Halloween doesn't have to be terrifying for your preschooler, not when we have these 10 games for a scare-free fun.
Try any of the following 10 games and activities with your child or a group of kids this Halloween. Each of these can be modified depending on a child's age and level of confidence.
1. Bob for Apples
Older children can try picking up apples in a tub of water using just their teeth. Children who can't or won't dunk their heads can use a slotted spoon to scoop up an apple. To make the game harder, try blindfolding kids. Right-handed kids can scoop with their left hand and "lefties" can scoop with their right hand. (Note: Never leave water unattended, especially if there are babies and toddlers in the house.)
2. Paint Halloween Scenes
Get out finger paints and paper and paint Halloween scenes with your child. Talk together about what you are drawing. Is it scary? What makes it scary? Try making your painting a bit silly. Maybe your witch can fly only upside down or your ghost keeps tripping over his sheet. This activity will help kids exert some control over Halloween sights and sounds and may spark conversations about what is scary to them.
3. Decorate a Haunted House
Kids can help decorate with black and orange crepe paper, old sheets, and store-bought or homemade decorations. Decorating it together gives kids a sense of mastery and takes away some of the mystery. If other children are visiting your haunted house, leave the lights on and explain everything for younger or more sensitive kids.
4. Play Apple Pass
Try this game at a Halloween party for preschoolers. Place kids in a circle with hands behind their backs and have them try to pass an apple from chin to chin without dropping it. This game brings guaranteed giggles for any age.
5. Create Masks
To help kids understand the concept of masks, you can create your own from paper plates. Use crayons, colored markers, yarn, and other craft items. For very young kids, tape the mask to a craft stick so they can hold the mask up in front of their faces (rather than tying them on with string). Pass the masks around so everyone gets used to seeing others in masks.
6. Make Jack-o'-Lanterns
A scary face or a funny face? Let your kids decide. Try finger paint or poster paints instead of carving. Kids of every age will enjoy scooping out the seeds. If carving a pumpkin, kids can draw the face on a piece of paper first (or use a Nick Jr. character templates). Tape it to the pumpkin and have your child poke holes through the paper with a pushpin to trace the shapes onto the pumpkin. Mom or Dad can then do the cutting.
7. Host a Costume Contest
Try awards for "Scariest Costume," "Funniest Costumes," "Most Colorful," "Spookiest Costume," "Silliest Costume," "Best TV Character," "Best Traditional Costume." When young kids are involved, be sure to have a prize for every child or give everyone the same award.
8. Tell Not-So-Scary Stories
One person gets to start a creepy story and everyone has to add to it. Just keep in mind that some kids will need their stories to contain a large dose of silliness and a small dose of scariness, so be sure to add some silly elements when it's your turn.
9. Pass the Candy Corn!
Set up a Candy Corn Relay Race by placing two Halloween-themed containers at one end of the room and two piles of candy corn at the other. Divide kids into two teams. Each player must scoop up candy corns with a small spoon, dump them into the bucket, and pass the spoon to the next team member. The first team to finish wins. Or try a Halloween "egg hunt" with candy corn. On the morning of Halloween, hide candy corns around the house for your child to find.
10. Play Halloween Hot Potato
Use a small pumpkin or gourd to play a game of Halloween Hot Potato. Place kids in a circle and turn on music or Halloween sound effects. Players must pass the pumpkin as quickly as they can and not get stuck with it when the music stops. When a player is "out" he or she gets to control the music for the next round.
