Posted by If you’re looking for the best Halloween activities for kids, I’ve got 31 fun and easy ideas for a spooktacular October.
Halloween is one of my kids’ favorite holidays, and over the years we’ve created lots of Halloween magic from crafting to baking spooky treats and fun outdoor Fall adventures.
In this post you’ll find:
- Free Halloween printables
- Halloween activities for preschoolers
- Halloween crafts for kids
- Indoor Halloween activities
- Halloween games for kids
- Fun family traditions
Be sure to save this post so you never run out of ideas to make the Halloween season fun and memorable.
Ready to get the festivities started?
Let’s go!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. For more information read my full disclosure here.
1. Go on a Neighborhood Halloween Scavenger Hunt
Fall is the perfect time to take an evening stroll to admire everyone’s spooky decorations.
Bring hot apple cider in travel mugs and let the kids vote for the funniest, scariest, or most creative yard.
Or make it even more engaging with a Halloween scavenger hunt.
Print out my free Halloween scavenger hunt here.
2. The Halloween Decorating Activity That Never Ends
Speaking of decorations, every year my kids look forward to decorating our own house.
But it’s not the pumpkins, witches and haunted houses that adorn the shelves that they want- it’s the Halloween decorations they get to play with over and over…
The Halloween window stickers!
They are constantly decorating and re-decorating the windows with these cheap reusable window clings all October long.
I’m actually kind of shocked they’ve lasted so many years, but I’m not asking questions. 👀
3. Tell Halloween Jokes at Dinner
One of the silliest Halloween activities for kids is taking turns telling Halloween jokes during dinner.
My kids love trying to stump each other!
You’ll be surprised how much laughter a few ghost and skeleton jokes can bring to an ordinary weeknight.
I also love to write them down on cute Halloween sticky notes and place them in my kids’ lunch boxes for a fun surprise.
Find tons of hilarious spooky kids jokes in the post below👇
4. Print Free Halloween Dot Marker Printables
Dot marker pages are one of my favorite low-prep activities for younger kids.
Simply print my free Halloween dot marker printables below and let them decorate pumpkins, ghosts and bats with dauber dawgs, dot stickers or pom poms and glue.
They’re perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners who are still developing fine motor skills.
Just click the image to bring up a printable PDF.
5. Make Halloween Pizzas
Dinner instantly becomes much more exciting when the kids get to help turn their pizza into a spooky but tasty slice of Halloween goodness.
Make mummies with strips of mozzarella cheese, jack-o-lantern faces with pepperoni, or spiders with black olives.
6. Make A Craft Haunted House
Who says gingerbread houses are only for Christmas?
My kids love making a Haunted Gingerbread house. You can usually find them in your local drugstore.
If you want to skip the candy and icing mess though, consider crafting an inexpensive haunted house like this one here.
7. Print Free Halloween Coloring Pages
Need an easy indoor Halloween activity for those rainy October afternoons?
Print a few of my free Halloween coloring pages, spread out the crayons, and let everyone color while Halloween music plays in the background.
Just click the image to bring up a printable PDF.
8. Bake Peanut Butter Spider Cookies
These adorable cookies are always a hit.
Bake peanut butter cookies, add small Reese’s candy for the spider body, then use candy eyes and black cookie icing to pipe on little spider legs.
Kids love helping decorate them almost as much as eating them!
9. Have a Halloween Movie Night
Pile blankets in the living room, make popcorn, and watch kid-friendly Halloween movies together.
Not sure what to watch?
Check out my list of 100+ Not-So Spooky Halloween Movies For Kids By Age to find what’s right for your family.
Don’t forget the hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and Halloween sprinkles!
10. Play Halloween Bingo
Halloween Bingo is one of those activities that works for almost every age.
Whether you’re hosting a classroom party, family gathering, or just playing around the kitchen table, everyone gets excited when they get to yell “Bingo!”
Plus, a Halloween bingo game like this best-seller is a super cheap activity under $10 kids can play over and over each year.
Grab some small prizes like glow sticks, Halloween pencils, or mini candy bars to make it even more fun.
11. Start the Switch Witch Tradition
If you love Halloween but hate the kid candy overload, then you’ll love this Halloween parenting hack (and kids love it too!):
It’s a visit from the Switch Witch. Have you heard of her?
After trick-or-treating, kids leave some or all of their candy for her and she swaps it for a toy, craft kit, or book instead.
You can read tips on how to start the Switch Witch tradition and also print my free printable letter from the witch in this post here 👇
12. Paint Mini Pumpkins
Mini pumpkins are inexpensive and much easier for little hands than carving.
Use washable paint, glitter, Halloween face stickers, googly eyes, or pom-poms to create silly monsters.
13. Carve Jack-o’-Lanterns
Pumpkin carving is a classic Halloween activity that’s perfect for older kids who want to design spooky faces.
If you’re like me though and not so clever with designing your own, just grab a family friendly pumpkin carving kit that comes with stencils.
14. Roast Pumpkin Seeds
Save those seeds from your pumpkin carving activity to make delicious roasted pumpkin seeds!
Just rinse the pumpkin seeds and pat dry. Combine with 1 TBSP olive oil or melted butter and season them with cinnamon sugar, ranch seasoning, garlic parmesan, or sea salt.
Whatever your kids like!
Roast them on a baking sheet at 325 F for 15-25 minutes flipping halfway through.
Enjoy!
15. Go on a Pumpkin Patch Adventure
One of my kids favorite Halloween activities is spending a morning at the pumpkin patch picking pumpkins, navigating corn mazes, riding hayrides, and petting farm animals.
It’s also the perfect setting for taking Fall family photos.
16. Go Costume Shopping
Kids love the excitement of seeing all of the fun Halloween decorations and costumes in a store that’s dedicated to the holiday.
Make an afternoon of it by letting them pick out their costume and then heading to a local bakery for a Halloween cookie, treat or pumpkin spice latte for yourself.
17. Make Halloween Slime
Orange glitter slime, green monster slime, or purple witch slime keeps kids entertained for ages.
Try out this orange fluffy slime recipe here.
Just be sure to cover your table first!
18. Build a Blanket Haunted House
It gets dark early in October so there’s no better time to turn your living room into a haunted hideout.
Use blankets, chairs, string lights, and stuffed animals.
Add flashlights for an extra spooky touch.
19. Have Family Costume Fun
Instead of waiting until Halloween night, let everyone put on their costumes early and play make believe.
I mean…
…if you paid for the costumes, you might as well get your money’s worth before they grow out of them, right?!
20. Decorate Halloween Cupcakes
Give each child frosting, candy eyeballs, sprinkles, and Halloween candies to design their own spooky masterpiece.
No two cupcakes ever look alike.
21. Read Halloween Books Together
Visit your local library and check out a stack of Halloween-themed books.
Some of our favorites are:
Reading together before bed instantly makes the season feel extra cozy.
22. Make Toilet Paper Roll Monsters
Save empty toilet paper rolls and turn them into monsters, vampires, ghosts, Frankenstein, witches, and bats.
You will need:
- Googly eyes
- Pipe cleaners
- Washable paint
- Glue
- Scissors
- Pom Poms
- Construction paper
23. Have a Monster Dance Party
Turn on Halloween music and dance around the house.
Freeze Dance with monster poses is always a huge hit.
24. Make Caramel Apples
Dip apples in caramel and decorate them with chocolate drizzle, crushed cookies, sprinkles, or candy pieces.
Kids love customizing their own.
25. Host A Halloween Play Date
Host a play date for the kids with Halloween crafts or play Halloween games like pin the eye on the monster!
Set out some easy Halloween themed snacks for extra excitement (you can literally just add candy eyes to everything LOL).
26. Make Halloween Popsicles
Make this easy Halloween popsicle recipe from Healthy Family Project with just 3 ingredients: chocolate milk, chocolate chips and Halloween sprinkles.
27. Go on a Nature Walk for Fall Leaves
Collect colorful leaves, pinecones, acorns, and sticks to use in Halloween crafts later.
Fresh air always helps burn off extra excitement.
28. Build a Halloween Sensory Bin
A Halloween sensory bin can keep younger kids busy for surprisingly long stretches.
Just fill a plastic bin with Cocoa Krispies, candy corns, cups, scoops and a bag of these eyeballs and spiders (when you’re done give them away to trick-or-treaters Halloween night with the candy if you want!).
29. Make Halloween Paper Plate Crafts
Gather paper plates, washable paint, googly eyes, pipe cleaners and construction paper to make paper plate crafts.
Here are some easy ideas for kids:
30. Go Trick-or-Treating
Of course, the classic traditions are still the best.
Walking around the neighborhood in costume while collecting candy is one of those childhood memories that never gets old.
31. End Halloween Night with Hot Chocolate
After all the excitement, settle in with warm Halloween themed pajamas (check out the newest ones here), hot chocolate and one last look through the candy bucket before bedtime.
It’s the perfect ending to a fun-filled Halloween.
Tips for Making Halloween Activities Stress-Free
I’ve learned over the years that kids don’t care whether every activity turns out perfectly. They care that you’re doing it with them.
Some of our favorite Halloween memories have come from the simplest afternoons spent coloring, decorating, or laughing over silly jokes at dinner.
Just because there are 31 Halloween activities for kids on this list does not mean that you have to fill every day with elaborate crafts or expensive outings.
Just pick one or two activities each week through October. It’s enough to make the season feel magical.
If your children are younger, focus on activities that are quick and hands-on, like dot marker pages, coloring sheets, sensory bins, and Halloween Bingo.
Older kids often enjoy baking, pumpkin carving, decorating gingerbread houses, or helping plan family movie nights.
Frequently Asked Questions About Halloween Activities for Kids
What are the best Halloween activities for preschoolers?
Some of the easiest Halloween activities for preschoolers include dot marker printables, coloring pages, sensory bins, pumpkin painting, Halloween story time, simple crafts, and Halloween Bingo.
These activities help build fine motor skills while keeping little ones engaged.
What are fun indoor Halloween activities for kids?
Indoor favorites include decorating cookies, building a blanket haunted house, making slime, coloring Halloween pages, crafting monsters, reading Halloween books, playing Bingo, and having a monster dance party.
How can I make Halloween fun without spending much money?
Many of the best Halloween activities are inexpensive or free. Print free Halloween coloring pages and dot marker printables, tell Halloween jokes, visit your local library for spooky books, go on neighborhood decoration walks, collect fall leaves, or host a family movie night at home.
Final Thoughts on Halloween Activities for Kids
Halloween doesn’t have to be filled with perfectly planned crafts to become unforgettable. Some of the sweetest memories are made around the kitchen table with crayons, cookie dough, pumpkin paint, and a few terrible Halloween jokes that somehow make everyone laugh.
As a mom, I know how quickly these childhood seasons pass.
That’s why I try to slow down each October and enjoy the little moments alongside the big ones creating traditions they’ll remember long after the candy is gone.
I hope this list gives you plenty of inspiration to make this Halloween season extra fun, one simple activity at a time.
Save this post for later- pin it! 👇
