One of the best parts about Halloween is being able to see all the kids enjoy the spooky celebrations. My kids used to love trick-or-treating – it was probably their favorite time of the autumn season. We used to take the entire month of October planning and designing their costumes. It was always so wonderful to see the final result as they grabbed their large pillowcases and set off for the evening to hunt for some delicious treats.
Another tradition we followed in the later years was holding Halloween parties. I often talk about my dinner parties and how much I enjoy playing hostess. Over the years, my kids started inviting their friends over to have a spooky celebration in our home. I’ve been through so many games and activities for these themed get-togethers and I thought I’d share some with you today.
Here are five fun ways to keep kids entertained at a Halloween party:
Pin the Tail
Any sort of “pin the tail” game is great for a younger audience. They get a hoot out of being blindfolded and love seeing their final “tail location.” What’s great about any “pin on the tail” game is that you can cater to any type of theme. For Halloween, we often create images like Pin the Tail on the Black Cat, Pin the Bowtie on Mr. Bones, or Pin the Spider on the Cobweb. Have fun and get creative – this activity can keep them entertained for a good while and is totally budget-friendly.
Halloween Touch and Feel Game
The Halloween Touch and Feel game was also very popular, so we brought it back nearly every year. Kids loved the sensory aspect to it. All you have to do is line up some bowls on a table and fill each one with different types of food. Cover the bowls with a large sheet and let each child take turns to touch and feel the contents of each bowl. You, as the adult, will supervise and make sure the child does not see what they’re touching (you can lift the covers yourself – only slightly!). For example, you can fill a bowl with cooked spaghetti and have it represent human brains. You can make a bowl of peeled grapes feel like oozy eyeballs. It is so much fun to get creative with this game and the kids will have a blast!
Continue the Story
A great way to get the kids to interact with another is by having them create a group story. Sit them in a circle and let each child give a couple of sentences and take turns in continuing the story. Often, the stories don’t make much sense and can turn out a little crazy (and hilarious!) but that’s the whole fun in it!
Halloween Piñatas
What fun is a Halloween party without any candy? Although traditionally used for birthday parties, nowadays, piñatas can be purchased in so many shapes and not to mention, are quite easy to make yourself. Jack-o-lantern piñatas are so adorable and very easy to fill with candy.
Cookie Bar
Kids love treats. In the later years, it occurred to me that creating a cookie bar would be a great way to keep their sweet tooth satisfied. Sugar cookies are the best to work with because they’re very easy to decorate. I would put out a large plate of cookies and lay out icing in all sorts of colors. Candies would obviously be Halloween-themed and they would have a blast creating the most ridiculously “spooktacular” cookies ever.