This post was in partnership with KiwiCo but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
My kid has finally gotten to the age where he’s excited about every aspect of Halloween. Spooky(ish!) movies, skeleton decorations, baking special treats, picking costumes (and pumpkins), just to name a few things—we love it all.
Somewhere in the last few years, Halloween took over as a season for baking, home decorating, and crafting in my household. If baking is your go-to for connecting with the kiddos, Halloween is the perfect time to engage in the time-honored tradition of making and eating sugary treats. Like getting scared around the campfire? We have some ideas for that, too! And if, like us, you can’t pass up the opportunity to get the kids learning while they have fun, we’ve got that covered as well.
If your crew loves spooky season as mush as we do, we’ve rounded up five easy and enjoyable Halloween-themed activities that will make the whole family filled with fright (or delight!). Check them out below!
1. Engage in an Undercover STEM Activity
Make getting into the Halloween spirit completely stress-free and stock up on a few KiwiCo activity kits (shop a few below with a coupon code!) for the holiday. This Everymom editor-favorite craft set is a fun and simple way to not only get into the spooky spirit, but to engage little ones in non-screen activities that sneak in some STEM (aka science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning.
For Halloween, we loved completing KiwiCo’s haunted house-making kit (featuring a DIY ghostly glowing light), and bubbling witch cauldron activity (including oozing citric acid and spooky smoke). They were both a big hit with the age 5-and-up set—plus, the grown ups got really into it, too!
Recommended for kids ages 5+
Use code TEMKIWI for $10 off a KiwiCo Store purchase of $50+! Be sure to order by EOD on 10/17 for delivery by Halloween.
Recommended for kids ages 5+
Use code TEMKIWI for $10 off a KiwiCo Store purchase of $50+! Be sure to order by EOD on 10/17 for delivery by Halloween.
2. Bake Treats or Make a Halloween Cookie House
Forget the fact that the dip in temperatures around this time makes baking an absolute necessity for feeling all warm and cozy. Baking Halloween treats is a great way to get creative and spend an afternoon connecting with little ones. While there are tons of treats you can create from scratch, many of our favorites have caught onto the fact that spooky season is rivaling Christmas as *the* time for baking and cookie house-making. Haunted cookie mansion kits, black and orange Funfetti cakes, pumpkin cookies, Dracula teeth cupcakes, and even tie-dye alien cookies with eyeball sprinkles—these are all readily available and quick to bake at your local grocery store or Target.
3. See the Spooky Sights
The December holidays get all the glitz and glory when it comes to driving around to see decorations, but Halloween is definitely catching up. Plan a neighborhood walk or drive to see all the spooky sights this season with your kiddos. Our neighborhood does it up right with Halloween lights, skeletons, and all the pumpkins. It’s one of the best parts of this time of year!
4. Spooky Stories are the Best Stories
If you were a ’90s kid and still love Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, this is the activity for you. Gather up the family—preferably by a cozy bonfire with a flashlight in hand—and take turns either reading a spooky story or telling ones you make up on the spot. Careful not to make it too scary for littles and lean in on the funny tales. Don’t worry, there are plenty of PG (and even G-rated) versions of these traditional scary stories, so there’s something for all ages to enjoy.
5. Host a Halloween Movie Marathon
Cozying up on the couch and turning on a classic spooky movie is one of the best parts of the season—but it doesn’t have to be terrifying for the littlest kids. While there are plenty of horror movies out there, there are even more family-friendly options to get you into the Halloween spirit that won’t have the kids up with scary dreams at night. Our favorites are Halloweentown, Muppets Haunted Mansion, Casper, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, but we have a long list for your next marathon right here.
This post was in partnership with KiwiCo but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.