint or makeup to complete their look. Do a photo shoot once their costumes are complete!
11. Candy Corn Bingo
If your kids aren’t big fans of candy corn, use the candy as pieces in a Halloween bingo game. Print a free Halloween bingo card online or make your own!
12. Mystery Touch-and-Feel Game
Place mystery household items in a covered jar and let the kids guess what’s inside. Cauliflower, grapes and cooked spaghetti will feel like brains, eyeballs and guts. This is always a favorite for tweens and teens.
13. Candy Wreath
A candy wreath is easy, fun and makes the perfect décor for your door! Simply hot-glue or pin candy boxes and wrappers around a foam wreath until the foam is covered, add a bow with your favorite ribbon and hang on your door.
Regan Lyons is a girl mom and freelance writer. She lives with her husband, Cale, and daughters, Atley, 10, and Ensley, 4, in St. Joseph, Mo.