Alright, parents, the calendar has flipped to October, and you know what that means. The countdown to the sugar-fueled, costume-crazed chaos that is Halloween is officially on. Your kids are probably already buzzing about what candy they’re going to score, but let’s be honest—waiting until the 31st for all the fun is a total drag. The pressure to fill those crisp autumn afternoons with something other than screen time is real.
I’ve been there. Staring down a long weekend with zero plans and two kids hyped up on the mere thought of ghosts and goblins. So, I’ve become a bit of a collector of low-key, high-fun Halloween activities. I’m not talking about elaborate, Pinterest-fail masterpieces that require a hot glue gun and a level of patience I simply do not possess. I’m talking about real, doable, and genuinely fun stuff.
FYI, I’ve rounded up my absolute favorite 20 Halloween for kids activities to keep your little monsters entertained all month long. Grab your flannel shirt, pour yourself a giant apple cider, and let’s get this spooky party started.
Spooky Crafts to Get Those Little Hands Busy
First up, we have the classics. Crafts are a fantastic way to kill an afternoon, and the best part? The messier they are, the longer they take. It’s just basic parenting math.
1. Toilet Paper Roll Mummies
I love a good upcycle, and this one is a no-brainer. Start saving those empty toilet paper rolls now. Give one to your kid, a bottle of glue, and some white yarn or streamers. Let them go to town wrapping the roll like a mummy. Glue on some googly eyes, and bam—you’ve got a little buddy that costs practically nothing. The glue gets everywhere, but that’s part of the charm, right? :/
2. Pasta Skeleton Art
This is my go-to activity when I need a solid 45 minutes of quiet. Grab some black construction paper, glue, and a box of mixed pasta shapes. Use penne for the arms and legs, rotini for the spine, and little ditalini for the ribs. It’s a sneaky way to work in a little anatomy lesson, too. “See, honey, your humerus is connected to your… elbow macaroni?”
3. Floating Ghost Jars
Okay, these are genuinely cool and feel a little bit like magic. You’ll need clean, empty glass jars (pasta sauce jars work great), white tissue paper, mod podge, and some cheesecloth. You cover the jar in the tissue paper, bunch up some cheesecloth on top for a ghostly head, and pop a tea light inside. IMO, the flameless LED ones are the way to go here. The soft glow they give off is the perfect cozy Halloween vibe.
4. Paper Plate Pumpkins
Sometimes you just have to go back to the basics. Give each kid a paper plate, some orange paint, and a green pipe cleaner. Let them paint the entire plate orange. Once it’s dry, they can staple or tape the pipe cleaner on as a stem. You can even let them glue on those foam shape stickers for jack-o’-lantern faces. It’s simple, it’s foolproof, and it’s a great confidence booster for the little artists in your life.
5. Window Cling Monsters
These are super fun because they’re reusable. Mix together some glow-in-the-dark or regular puffy paint and give your kids a piece of wax paper. Have them draw their best monster designs directly onto the wax paper. Let them dry overnight, and then peel them off. They stick right to the window! When Halloween is over, just peel them off and save them for next year. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Ghoulish Games & Gross Motor Fun
When the sugar from the candy corn starts to hit, you need activities that burn off that manic energy. These games are perfect for getting the wiggles out.
6. The Great Pumpkin Roll
This is less of a game and more of a controlled disaster, but my kids demand it every year. All you need is a small, round pumpkin for each kid (or team) and a clear space. The goal is to get their pumpkin from Point A to Point B by only rolling it. They can’t carry it. It’s hilarious to watch them chase these rogue gourds across the yard. It’s the perfect pre-nap activity.
7. Spider Races
Gather up some crafting pom-poms (the fuzzy ones) and some straws. Give each kid a straw and a “spider” (the pom-pom). Mark a starting line and a finish line on the floor or table. On “Go!” they have to blow through the straw to move their spider across the finish line. It’s a riot, and it’s fantastic for building those little lung muscles. Just be prepared for a lot of drool on the table.
8. Mummy Wrap Relay
Got a team of kids? This is the ultimate party game. Split them into pairs. Give each pair one roll of toilet paper. One kid is the “mummy,” and the other is the “wrapper.” On “Go!” the wrapper has to wrap their partner from head to toe in toilet paper as fast as they can. The first one to use the entire roll wins! Warning: this will leave a mess that looks like a snowstorm hit your living room. Just embrace it.
9. Pumpkin Bowling
Save those 2-liter soda bottles! Rinse them out and fill them with a tiny bit of sand or water so they don’t tip over too easily. Decorate them with sharpies to look like ghosts or monsters. Then, grab a small, lumpy pumpkin (or a mini one) as your bowling ball. Set up your “pins” on the sidewalk or in the hallway and let the kids go for it. It’s bowling, but with a distinctly autumn twist.
10. Pin the Wart on the Witch
It’s “Pin the Tail on the Donkey,” but with a seasonal makeover. Draw or print out a large picture of a witch’s face. Cut out some green felt “warts” and put a piece of rolled tape on the back. Blindfold the kids, spin them around, and let them try to stick the wart on her nose. The giggles from seeing the warts end up on her forehead or chin are the best part.
Creative Kitchen Creations (That You Can Eat)
Let’s be real, any activity that ends with a snack is a winner in my book. These are easy enough that the kids can do most of the work while you supervise.
11. Banana Ghosts
This one is so simple it barely counts as an activity, but my kids are obsessed. Peel a banana and cut it in half crosswise. Stick a semi-sweet chocolate chip in each half for the eyes. That’s it. You have an instant, healthy-ish ghost snack. I sometimes use a tiny piece of a dark chocolate chip for a mouth. It’s spooky, it’s cute, and it takes about 90 seconds.
12. Spider Donuts
Grab a box of plain donuts (the glazed kind work best) from the grocery store. You’ll also need some black pipe cleaners and candy eyes. Poke four small holes on each side of the donut and push in half a pipe cleaner for the legs. Bend them to look like spider legs. Use a tiny dab of frosting to glue the candy eyes on. They look impressively creepy, and they are delicious.
13. Mummy Hot Dogs
This is a perfect dinner for a busy October night. Take a can of crescent rolls and cut the dough into thin strips. Wrap the strips around a hot dog, leaving a small space for the “face.” Bake according to the crescent roll instructions. Once they’re golden brown, add two small dots of mustard or ketchup for the eyes. They look like little mummified franks, and kids absolutely devour them.
14. Dirt Cups
A classic for a reason. You need chocolate pudding, crushed Oreos (that’s the “dirt”), and some gummy worms. Let the kids layer the pudding and Oreo crumbs in a clear cup. The best part is having them stick a gummy worm in the side so it looks like it’s crawling out of the dirt. It’s a textural delight and a huge hit.
15. Halloween Fruit Monsters
Turn snack time into craft time. Give the kids apple slices (dipped in lemon juice so they don’t brown), strawberries, grapes, and some peanut butter or yogurt for “glue.” See what kind of monster faces they can create. An apple slice with a peanut butter smile and grape eyes? Adorable. It’s a fun way to get them to eat fruit without a fight.
Quiet & Cozy Indoor Activities
After all that chaos, sometimes you need to dial it back. These are perfect for winding down or for a quiet afternoon at home.
16. Create a Haunted House from a Box
Got a large Amazon box? You have a haunted house. Cut a door and some windows. Give the kids some markers, crayons, and maybe some Halloween stickers. Let them decorate the outside. They can draw scary trees, ghosts, or a friendly monster living inside. It becomes an instant playhouse for their dolls, action figures, or just a quiet reading nook for them.
17. Halloween I-Spy Bottle
This is a fantastic “calm down” tool. Grab an empty plastic water bottle. Fill it with rice or dry black beans. Toss in a bunch of tiny Halloween-themed items: a small plastic spider, a mini eraser, a googly eye, a button. Superglue the lid on (trust me on this one). Then, the kids can shake it up and try to find all the hidden items. It’s mesmerizing for them and buys you a solid 15 minutes of peace.
18. Read a Spooky (but Not Too Spooky) Story
Never underestimate the power of a good book. Pile some blankets on the couch, turn the lights down low, and have a family story time. Some of our favorites are Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds. They’re just the right amount of spooky for little ones. It’s a simple way to connect without any screens involved.
19. Foil Monster Prints
Tear off a sheet of aluminum foil for each kid—a little bigger than a piece of paper. Let them use washable markers to draw a monster face right on the foil. Then, gently place a piece of white paper over the drawing and press down. When you peel it off, you get a beautiful, marbled print of their monster. The results are always surprisingly artistic.
20. Halloween Bingo
You can find free printable Halloween Bingo cards online with a quick search. Use candy corn, little erasers, or pennies as markers. It’s a game that the whole family can play together, from the toddler to the grandparents. It encourages a little friendly competition and is just structured enough to feel like a real “event.”
So, there you have it. Twenty ways to survive—and actually enjoy—the lead-up to Halloween without losing your mind. The key is to pick the ones that sound fun to you, too. If you’re not having a good time, the kids will totally pick up on it.
My personal strategy? I usually pick one craft, one game, and one kitchen activity for the weekend. It spaces out the fun and keeps things from getting too overwhelming. Now, I’d love to hear from you. What’s the one non-negotiable Halloween activity in your house? Drop it in the comments—I’m always looking to add to my list
