Fun and Easy Halloween Activities for Kids

Halloween is the perfect time for children to get creative, enjoy spooky games, and make magical memories. Whether you’re celebrating at home, in the garden, or out in the community, here are 25 Halloween activities kids will love.

Creative & Crafty Fun

Pumpkin Carving

Nothing says Halloween like carving a pumpkin. Kids can help scoop out the insides while adults handle the cutting.

Pumpkin Painting

A safer, mess-free alternative to carving – let little ones paint their pumpkins with silly or spooky faces.

DIY Halloween Masks

Using card, paper plates, and elastic, children can design their own witches, monsters, or superhero masks.

Spooky Slime Making

Mix up some gooey slime in Halloween colours like orange, green, or purple, and add glitter or plastic spiders.

Paper Ghosts, Bats & Spiders

Craft simple decorations with black and white paper to hang around the house.

Halloween Lantern Jars

Cover jam jars with orange or black tissue paper, add a battery tea light, and you’ve got glowing decorations.

Trick-or-Treat Bag Decorating

Give kids plain fabric or paper bags to decorate with markers, stickers, and stamps ready for Halloween night.

Bake & Decorate Cookies

Make sugar cookies shaped like pumpkins, bats, or ghosts, then let the kids decorate with icing and sprinkles.

Games & Spooky Play

Apple Bobbing

This classic game is messy fun – see who can grab an apple from the water using only their teeth.

Pin the Hat on the Witch

A Halloween twist on “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” – blindfolded kids try to stick the hat on the witch’s head.

Pumpkin Bowling

Use a small pumpkin as the bowling ball and set up ghost-shaped plastic cups as pins.

Halloween Scavenger Hunt

Hide themed items like mini pumpkins, toy spiders, and wrapped sweets around the house or garden.

Mummy Wrap Race

Teams race to wrap someone in toilet paper to look like a mummy – fastest wins!

Halloween Ring Toss

Use glow-in-the-dark rings and try to land them on plastic spider legs or bottles or a witches hat!

What’s in the Box?

Fill boxes with “spooky” items like peeled grapes (eyeballs) or cold spaghetti (worms) and let kids guess.

Spider Hunt

Look for plastic spiders around the home (or real ones outdoors and in the home!)

Spooky Fun at Home

Halloween Storytime

Read age-appropriate spooky stories together – fun by torchlight for extra atmosphere.

Family-Friendly Movie Night

Watch Halloween classics like Casper, Hotel Transylvania, or Hocus Pocus.

Glow-in-the-Dark Dance Party

Turn on some Halloween tunes, hand out glow sticks, and let the kids dance.

Build a Haunted House Fort

Use blankets, fairy lights, and Halloween decorations to create a spooky indoor den.

Indoor Trick-or-Treating

Decorate each room door in your house like a street and let kids “knock” for treats.

Out & About Adventures

Trick-or-Treating

Dress up, grab the treat bags, and head around the neighbourhood for some Halloween magic.

Visit a Pumpkin Patch

Choose the perfect pumpkin and take fun autumnal family photos.

Explore a Haunted Trail or House

Many places offer child-friendly haunted walks with just the right level of spookiness.

Join a Halloween Parade or Festival

Look for local events where kids can show off their costumes and enjoy games.

Lantern Walk

End Halloween with a cosy evening walk carrying LED lanterns or homemade Halloween lights.

🎃 These activities offer a mix of creativity, fun, and adventure—perfect for making Halloween special for kids of all ages.

Christmas is a fun time to spend time with the kids and and partake in fun festive activities.

Having said this, Christmas can feel overwhelming. There's so much to do and lots going on. Therefore I try not to overdo it and I pick just a few festive activities to do with my boys. Most of festive activities I choose are easy. It's quick to read a Christmas themed book, relaxing to watch a movie and fun to drink hot chocolate after a winter walk.

Have a quick read of my list for inspiration of Christmas activities to do with your children.

1.) Make paper snowflakes.

These are great for older kids (from around aged 7, although competent younger children can also have a go.) Check out this video on YouTube - how to make a paper snowflake.

2.) Make Christmas decorations.

These could be as easy as making paper chains, or what about salt dough decorations? Mix flour, salt, and water to create a dough. Kids can roll out the dough and use cookie cutters to make stars and other Christmas shapes. Then bake their creations, wait for them to cool and then deocorate with paints.

Other decoration ideas include painting pine cones, toilet roll Santas and button Christmas trees. Read our article on 10 easy Christmas decorations for kids for these and more ideas. Making decorations can be a wonderful bonding activity and allows kids to see their work displayed proudly around the home.

3.) Make reindeer food.

It's easy to make your own reindeer food. Use things like oats, pumpkin seeds, bird seed and dried cranberries. It's important not to put glitter in your reindeer food as this can be damaging to any wildlife who might eat it. This activity combines fun with a touch of nature education.

4.) Visit Christmas lights.

Either have a walk around your neighborhood and see the Christmas lights your neighbors have put up, or drive to the best Christmas lights near you. This can be a magical experience and a great way to enjoy the holiday spirit.

5. Make a Christmas Card

Once completed, give it to a family member or friend. Handmade cards add a personal touch and are a lovely way for kids to express their creativity and share holiday cheer.

6. Watch a Christmas Movie

There’s nothing quite like snuggling up with a festive film. Pick your family favorites and enjoy a cozy movie night together. Some of our family favourite holiday movies include Polar Express, Elf, Home Alone, A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Arthur Christmas.

7. Write a Letter to Santa

Tell Santa one or two things you'd really like to open on Christmas morning in a letter. This classic tradition is exciting for kids and helps them practice their writing skills.

Here's how to do it: Get some nice pens and paper ready. Draft a quick list before you start. Help your child write a greeting such as "Dear Santa" and ask politely for one or two items from their list. If you're in the UK, you can send a letter via Royal Mail and if you send it by 30th November, Santa will write back. Find out more .

8. Christmas Coloring

You can print out Christmas coloring sheets online or buy a Christmas coloring book. Coloring is a relaxing activity that children of all ages can enjoy.

9. Dance to Christmas Songs

Turn up the holiday tunes and have a dance party. It's a fun way to burn off some energy and get into the festive spirit.

10. Drink Hot Chocolate

It's fun to warm up with hot chocolate after a festive walk. You can even get creative with toppings like marshmallows, whipped cream, and candy canes.

11. Bake Christmas Cookies

Check out this recipe for super easy Christmas cookies that kids can make. If you don't like baking, why not buy some cookies and then decorate them instead? Baking and decorating cookies can be a delightful activity, and the results are delicious!

12. Sing Christmas Songs or Carols

Singing together can be a joyous way to celebrate the season. You can even go caroling in your neighborhood if you’re feeling adventurous.

13. Go Ice Skating

Ice skating is a quintessential winter activity that’s both fun and challenging. Many towns set up temporary rinks during the holiday season.

14. Try a Mince Pie

One of my sons loves mince pies, the other son hates them, but you don't know unless you try one! Trying traditional holiday foods can be a fun family activity.

15. Decorate Your Home

Get everyone involved in decorating your home for the holidays. From the tree to the mantel, it’s a great way to spread cheer.

16. Make a Gingerbread House

Building and decorating a gingerbread house can be a fun and creative project. Plus, it’s a tasty one!

17. Do a Christmas Jigsaw

I love having a jigsaw with lots of pieces laid out on the table. Family members can do parts of the jigsaw whenever they're free. It's a good way to get older kids off their screens.

18. Read a Christmas Book

There are lots of great Christmas books geared at younger children that make great bedtime stories. Sharing a festive tale is a lovely way to end the day. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr Seuss is a Christmas classic to share with your children. Other favorites include The Night Before Christmas and How to Catch an Elf.

19. Read the Nativity Story

For those who celebrate, reading the Nativity story is a meaningful way to remember the reason for the season.

20. Have a Festive Family Game Night

You can play festive versions of games such as Christmas charades! It’s a wonderful way to bond and have fun as a family.

21. Christmas Quiz

It's fun to have a Christmas quiz with the rest of the family. Find some fun Christmas quizzes online. Test your holiday knowledge and learn new facts.

22. Hang Mistletoe

Hanging mistletoe is a charming tradition. It’s fun to surprise loved ones with a kiss under the mistletoe.

23. Visit Santa

Many places have Santa visits where kids can tell him their Christmas wishes. It’s a magical experience for young children.

24. Donate Food

Many community groups collect food to give out to people who need it during the festive period. Find out what's happening in your community and donate. Teaching kids about giving is a valuable lesson.

25.) Track Santa on Christmas Eve.

There are some great apps which track Santa's journey on Christmas Eve. Find out when he'll be coming to you. It adds extra excitement to the night before Christmas.

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Looking for things to do this Fall? Look no further we have a brilliant 30 day bucket list of fun and easy activities to keep kids occupied in fall. Pick the ones you like best or do the whole list. Happy Fall!

1.) Pick conkers - and then play conkers. Who picked the hardest one?

2.) Make an apple pie

3.) Carve a pumpkin

4.) Watch a Halloween movie

5.) Paint some rocks - there are some great rock painting kits. Once you've painted some rocks, take a walk around your neighbourhood and leave them for neighbours and other children to find.

6.) Jump in the leaves

7.) Go to the park

8.) Drink hot chocolate - You can do this indoors or outdoors.

9.) Dance to a Halloween playlist - check out Spotify or Amazon Music, they normally put together Halloween playlists. YouTube is another great place to listen to Halloween songs. Some ideas of songs include Monster Mash by Bobby Pickett, Thriller by Michael Jackson and Somebody's Watching Me by Rockwell.

10.) Make a Fall Scrapbook

11.) Make a costume - create a homemade costume for Halloween.

12.) Go on a night walk. Young kids love a night walk because they don't often go outdoors after dark.

13.) Have a board game night

14.) Make soup - it could be pumpkin (or another soup)

15. Go on a nature walk

16.) Roast pumpkin seeds

17.) Toast marshmallows - either set up a camp fire in you backyard or do it in the kitchen and enjoy your marshmallows together.

18.) Collect pinecones - then display them at home or use them for a fall craft. Painting pinecones to decorate your home is fun.

19.) Listen to spooky stories - make up your own or find them on the internet or in a book.

20.) Find spider webs - go on a hunt around your home and see how many spider websyou can find!!

21.) Go to the woods - and find the biggest stick you can. My kids love finding sticks. They make great outdoor toys. They can be lightsabers, a walking stick or just used to rummage through the leaves.

22.) Go on a bike ride

23.) Climb a tree

24.) Make muffins

25.) Decorate your home for fall or Halloween - use pinecones and make a leaf wreath.

26.) Create Leave Rubbings

27.) Bob for Apples - this is easy to do, fill up a bowl with water. Put apples inside and bob for them. Surprisingly fun for the whole family.

28.) Make popcorn - great to do before a movie night.

29.) Go on a scavenger hunt - make a quick list of items to look for and find on a fall walk. Some ideas you can put on your list include conquers, pinecones, a red leaf and an acorn.

30.) Go bat watching - this is a great thing to do at dusk. It's fun to watch the bats come out and see how many you can fine.

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