In 2019, 172 million people in the U.S celebrated Halloween, proof we love this spooky holiday.
Although this year’s celebrations will be different, it doesn’t mean your little ones have to miss out on wearing scary costumes and having a blast. If you’re looking for Halloween fun for kids but aren’t sure where to start, you’ve come to the right place.
Here are seven fun activities to try this Halloween.
1. Virtual Halloween Costume Competition
One of the most creative things to do on Halloween is to throw a virtual Halloween costume competition. Dressing up is the key to a successful celebration so make sure you call the parents and arrange a giant Halloween costume competition via Zoom.
Get the whole family (and your pets!) to don their scariest ensemble and divide the competition into different categories. For instance, have the “Funniest Costume” or the “Best Group Costume” so there are multiple chances for the little ones to win.
You can also host a virtual pumpkin decorating party so the kids can carve and decorate their pumpkins with their friends and family. And don’t forget the prizes! Order treats from your local bakery or pizzeria and has them delivered to the winner’s door.
2. Taste Test Halloween Candies
If you’re after Halloween activities for families, why not try a taste test of your favorite Halloween candies? Lay out the most popular candies on a tray and see which one ranks best. Or you could blindfold each person and see if they can tell the difference between Skittles and candy corn.
You can also make your own. If you’re not great at baking, wrap suckers in tissue paper, add black pipe cleaners for legs, and finish them with googly eyes. Or create bloody caramel apples by following the standard recipe and adding red food coloring so they look spooky.
3. Play Halloween Games
No list of Halloween activity ideas for kids is complete without mentioning games. Round up the household and get involved with a pumpkin toss after you’ve carved them.
To do this, grab seven small pumpkins with long stems and scatter them either on the table or floor. Create starting lines on the floor with masking tape depending on the group’s age (toddlers should be 1-foot from the pumpkins whereas older children can be five-foot away).
Make bracelets out of glow sticks then let the kids start the toss. The winner should have three or more and should be gifted a Halloween inspired prize. Then round off the evening with karaoke so everyone can sing their favorites like Monster Mash.
Or get everyone to partake in an eyeball race, a fun variation of the traditional egg-on-a-spoon race. Turn ping pong balls into eyes or find gumballs with eyeball wrappers and hand out one kitchen spoon each.
Draw a starting and finish line then ask everyone to make it to the end without dropping their eyeball and the one who does win a prize.
4. Have a Scary Reading or Movie Marathon
Regardless of which Halloween activities you choose, set the mood by turning your home into a haunted house. Hang a spooky wreath, place cotton ball cobwebs around the room, and assemble a display of jack-o’-lanterns to get into the mood.
You should also turn off the lights, light candles, serve hot chocolate, and read scary stories for kids. Ask the little ones to share their favorite Halloween tales so they practice reading at the same time. Or have a scary movie marathon with classics like Hocus Pocus and The Addams Family to celebrate Halloween right.
5. Go “Ghosting”
Out of all the fun Halloween activities, “ghosting” is a brilliant alternative to traditional trick-or-treating. Ask your kids to make a Halloween-themed bag of goodies and leave them on your neighbor’s doorstep with a note asking them to “ghost” someone else. This way, no one has to miss out on Halloween festivities.
6. Prepare a Halloween Dinner
Get creative by preparing your family a Halloween-themed dinner.
You can whip up jack-o’-lantern pot pies and turn pigs in blankets into fingers with a sliced almond for the nails. Or turn chicken fajitas into frightening Frankenstein’s monster wraps for a fun dish. Ask the little ones to help you with scary desserts like witch cupcakes or ghost cookies to keep them entertained this Halloween.
7. Host a Halloween Candy Hunt
Like an Easter egg hunt, get the kids searching for candy in your backyard, front yard, and inside your home. Make sure you decorate your backyard and find interesting ways for them to find their favorite snacks. You can even buy spooky candy like jelly eyeballs or vampire’s teeth. Or if you don’t want to hide candy, consider Halloween toys or scary stationery.
If your little ones want to go out, go on a family bike ride or walk so you can marvel at how your neighbors’ decorated homes while getting some exercise. And, if your state permits, visit a local pumpkin patch farm to find the best gourds or visit an orchard and pick apples for a fall-inspired dessert.
That’s How to Have Halloween Fun For Kids
Now you know how to have Halloween fun for kids while staying safe.
Get everyone in the festive mood by turning your home into a haunted house, whip up Halloween-inspired dishes, and go “ghosting” instead of trick-or-treating. Organize a virtual costume competition, watch scary movies, and have fun while doing it. Good luck!
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