Halloween Activities For Children Instead Of Trick or Treating – a host of fabulous ideas.
When you think of Halloween, you might think of sweets, spooky costumes and trick-or-treating, but that’s not everyone’s cup of tea. If you have children, they might not want to dress up or go out on the night of Halloween, and the thought of Halloween might even add some feelings of anxiety. Your child might prefer more of a routine that involves being at home. This can especially be the case for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. They may find it uncomfortable to be out of a routine, or go out and knock on strangers’ doors, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have just as much fun celebrating other ways.
So, if you have children who would prefer something different to trick or treating, then there’s some fabulous activity ideas below which could also be great to use if you’re planning a Halloween party.
6 Halloween Activities For Children Instead Of Trick or Treating
Pumpkin Carving
You can’t have a Halloween without some spooky pumpkins! Carving pumpkins is a symbol of Halloween, and is a really fun one at that. This is a fabulous activity to do with children as they can design their own and see their creation come to life. Most supermarkets do “child-safe” carving kits, so you can ensure they can carve it safely (with your help). All you need is a little tea light and your little one’s spooky masterpieces come to life. Remember, you can also use the waste of the pumpkin to make pumpkin pie or pumpkin soup. Also, if you roast the pumpkin seeds, they can be a great snack, too! If you are pumpkin carving this year, ensure that children are supervised at all times and have the support of an adult to avoid injury.
Do some spooky painting
A wonderful activity to do any day is painting. Whether that be finger-painting or with brushes and a canvas, adding some Halloween magic could make it even more exciting. No matter how old your children are, painting is a great activity for any age and lets your children express themselves. Let your child explore their imagination by choosing what they would like to paint but if they like, you could inspire them with some Halloween painting ideas such as pumpkins, witches hats, skeletons, black cats and anything else you can think of. It could be lovely to display these painting creations in your home so friends and family can appreciate their creativity!
Play some spooky games
No matter what the occasion, games are always a great way to spend time with friends and family and bring people together. If you’re planning on hosting a Halloween party, then this could be a great icebreaker for people to get to know each other better and work in teams. Equally, if you’re planning something a little more low-key, playing games is a great way to bond with your children. Games can be really beneficial for neurodivergent children, and they can support them to expand their social skills and just have some fun! Some Halloween game ideas include:
- Witches and brooms (instead of snakes and ladders)
- Bobbing apples
- Halloween bingo
- Pass the pumpkin (rather than pass the parcel)
If your children have friends coming round and they want to dress up, they could try wearing a sensory friendly Halloween costume.
Bake some Halloween treats
What better time to bake than Halloween? Not only is baking a really fun and therapeutic activity, but if you have children, it’s also a wonderful way to bond with them and help develop their social, motor and communication skills. Why not try baking some spooky recipes with your child, such as Halloween spider crispy cakes? They’re easy to make, and your kids will love the end result! To make it extra fun, you could create a Halloween playlist and put some of your child’s favourite songs on there or introduce them to some fun Halloween tunes.
Have a Halloween movie night
If your children would like to do a relaxing activity on Halloween, why not sit down and watch a film together? You don’t have to leave the house to watch a movie, you can make your own at home movie night. These films don’t necessarily have to be spooky Halloween films, especially if your child isn’t so fond of Halloween. This could be their favourite film or even a film which has mild themes of Halloween, such as The Addams Family, Scooby-Doo or even Harry Potter if they wanted to try something new. Of course, make sure to check the age rating of films before watching them with children.
Make some Halloween Crafts
Another creative idea to do on Halloween could be to make some hair-raising crafts. This is a lovely way to encourage creativity in your children, and it’s the perfect time for them to craft something they wouldn’t normally, such as spider crafts or bat crafts. Your child can then use their creations to decorate their room or your living space and get into the eerie mood.
If your child doesn’t feel like crafting, then they may want to do some mindfulness colouring with a Halloween theme. Colouring is a great way for children to develop their hand-eye coordination and also express themselves. It’s also a wonderful calming activity which can aid their mental wellbeing.
We really hope you’ve found this blog helpful and you’ve found some fun ways to spend Halloween with your family and friends. Putting your child’s wellbeing first in situations where they can feel uncomfortable, is essential. So hopefully these activities can bring some comfort to them and to you. Happy Halloween!
Further reading
How to help a child make new friends
How to preserve carved pumpkins
