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Halloween Games, Party Ideas, Scavenger Hunt, Movies and Recipes

As a girl scout leader for many years and a homeroom parent for both of my children I have planned many Halloween Parties.  You will find some great Halloween games, recipes, scary movies, pumpkin carving patterns and decorating ideas for kids parties listed below.
 

HALLOWEEN GAMES FOR KIDS

 

Build A Scarecrow Form groups and have a variety of old clothes, pillowcases for heads, markers and newspaper. Groups have 20 minutes to create their scarecrow. Give prizes to the scariest or funniest, then place outside to decorate.	Pumpkin Penny Pitch Use several small plastic pumpkins or one large plastic pumpkin Place the pumpkins a couple feet away. Give each player ten pennies. Every time a penny goes into the pumpkin, a piece of candy is won.
Donut Bite Wrap an old mop handle up in orange and black crepe paper with matching ribbon. Purchase enough donuts for each child. Loop ribbon through the donut hole.  Tie the other end of the ribbon to the decorated mop handle.  Hold mop so that children have to kneel to reach the donut.  The object is to see who can grab the donut with their teeth -- without hands! Don't let kids use masks here. For older kids you may want to cover their eyes with a bandana.  Hang a new donut for each player. If you want you can time each player to see how long it takes. Shortest time wins.	Musical Tombstones Give each child one or two sheets of large gray construction paper based on the number of kids in the group and the way you plan to play the game (see below).   Have them cut it into the shape of a tombstone and using markers, glue sticks, sparkles, scissors, construction paper etc… decorate their stones with creepy drawings and silly epitaphs “Here Lies Ray He Died In The Bay”  For smaller groups use two sheets and staple together to form a tombstone that is large enough to fit over the back of a folding chair.  Or if you have a large group use one sheet of paper and it can be placed like stepping stones rather than using chairs.  Follow the usual rules for musical chairs, except have your players carry their tombstones as they circle around the seats. When you stop the music, everyone rushes to find a chair. The player left without one is out of the game; he starts the graveyard, putting his tombstone in a designated spot and sitting down. The game continues, with you removing a chair at the start of each round, until one child is left sitting with her unused tombstone and everyone else is in the graveyard.   As a prize give the cassette of creepy music to the winner and the tombstones to all the players.
Skeleton Race Items Needed Paper skeleton parts (1 set for each child, or let children work in pairs), Printable skeleton parts for a team (from Northwest Territories & Nunavut Girl Guides), Brads or glue. Cut out skeleton parts and punch out holes for children to use brads to connect the bones. Place a full skeleton set in a bag for each team. Give each child/team a bag. When you say 'Go', the children take out the skeleton parts and construct the skeletons (in any way they choose). Award prizes for the best time, and kookiest skeleton.  You may want to set a timer to keep things on schedule.

Balloon Bust Divide the group into two teams.  Blow up black or orange balloons and tie one to everyone's ankles. Say "go" and watch the teams trying to burst the other team's balloons first. The team with the last balloon wins. As your balloon is burst you withdraw from the game. Halloween Air Balloons Keep the balloons floating in the air while thinking and saying words from a chosen category.  To begin get everyone into a circle and start the balloon going around from player to player keeping the balloon in the air at all times. The catch however is before he can bat the balloon each player must call out a word (no repetitions, please) to fit an agreed upon theme. The theme could be Halloween words, kinds of Halloween treats, Halloween costumes, and Halloween monsters. CREATE YOUR OWN TRAIL MIX Start with cutting out footprints from construction paper.  Be sure to use colors that fit with your theme.  Label each footprint numerically. Select goodie items like raisins, M&M's, Cheerios or Chex cereal, chocolate chips, bite size pretzels, and anything else that you think the kids would like.  Set each item out in a separate bowl.  Strategically place the bowls around the room.  Place the footprints in numeric order to guide the kids from one bowl to the next. Give each child a plastic spoon and a Ziploc bag.  Have them follow the footprint "trail" to make their own trail mix.  Remind them only one spoonful per bowl goes into their bag.
Candy Ring Drop a plastic table cloth on the floor (preferably orange or black).  Cover it with candy and Halloween trinkets such as toys, plastic bugs, pencils etc.   Have the children stand a distance from the table cloth and toss one or two rings.  Whatever their ring encompasses they get to keep.  Be sure to have goodie bags available.  This game has always been a great hit with the kids.	A Mummified Gift Before the party, tape a small, lightweight prize ( erasers,  tootsie rolls, plastic bugs)  to the end of a roll of toilet tissue. Wrap up the prize in the toilet tissue and continue taping prizes and wrapping them until you have formed a ball. Have the kids sit in a circle, play monster music,  when the music stops whoever has the paper ball should  wrap the end of the toilet tissue around a body part (an arm, forehead, waist, ankle and so on) until she finds a prize. She then tears the paper, passes the roll to the next player and slides back (she is not longer in play). Play continues until all the prizes have been unrolled.
Eyeball Relay 1 Ping pong ball for each team (painted like an eyeball) 1 spoon for each team Divide children into teams. Give the first child on each team a spoon and a ping pong ball. Set up the course to where they have to carry the "EYE" on the spoon to the end of the course and come back. Hand off to the next child and continue until all children have played on the team. First team done wins. Halloween Balloon Charades Write clues for Halloween characters such as Dracula, Frankenstein, bat, witch, zombie etc,,, on small slips of paper and place inside white "ghost" balloons, blow up the balloons and set them aside. Gather the kids into two teams and have each kid pick a player to go first. The player has exactly three minutes to choose a balloon, pop it (by any means necessary), read the clue inside and act it out until her team guesses the clue. The child from each team to guess correctly picks the next balloon
Halloween Face Paint 1 tsp. cornstarch 1/2 tsp. water 1/2 tsp. cold cream 2 drops food coloring In a small mixing bowl, combine all ingredients, mix well.	Realistic Blood Recipe 2/3 c. Corn Syrup 1/3 c. Warm Water 5 Tbsp Corn Starch 4 tsp red food coloring 1 Tbsp Powdered Cocoa 2 drops of green or yellow food coloring Mix the corn starch with the water in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the corn syrup. Add the food coloring slowly, checking for color.

Halloween Party Decorating Ideas

Start the party decorations outdoors – create a graveyard in your front yard or at your door entrance. Make or purchase tombstones and add silly epitaphs about your guests.  Write scary Halloween messages or body outlines on your front walk using colored chalk or washable fluorescent paint.  Hang ghost and glow in the dark bats from trees and bushes.

Centerpiece Ideas:

Use a plastic cauldron partially filled with hot water, then add some dry ice and a glow stick to create an eerie centerpiece for your table. 

Create creepy centerpieces by filling vases with dried flowers, brown leaves, and empty branches. Tie a black ribbon bow around each centerpiece and place around the room.

Purchase a Paper-Mache' hatbox, large piece of orange felt  (enough to cover box), and  black felt (for decoration).  Trace the outline of the top and bottom of the hatbox onto the orange felt.  Cut the felt about 1 - 1/1/4inch(s) above the traced line so you can wrap it over the box's top and bottom edges.  Apply glue to the hatbox and adhere the felt strips to the box.  You will have to smooth it with your hands as go to along to get out all of the wrinkles. Fold the felt over the top edge and glue it down. Then fold the other end under the bottom of the box and glue it down.  Cut out details using the black felt (hole punch dots, strips of felt, scalloped edged strips) and decorate the covered box.  Fill the box with colorful silk Mums.

Table Decorations:

Black and orange crepe paper can be used to add color to your party table. Hang crepe paper from the bottom of tables for a neat effect.   Plastic rats crawling on the food table is a great effect.

Purchase a bunch of pumpkins in a variety of sizes.  Equally divide them into three groups: One to keep orange, one to paint white and one to paint black.  Once the paint has dried decorate the pumpkins by writing words on them (BOO!, Trick or Treat, 31), Splatter with paint, Drip lines of paint, paint a face, paint poka dots, add some scalloped edging.  Use these to decorate! 

Create some Halloween garland.  You can use almost anything to create the garland: images downloaded from the internet,  a roll of tickets stubs, old playing cards, old holiday cards, craft rosettes. Creating craft rosettes: Glue two cupcake liners together (be creative use foil, white, orange and Halloween design).  Create a medallion and add a sticker, or button  to the middle and a folded length of ribbon to the back if desired.  Glue or tape your items in sporadic order to a length of twine -- now you have your garland.  Note: The rosettes (minus the ribbon) can also be used to decorate the front of a goodie bag!

Hang glow-in-the-dark bats, skeletons and spiders from the ceilings.  Use lots of fake spider webs in doorways, walls and windows. Don’t forget the spiders to go with the webs.

Use torn cheesecloth to create a tablecloth then add  mini ears of Indian corn, pumpkins and gourds to embellish your Halloween party table.

Consider a fog machine to add to the event.

Create a display stand for cupcakes or food.  Paint a wooden candle stick and two wooden plates (one slightly smaller than the other) with black acrylic craft paint and let dry.  Decoupage Halloween scrapbook paper onto the top of each plate and let dry.  Cover with two light coats of Mod Podge. Remove the inner ring from an embroidery hoop and glue it to the bottom of the large plate.  This will create an elevated base.  Glue the small dish to the top of the candle stick.  Glue the bottom of the candle stick to the top, center of the large dish to create a tiered stand.  Be sure to use a heavy duty glue. Once the glue is dried add some decorative fabric trim to the edges.  Now for the topper: print two copies of a black cat from the internet in desired size (about 4 inches) and cut out each.  Add some black glitter to the pictures to make them sparkle.  Shake off excess glitter when dry.  Glue a toothpick vertically to the back bottom of one of the images so that it extends past the image on the bottom.  Then glue the second picture to the first so that there are face images on each side.  Take four cupcake liners in Halloween colors, flatten and poke the toothpick through the center to form a ruffled collar for the cat.  Take a paper cup and wrap it with crepe paper to cover and then poke the toothpick through the bottom of the cup to make a base.  Place topper on the display stand.

Always dim all normal lighting to create a spooky environment. Consider black lights or strobe lights to add an eerie touch to your party.

Use scary Halloween tapes with music and creepy sounds outside or in an entryway to set the stage. Make a scarecrow and put him in a place to greet your guest.
 

Have a Halloween Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt is probably one of the most popular party games and I have done them many times with my kids.  A few pointers to help you to get starated:

• Identify Your Teams
  Divide the kids into teams and have them select a “ghostly” name for their team.  Suggestions:  Zombies, Pumpkins,  Monsters, Vampires, Mummies, Gravediggers
   
• Select The Area For The Hunt To Take Place
  You will want to select boundaries and keep the area limited.  Use caution tape to create the boundaries.  Hide the items within the boundaries.  Make sure the lighting is dim but adequate. You can use indoors or outdoors.
   
• Flashlights And Bags Are Required
  Flashlights and Halloween decorated  bags should be give to each child.  This will help them to navigate and keep organized.
   
• Prizes Make It Fun
  Select prizes for each team.  Even if it is just a certificate of accomplishment.
   
• Starter List of Scavenger Hunt Ideas
  1. Vampire lives – Vampire dies what do I use to cause his demise?
     A stake
  2. Chains rattle, floors creek – I hear a ghost –EEK.
     Paper with the word BOOOOOOOOO  
  3. Round and orange and great for pie.  
     Tiny pumpkins 
  4. I am tiny and black with many legs --  find my home.
     Fake Spider Webs
  5. I fall in Autumn and grow in Spring.
     A leaf
  6. I am stuffed with something that makes me look real in my old clothes standing by the field?
     Straw
  7. Sweet and sugary, loved by all, makes Halloween fun.
     Candy
  8. I can see you but you can’t see me – why is that?
     Mask
  9. Bobbing for me will set me free.
     Apple
  10. How you knew to come here tonight?
      Party Invitation

Halloween Movies For Kids

Scary Stories -- Arthur helps children get over their fears of the dark and nightime noises.

Scooby-Doo's Creepiest Capers -Scooby-Doo and gang teach kids that there is an explanation for most scary, creepy things.

The Haunted Mansion - Eddie Murphy plays Jerry, a workaholic real estate agent who interrupts his family's vacation to check out a remote mansion that's for sale. But soon he and his family are trapped in the haunted house and are screaming for their lives. Rated PG.
 

Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie  - Roo's new pal, Lumpy, joins Pooh and his friends for Halloween in the 100 Acre Wood. Halloween is scarier than ever after Tigger warns his friends about the mysterious Gobloon, who'll turn you into a Jaggedy Lantern if he catches you. But, if they catch him first they get to make a wish. Roo and Lumpy set out to catch the dreaded Gobloon, and end up learning what it means to be a real friend. Rated G.

E.T. - A remarkable film about a boy and his unusual befriendment of an extra terrestrial.  As Elliott attempts to help his new friend contact home he must elude government agents and scientists attempting to capture E.T.

Monsters Inc. - Monsters in the closet scare human kids to create "scream energy" to power their city, Monsteropolis--but monsters are as afraid of kids as kids they are of monsters. When a charming  little girl nicknamed "Boo" escapes into the monster world, it's up to scaremonster Sulley to save her.

Hocus Pocus - Three witches from Salem are hanged for stealing the life of a little girl many years ago. In the present, on Halloween night, they are inadvertently summoned back and are trying to regain their former power. However, three determined kids are trying to stop them.

 Halloween Links

• Find Halloween events in your neighborhood by entering your zipcode.

• Pumpkin Carving Patterns
• Puzzles and Mazes
• Halloween ClipArt
• Halloween Hangman

HALLOWEEN PARTY RECIPES

Edible Eye Balls
Ingredients
1 powdered donut hole for each child
1 gummy life saver (for the iris of the eye)
1 chocolate chip (for the pupil)
1 tube of red GEL icing

Preparation
Use red gel to glue candy in place and for making the eye ball look blood shot

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Pretzel Rods
3 or more bags of melting chocolate
(depends on the number of kids)
Halloween Sprinkles
Wax Paper
 

Melt chocolate in crock pot on high stirring occasionally.  Once chocolate is melted have kids dip the pretzel into the chocolate and then into the sprinkles.  Give them a piece of wax paper to put it on to dry.

Black Punch
Ingredients
1 (13 ounce) envelope unsweetened grape soft drink mix
1 (13 ounce) envelope unsweetened orange soft drink mix
2 cups white sugar
3 quarts cold water
1 liter ginger ale

Preparations
Stir together grape soft drink mix, orange soft drink mix, sugar and water until solids are dissolved. Combine with chilled ginger ale just before serving.
  
Add to the Fun
For ice make a frozen hand by washing a disposable glove, filling it with water, sealing and freezing.  Dip the frozen hand briefly in warm water, and then peel off the glove. Float the prepared hand in the punch bowl.  A black cauldron can be used for a great effect.

Chocolate Ghost Cookies
Ingredients
1 lb. white chocolate coating
1 pkg. Nutter Butter Peanut Bars
1 pkg. mini chocolate chips

Preparation
In the top of a double boiler melt white chocolate coating. Dip cookies into coating covering completely. Set on waxed paper to cool. Spread melted chocolate to areas which did not get covered. Add eyes using mini chocolate chips.

Witch Hat Cookies
Ingredients
Fudge Stripe Cookie
Hershey Kiss
Orange or black frosting

Preparation
Turn the cookie over on the solid chocolate side. Squeeze a blob of ornge frosting onto the middle of the cookie. Squash the kiss into the orange frosting. The frosting will hold the kiss, and then you have a Witch's Hat Cookie! These are great for a party or for school.  Note: You can use either orange or black frosting.

Bloody Popcorn

Pop up some popcorn and using butter spray, lightly spray the popcorn and mix as you spray so it's all covered.  Sprinkle with paprika or a red colored season salt constantly mixing to coat all kernels.

Carrot-Finger Food

Ingredients
Carrots ( 4 long, 1 medium)
Bag or two of baby carrots
Vegetable dip (any kind)

Creepy Ghost Cupcakes

Use a favorite recipe, to bake 24 cupcakes and then set your guests to work.

Ingredients
24 Nutter-Butter cookies 
Chocolate frosting 
Vanilla frosting 
Tube of chocolate decorator's icing

Preparations
Place chocolate frosting on the cupcake with a little extra in the center.  Cover one Nutter Butter with vanilla frosting and use tube of decorator’s icing to create the face of the ghost.  Place the ghost on the cupcake using the icing as glue.