Halloween takes place every year on October 31st. The origins of Halloween date back to several ancient festivals and many of the customs were started by the Pagans who believed that on the last night of October, the spirits of the dead roamed the Earth.

Today, Halloween is a time when people host spooky parties and kids like to dress up, carve pumpkins and go from house to house playing ‘Trick-or Treat’. Many costumes and Halloween activities include ghosts, skeletons, mummies and other characters inspired by the dead and the afterlife.

Here are a few easy Halloween activities for kids to help you get in the mood for Halloween and prepare for your next Halloween party.

Activity 1: Spooky Q-TIP Skeleton

The collection of bones in the human body is called the skeletal system, or skeleton. Our skeletal system includes more than 200 bones that protect our organs and work with our muscles to allow us to move. It’s quite an amazing thing, but the idea of a skeleton coming back to roam the earth after we are dead is a very scary idea indeed. Skeletons are a common theme at Halloween parties.

Follow the steps below for a quick and easy Halloween activity for you to make your own Spooky Q-tip Skeleton.

You will need:

• Black Paper
• White Paper
• Glue (we recommend PVA)
• Scissors
• Q-tips
• Black Marker
• Pencil (optional)

First, draw a skull onto the white paper using the black marker.  Around 1 inch in size is ideal. Give your skull two large round black eyes, a smaller triangle for a nose, and lots of teeth! If it helps, you can draw the skull in pencil first, and then go over the features with the marker afterwards.

Once you are happy with your skull, cut it out. Remember to always be careful when using scissors, you may need an adult to help with this part.

When you have cut out your skull shape, place it onto the black paper. You don’t need to stick it down just yet.

Next, cut up your Q-tips into various sizes (or ask an adult to do this for you). Once you have lots of different pieces of Q-tips, then you’re ready for the fun part, positioning the skeleton bones.

On your sheet of black paper, lay out the pieces of Q-tips in the shape of the skeleton’s bones. Use longer sections of Q-tips for limbs like the legs and arms, and use shorter bits for the ribs, feet and fingers.

Once you are happy with the layout, it’s time to glue all the pieces down, and then you are finished. Well done!

Now admire your hard work.

Activity 2: Easy Masking Tape Mummy

A dead body that has been preserved with chemicals and wrapped in bandages is called a mummy. The Inca of Peru made mummies, and so did other Ancient peoples. However, the best-known makers of mummies are the ancient Egyptians. The Ancient Egyptians believed that people needed their bodies in the afterlife, so they took great care to ensure that their bodies were protected and preserved.

Would you like to make a mummy?

Don’t worry! It’s a much easier activity than the way the Ancient Egyptians used to do it.

You will need:

• Black Paper (ideally, card stock)
• White crayon
• Scissors
• Masking Tape
• Glue (PVA or glue stick)
• Googly eyes

First, draw the body on the black paper using the crayon.  It should have two arms, two legs and a rounded head, similar to a gingerbread man.

Next, layer strips of masking tape over the outline. Don’t worry about staying within the lines.

Once you have covered the body with strips of tape, cut out the mummy's body from the black paper.

Now, you are ready for the final touch - adding the eyes. Glue two eyes onto the mummy's head.

Your mummy is ready. The ancient Egyptians would be proud!

Activity 3: Floating Ghost Game

Is it October 31st already? It’s time for a Halloween Party! Here’s an easy Halloween activity you can do with friends. All you have to do in advance is blow up several white balloons and draw ghost faces on the balloons.

You will need:

• Several white balloons
• Black Marker
• 3+ Players

Before the party, blow up several white balloons, and draw ghost faces on them. You can leave the balloons around the party as decorations.

Once the party has started, gather up all your ghost balloons and bring all the players into a circle.

Throw one of the ghost balloons into the circle, and challenge the players to keep it up. Don’t let it hit the floor!

After a minute or two, throw in the second ghost balloon. The players must keep both balloons in the air.

Keep throwing in more balloons and watch as the players scramble to keep all the ghost balloons in the air at once. How long can the players keep the ghosts afloat?

Did you enjoy these easy Halloween activities for kids?

Try our Halloween arts and crafts for kids too.