Halloween is just around the corner, a season filled with creativity, imagination, and learning opportunities. Whether you’re planning Halloween activities for kids at school, setting up Halloween classroom activities, or organizing Halloween activities at home, this festive season offers endless ways to blend fun, creativity, and learning.
To help you plan the perfect celebration, I’ve gathered 16 Halloween activities that are engaging, budget-friendly, and suitable for all ages, from toddlers and preschoolers to school students.
These include Halloween craft activities, art projects, and even simple Halloween STEM activities that make learning hands-on and enjoyable.
Continue reading to discover all 16 Halloween activities, including decorations, crafts, cooking projects, and educational options such as Halloween math activities and storytelling challenges.
Select the ones that align with your goals and make this Halloween a memorable, creative, and eco-friendly celebration.
Halloween Decoration Ideas for Classrooms and Homes
Decorating your space for Halloween is one of the most exciting Halloween activities for kids. It helps build anticipation and sets a festive mood both in the classroom and at home. These ideas are creative, budget-friendly, and can easily be adjusted for different age groups, from preschool Halloween activities to older students.
Create a Wizard-Themed Classroom
Transform your classroom into a magical learning space. Hang black fabric to resemble enchanted drapes, place old books as spell manuals, and use string lights to mimic glowing potions. This is a wonderful Halloween classroom activity that encourages children to use imagination while maintaining a safe, non-scary environment.
Set Up a Halloween Story Corner
Reading spaces can become cozy storytelling corners with just a few props. Add cushions, cobweb décor, and softly lit lamps. Teachers can read age-appropriate Halloween stories or let students share their own tales. This type of Halloween reading activity promotes literacy while connecting to seasonal themes.
Organize a Magic Kitchen Experience
Turn your classroom or home corner into a Magic Kitchen where imagination and sensory play blend together. Unlike the wizard-themed classroom, which sparks curiosity through visuals, this setup lets children feel, mix, and explore in a creative and hands-on way, making it one of the most interactive Halloween activities for kids.
Begin by transforming a table or counter into a “potion lab.” Cover the surface with tablecloths, then arrange bowls, measuring cups, and empty jars as your “magical cooking tools.” Fill each jar with safe, sensory-friendly materials like colored water, cornstarch slime, rice, or glitter, and label them with imaginative names such as Moonlight Dust, Dragon Bubbles, or Unicorn Sugar. Provide large spoons or ladles for pretend stirring and scooping, and let children invent their own “recipes for happiness” or “potions of courage”. Soft bubbling sounds or quiet mystical music can help complete the atmosphere, making it a truly magical addition to your Halloween activities for kids at home or in the classroom.
Build a Mini Haunted House with Kids
Create a spooky yet inviting corner by transforming a play tent into a cozy haunted hideout. This version of a haunted house is safer, softer, and easily reusable, perfect for both Halloween activities at home and classroom play areas.
Start with a small tent or fabric teepee and cover it with dark sheets or blankets, leaving one entrance as the doorway. Inside, hang paper ghosts, bats, and glow-in-the-dark stars from the ceiling, and place a few LED candles or string lights to cast a warm, mysterious glow.
Add soft cushions or beanbags to make the space comfortable, then encourage children to personalize the outside with drawings, paper chains, or signs like “Monster Den” or “The Friendly Ghost House.”It’s a wonderful way to blend creativity, teamwork, and imaginative play, proving that a haunted house doesn’t have to be scary to be fun.
Simple DIY Halloween Crafts for Children
Crafting is one of the most beloved Halloween fun activities for kids. These creative projects combine art, fine motor skills, and storytelling, perfect for both classroom projects and easy Halloween activities for kids to try at home. These are among the most engaging Halloween art activities for kids, encouraging imagination and hands-on learning during the spooky season.
Make a Magic Wand
Children can make their own wands using sticks, paper, and ribbons. Let them decorate with stars, glitter, and colors that express their personality.
Materials Needed:
- A small stick or wooden dowel (about 25–30 cm)
- Colorful ribbons or yarn
- Paper stars or cardboard cutouts
- Glue or tape
- Glitter, markers, or stickers for decoration
Instructions:
- Begin by painting or coloring the stick with your favorite colors. Let it dry completely.
- Cut out a star (or any magical shape) from cardboard and decorate it with glitter or stickers.
- Attach the star to the top of the stick using glue or tape.
- Tie ribbons or yarn below the star to create a flowing effect.
- Encourage kids to name their wands and imagine a “spell” that spreads kindness or creativity.
This art activity for Halloween encourages creativity and gives kids a prop for pretend play or a magic show later.
Handprint Spider Craft for Kids
Trace hand prints on black paper to form spider legs, then add googly eyes and thread for webs.
This simple craft is one of the easiest Halloween activities for kids, perfect for toddlers and preschoolers learning about shapes and patterns.
Materials Needed:
- Black and white construction paper
- Scissors
- Googly eyes or paper circles
- Glue stick
- String or yarn for webs
Instructions:
- Trace each child’s hands on black paper and cut them out. These will be the spider’s legs.
- Cut an oval shape from black paper for the spider’s body.
- Glue the handprints on either side of the oval to form eight legs.
- Add googly eyes or draw them with white paper circles.
- Hang the spider from yarn to simulate a web.
It’s an easy and mess-free craft activity for Halloween, ideal for Halloween art activities for kids at school or at home. Teachers can use this project to discuss shapes and symmetry.
Create a Jack-O’-Lantern Storage Box
Instead of carving pumpkins, use orange craft boxes or recycled materials. Kids can decorate with paint or paper to make their own Jack-O’-Lantern faces.
This is a great way to teach sustainability while engaging in simple Halloween art activities.
Materials Needed:
- Small cardboard boxes (shoe box size or smaller)
- Orange paint or construction paper
- Black paper for facial features
- Glue or tape
- Markers, stickers, or glitter for decoration
Instructions:
- Cover the box with orange paper or paint it fully.
- Cut triangles for eyes and a jagged mouth from black paper.
- Glue the features onto the box to form a Jack-O’-Lantern face.
- Let kids personalize their box with stickers, names, or drawings.
- Use the box to store candies, small toys, or classroom supplies.
This simple, sustainable project is one of the best Halloween art activities for kids, combining design, creativity, and recycling awareness. It’s perfect for teachers or parents looking for fun Halloween activities for kids that double as storage solutions or gifts.
Halloween Cooking Activities for Kids
Cooking is a delightful way to introduce math, science, and creativity. These Halloween activities for kids turn the kitchen into a learning lab. Parents and teachers can use these recipes to discuss measurements, teamwork, and food safety.
Spider Cookie Recipe
Bake simple chocolate cookies, then add pretzel sticks for legs and candy eyes.
Materials Needed:
- Ready-made cookie dough or homemade dough
- Pretzel sticks (for legs)
- Chocolate chips or small candies (for eyes)
- Baking tray and parchment paper
Instructions:
- Roll small balls of cookie dough and place them on a baking tray.
- Gently press four pretzel sticks into each side to form spider legs.
- Bake according to dough instructions (usually 8–10 minutes at 180°C / 350°F).
- Once cooled, add chocolate chips or candies as eyes using a dab of melted chocolate.
This Halloween activity at home brings joy to children while encouraging fine motor skills. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to discuss how ingredients mix, a mini Halloween science activity in disguise.
How to Bake Wizard Hat Cupcakes
Prepare regular cupcakes, then top them with chocolate-dipped cones shaped like hats. Let kids decorate them with edible stars or sprinkles. A perfect combination of fun Halloween activities and kitchen creativity.
Materials Needed:
- Cupcake batter (store-bought mix or homemade)
- Ice cream cones
- Melted chocolate
- Edible stars or sprinkles
Instructions:
- Bake cupcakes and let them cool.
- Dip ice cream cones in melted chocolate, then let them set upside down on parchment paper.
- Place each cone on top of a cupcake to form a “wizard hat.”
- Decorate with sprinkles or edible stars.
Classic Pumpkin Cookie Recipe
Use pumpkin purée to make soft cookies with a seasonal aroma. While baking, discuss how pumpkins grow and their role in reducing food waste, linking back to environmental awareness.
This also connects nicely to family activities Halloween, reinforcing values of sharing and sustainability.
Materials Needed:
- 1 cup pumpkin purée
- 1 egg
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Cinnamon or nutmeg (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Mix pumpkin purée, sugar, and egg until smooth.
- Add flour, baking powder, and spices. Stir until a soft dough forms.
- Drop spoonfuls onto a baking tray and flatten slightly.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes until golden. Let cool before serving.
Educational Halloween Activities for Home and School
Halloween isn’t just about costumes and candy; it can also inspire meaningful learning. These educational Halloween activities combine reading, role play, problem-solving, and creativity. They’re suitable for both Halloween school activities and Halloween activities for preschoolers.
Read Friendly Halloween Stories
Reading together is one of the simplest yet most powerful Halloween activities for kids. After reading, encourage children to draw their favorite scenes or retell the story in their own words. This can also serve as a Halloween art activity when followed by drawing scenes from the story.
Teachers can use this as a Halloween classroom activity by pairing reading with creative writing tasks, such as composing an alternate ending or describing a favorite character. Parents can extend this Halloween activity at home by turning it into a bedtime storytelling tradition. Through reading, children strengthen language skills while learning empathy and comprehension in a fun, seasonal context.
Reenact Halloween Stories in Class
It’s one of the most interactive Halloween children’s activities, encouraging communication and teamwork, perfect for kindergarten activities for Halloween. Acting out stories helps children build communication, memory, and confidence. Start by dividing the class into small groups, assigning characters from the story, and encouraging kids to create simple props from craft paper or recycled materials.
For preschool Halloween activities, keep the stories short and rhythmic; for older children, add narration or light background music. This exercise strengthens teamwork and listening skills while letting imagination take center stage.
Teach the Meaning of Halloween
Teaching the origins of Halloween helps children understand the cultural and historical roots of the celebration. In Halloween preschool activities, keep the story simple, focus on ideas like sharing, kindness, and helping others.
For older students, explore how Halloween traditions differ across countries and discuss the values of community, creativity, and cultural exchange.
This reflective Halloween children’s activity introduces lessons that go beyond costumes, encouraging cultural awareness and moral understanding while keeping the festive spirit alive.
Host a Halloween Magic Show
Magic shows are perfect for excitingly introducing basic science concepts. Ask each student to prepare a simple “magic trick” that secretly teaches a concept like chemical reactions, magnetism, or static electricity.
For instance, a bubbling potion using baking soda and vinegar becomes a small Halloween science activity, while floating paper ghosts can introduce air pressure.
Encourage students to explain the “science behind the magic” at the end of their show.
This is an excellent Halloween STEM activity for kids, combining curiosity, performance, and education. Parents can easily adapt this for Halloween activities at home, turning kitchen experiments into shared discoveries.
Plan a Halloween Scavenger Hunt
Create a list of themed items (pumpkin, ghost, black cat) for kids to find around the classroom or home. This Halloween activity idea builds focus and observation while providing light physical exercise an easy choice for indoor Halloween activities.
A scavenger hunt blends movement, observation, and problem-solving, making it a versatile Halloween activity for both classrooms and families. You can even turn this into a Halloween math activity by having kids count collected items or solve mini-equations to reveal their next clue.
This interactive game not only promotes critical thinking but also builds excitement through teamwork and discovery.
Organize a Family Halloween Movie Night
End your day with a cozy family event that combines fun and learning.
Choose age-appropriate Halloween films that highlight teamwork, friendship, or creativity, and prepare a few healthy snacks to enjoy together. After the movie, talk about what the characters learned or how they solved problems, a gentle way to develop empathy and critical thinking.
Teachers can extend this idea into a Halloween writing activity, asking students to write short reviews or compare the film’s message with a story they’ve read in class.
This relaxing Halloween activity at home is one of the most enjoyable Halloween activities for kids, blending entertainment with reflection and learning.
It reminds us that even quiet family moments can nurture curiosity, connection, and creativity, proving that the best Halloween activities for kids are often the simplest ones shared together.
Conclusion
Halloween Activities for Kids should be simple, low-prep, and joyful. This guide highlights age-appropriate ideas, storytelling, friendly decorations, DIY crafts, easy cooking, and reading games that work equally well at home and in the classroom. Each activity builds creativity, language, and early STEM without overwhelm. Choose a few, gather basic materials, and keep the vibe low-scare and child-led. With clear steps and quick set-ups, these Halloween Activities for Kids turn the season into playful learning full of discovery, laughter, and meaningful connection.
