Halloween lends itself to creative fun when planning a party for little goblins. We’ve rounded up some crafty ideas to get you started.
PLAY
These games will keep kids coming back for more.
Mummy Wrap
Get this: 10+ toilet paper rolls
Go!: Divide the kids into two teams. Have a designated “mummy” that the other children decorate. Have the child (or adult) stand still and start wrapping toilet paper around the arms, legs, torso, and head. Be sure to leave space for eyes and nose.
Search for the Missing Zombie Parts
Where has the zombie gone? Kids try to figure it out as peeled grapes become eyeballs and cooked spaghetti noodles are brains.
Get this: Peeled grapes, cooked spaghetti, chilled gelatin (prepare ahead of time), cooked broccoli, latex gloves filled with play sand, and other items that bring a surprise when you touch them
Go!: Take several shoeboxes, toy buckets, or bowls and fill them individually with each ingredient. Cover everything but the opening to the container. Let each child reach in and touch the item and try to figure out what’s inside.
Spooky Scavenger Hunt
Kids love to hunt for treasure. Use your imagination to come up with clever clues and places to stash the spooky loot.
Get this: Cards to write the clues on, items to hide, such as vampire teeth or witch’s fingers, a prize for the winner
Go!: Divide party guests into teams of two. Hand out a card with the first clue. Each team must figure out a riddle that provides a clue to where the loot is hidden. Each clue leads to a treat and once there, the next clue to the next treat. The team that solves the most clues receives a prize.
March in the Music Parade
Get this: Drums, rattles, whistles, kazoos, blocks, and other objects kids can make noise with and play
Go!: Give each guest an instrument and designate a parade leader. Then march around the room in a line, playing the instruments.
Build a Frankenstein
Get this: Many small balloons (blown up beforehand or blown up by the children as part of the game, depending on their age), two large pairs of pants, two dress shirts, and two hats
Go!: Divide your guests into two groups. Have each team select a dresser who will put on the clothing. On the word “Go!” each team begins stuffing the balloons into the dresser’s arms, legs, and body. The team that stuffs the most balloons into the dresser’s clothing wins. At the end, gather up the balloons and have a contest to see who can sit on and pop the most balloons.
Break a Pinata
Get this: Halloween-themed piñata (a skull, a pumpkin), two bags of candy to fill piñata, a whiffle ball bat, a blindfold
Go!: Hang the piñata securely in a wide-open space, roughly two to three feet above the heads of your party-goers. (The idea is to make it challenging but not too hard.) Blindfold each guest, turn him around three times, and then let him start swinging. Make sure each child has a time at bat until someone breaks open the piñata.
DANCE
Host a Dance Party
Get this: A boombox, strobe light, and a smoke machine
Go!: Put a play list of spooky music together, crank up the tunes, and let the kids do their best to twist and shout. Hold a dance contest or play Statue where kids dance to the music and then freeze in a silly position. Your play list can include these Halloween favorites: The Monster Mash, Thriller, This is Halloween, Ghostbusters, Werewolves of London, and the Purple People Eater.
SHARE
Be sure to take plenty of pictures throughout your party. Then post to Facebook or Instagram so friends can share in the spooky fun.