Ok, so Halloween is just around the corner, and I try hard in September to focus on apples, Harvest Mix, and gratitude for cooler weather, but unless you have kids at home and can avoid the costume section of a major store….you are having conversations about Halloween. And, let’s face it. To avoid it feeling overwhelming, it takes a little planning for a few things you can’t just throw in your grocery order.
This year, Little Man started school, so I’m not focusing on all the days at home and all the activities we need to do. Thankfully, his teacher is really great at themed learning, and he is all in for all the crafts and activities she does. So, I’m shifting my focus to maximize a few things that will make a big impact at home to start celebrating our holiday season.
5 Easy Halloween Ideas for Kids:
- Glow light bath
- Spider spaghetti
- Spider soap
- Monster eye cookies
- Graveyard Pudding Pie
Glow Light Bath
I started this fun tradition when my little man was probably two or at least big enough to sit and play in the bathtub by himself. It’s something I bring out on October 1, and he will usually set himself up for fun repeatedly.
What you need:
- Glow sticks
- Plastic eyeballs
- Variety pack of spider rings or plastic insects
What you do:
Add all the items to the bathtub, turn off the lights, and let your kid play and have fun. I usually limit the number of glow sticks so they last for multiple baths. But having a glow bath and letting them play for a bit is fun. With the lights off, I ensure I stay close and supervise bathtime. Sometimes, we will add bubbles later in the month and call it a “cauldron” bath. Sometimes I let him put his color tabs in after we use up the glow sticks, and we have a color lesson while we mix two colors together to make a magic potion bath.
Any extra suggestions:
- My main focus here is to just let him have fun. We wash off the eyeballs and spiders each time and keep them in a stadium cup near the bathtub. Anything that makes my son excited about taking a bath, I’m here for it.
- Don’t limit yourself to bathtime! This can be a fun morning activity with a tub of water in the kitchen floor while you do other things.
- If it’s still warm where you are, put them in a shallow swimming pool on the patio and read a book nearby.
- You could even do something similar with a smaller kid in the kitchen sink if it is deep enough and not divided. Stand nearby and have loads of fun…even if everyone and the floor get soaking wet.
- There are lots of options. The main goal here is to deal with textures, sensory activities of water, and practicing colors or counting.
- I’ll float the eyeballs sometimes in their drink at dinner, in a clear glass, just have a little creepy fun!
I’m most convinced these are the things they remember most from their childhood!
Spider Soap
What you need:
- Orange or green-colored handsoap, in a clear container
- Plastic spiders or insects
- Googly eyes, optional
- Coordinating ribbon, optional
What you do:
- Peel off the labels, front and back
- Remove the lid and place 5-6 spiders or insects in the soap.
- If you want to add googly eyes, put them inside with the spiders.
- Replace the lid and screw on tight. Pay attention to see if you need to pour out a little soap to offset the spiders.
- If you desire, tie a coordinating ribbon around the top just for a fun flair.
Any extra suggestions:
- I like to use these as gifts in October in addition to replacing soap at sinks around our home.
- This is one of those things I do and put in our main bathrooms and see if anyone notices.
- It’s hard to get seasonal scents in these colors, so you may be grabbing summer or spring scents, but as long as it’s something your family will use, go for it!
- If you are worried about dyes or colors, it’s totally fine to do this in a clear colored soap, the green or orange is just to be festive.
- If you use a homemade hand soap or essential oil-based soap, the plastic insects may not survive in the substance. In that case, you may want to use an amber-colored jar and change out the ribbons.
Spider Spaghetti
Let me just tell you, when I added this to our menu last year, my kid, who never eats anything different or “strange” said this was the best thing I’ve ever made. So much so, that I’ve made it several times and its a hack I share with all my mom friends. All the kids reply with the same thing – “mom, this is the best food you’ve ever made.”
What you need:
- Hotdogs or turkey sausage links
- Spaghetti noodles, any type seem to work – a linguini noodle would probably be ok too
- Spaghetti Sauce, or butter, if desired
What you do:
- Set a stock pot or dutch oven of salted water to boil.
- Cut a standard hot dog into thirds. If using a smoked sausage or turkey sausage link, you want 2-inch segments.
- Since a spider has eight legs, slowly feed four pieces of dry spaghetti noodles through the weenie. I often feed 6-8 just so there is more substance to the food, but for my literal thinkers, four noodles will give you eight legs after you cook it.
- Place the weenies and noodles into the stockpot – be gentle with your placement so the noodles do not break.
- Boil for 8 minutes. As you boil them, the noodles will soften and curl, allowing more space in the water.
- Remove from water with tongs and place in colander to drain.
- Toss in butter, or serve plain or with spaghetti sauce or ketchup.
Any extra suggestions:
- How simple this is is mind-blowing, but kids think it’s hilarious.
- You can use ketchup or mustard to add a face to the weenie.
- But I just serve it as a “pile of spiders” with some fruit or carrots.
Monster Eyeball cookies
I’ve taken my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe and done a little Halloween twist. I love to find ways to use those candy eyeballs in our food during the month of October. They are always so creepy, and with many sizes, they instantly make any dinner a Halloween spectacle.
Graveyard Pudding Pie
It’s not Halloween dinner at my house if we don’t have Graveyard Pudding Pie. You can be as simple as you want or as decorative and ornate as you like. This recipe is easy enough to let your kid help you with all the details, or you can surprise them with it as an after-school snack. And, yes, it is just my take on a simple version of dirt dessert where the gummy worms are replaced with Milano cookies to look like tombstones.
And, just in case you are wondering, on Halloween Night, we usually have Mummy Dogs (hot dogs wrapped with crescent rolls), some stew or soup, chips and dip, and Graveyard Pudding Pie – it’s an easy meal to throw together before we go visit neighbors. And I think inviting some friends over is fun, and they can help with the spread.
Find out more fun food ideas from this great list of Halloween Food Ideas.
