Halloween games… or how to keep the kids from climbing the walls

A Halloween party is always a great way for people to come together and celebrate the best of the season, but managing a room full of kids on a sugar high can sometimes be a hassle. That’s why it's always best to keep it structured and plan out games and activities to keep them busy, happy and out of mischief. Here are some great Halloween party games and fun crafts that are ideal for a party, a classroom or even a day-care.

Hot potato with pumpkins

This game requires nothing more than a small pumpkin (real or plastic) and kids. Have the kids sit around in a circle and play some music as the kids pass the pumpkin around. Stop the music suddenly and the child holding the pumpkin is out. Continue until there is only one kid left and give the winner a prize.

Pumpkin decorating

For little kids who want to carve their own pumpkins but are not yet ready to use knives, let them make their own pumpkins to decorate out of papier-mâché. Inflate balloons and have the kids cover them with papier-mâché. Mix one part water to one part flour and torn-up strips of newspaper. Once everything has dried, have the kids paint their creations orange and paint on a face. This kind of activity also works with pumpkins and markers but with this year’s pumpkin shortage the home made variety may prove less expensive and keep the kids busier for longer.

The mummy game

Put kids together in groups of two with a roll of toilet paper. When the signal is given kids then have to wrap their partner in toilet paper like a mummy. The first pair to empty their roll wins.

Pin the wart on the witch or pin the mouth on the ghost

This is pin the tail on the donkey, Halloween style. Get a large cut out of a witch or ghost. If you can’t buy one, draw one on poster board. Blindfold the children and give them either chewing gum or wall tack gum for a witch or a cut out of a mouth for a ghost. Spin the child around and direct them to the poster board. Closest one wins.

Candy counting guesses

Take a large jar or bowl, count out a finite amount of candy such as candy corn, lollipops, jelly beans or whatever else available that is Halloween themed. Have the kids take guesses, closest one wins the candy.

Spooky corners

Put up large pictures of Halloween type images in the corners of the room such as a jack-o-lantern, a witch, black cats, ghosts, etc. Let the kids run around the room, preferably in a circle, play music and randomly stop it. When the music stops the kids will have to pick a corner to run to. Randomly choose different corners for the kids to be out. Keep playing until there is a winner, give the winner a prize.

Apple, orange or ball pass

Arrange the kids into lines. The object of the game is to pass the object from underneath one’s chin to the next person’s without dropping it and without the use of hands or anything else. This is a kind of relay race that does not involve actual running around. If a person drops it, the object needs to start again at the beginning of the line. The first line to get the apple, orange or whatever other objects you want to use without dropping it wins.

What am I

All you need for this one is a bunch of paper print outs of different Halloween themed pictures, some tape and a gaggle of kids. Tape an image on to the back of each child and have them sit around on the floor. Have the other children give the child hints as to what is taped to their backs without giving it away. This can be a fun game for kids of any age.

Spider Hunt

All you need for this one is whatever quantity of black plastic spiders and a prize. Hide spiders around the room before the children arrive. Send them on a scavenger hunt and the kid with the most spiders at the end wins the prize.

Halloween balloons

Blow up some orange and black balloons. The balloon must stay in the air at all times but before the child hits it they must say a Halloween word, if the kid hits the balloon without saying a Halloween word first or lets the balloon fall to the ground is out. Halloween words can be anything from different kinds of costumes, Halloween foods, types of candies, characters from spooky stories and so on. This is also a good game for smaller children to help them learn vocabulary and be creative.

These suggestions are generally geared towards younger children but some of them can even be played by adults at a Halloween party or if mom and dad just want to join in with the fun. Whatever the case, enjoy this time while it lasts because Christmas is just around the corner.