Fall has arrived with its crunchy leaves, cooler air, and the promise of Halloween fun. If your little ones are ready to make something crafty and spooky, here are several Halloween-themed activities that are simple, low-prep, and perfect for crafty afternoons.
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Personalized Treat Totes
Why settle for a store-bought candy bag when your child can make their own?-
What to use: Recycle a paper bag, an old pillowcase, or even a reusable tote.
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Decorating ideas: Paint spooky slogans (“Trick or Treat”, “Boo!”), add glitter, stickers, or draw little ghosts, pumpkins, or witches.
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Fun twist: Let each child design their own character or motif to make the tote uniquely theirs.
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Pumpkin Play & Glow Creations
Pumpkins are a Halloween staple—but you don’t have to limit yourself to carving.
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Decorate instead of carve: Paint your pumpkins or dress them up using fabric scraps, ribbon, hats, masks—whatever you have around.
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Luminary options: Create paper or cardstock cylinders (or other shapes) and insert battery-operated tea lights or glow sticks to safely make them light up.
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Design ideas: Faces, monsters, robots—go for silly, spooky, or somewhere in between!
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Paper & Construction Paper Crafts
Few materials are more versatile (or affordable) than paper, especially around Halloween.
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Shapes & creatures: Cut out bats, spiders, ghosts, black cats, spider webs… the classics.
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Tools to help: Use stencils for more precise shapes, or have kids freehand if they want something looser.
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Adding flair: Glue on googly eyes, use markers, chalk pastels, or glitter glue to make them stand out.
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Display ideas: Tape them on windows, doors, or make a garland string for a hallway.
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Bonus Ideas & Tips
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Mix sensory materials: Felt, cotton balls, foil, fabric—textures add a lot to a craft and make it more engaging.
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Safety first: If using real candles, always supervise. Or better—stick with LED lights. Do the cutting/poking parts yourself if needed.
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Set up a craft station: Lay out all supplies ahead of time—paper, glue, scissors, markers, decorative bits—so kids can dig in without waiting.
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Let creativity lead: There’s no “right” way. Some crafts can be messy or imperfect, and that’s part of the fun!
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Halloween crafts are a great way to spend quality time with kids, let imaginations run wild, and decorate your space with creations that feel personal.