Plan the Perfect Preschool Halloween Party

Tips for busy moms and dads who have taken on their preschooler's Halloween party duties

Labor Day has come and gone, and that means it’s time to think about Halloween! Don't let the prospect of planning your preschooler's Halloween party fill you with fright. As a full-time working mother of a preschooler (and an infant), I can sympathize with moms (and dads) who sign up to take on the Halloween preschool party, but have little time to devote to coming up with the cutest and most creative games, costumes, treats, etc. So to make our lives easier, I’ve scoured the web for preschool Halloween party ideas that won’t cost you an arm and a leg, and will hopefully leave you with time to spare.

The parties at my daughter’s preschool are very low-key affairs. They usually consist of holiday-themed snacks, a craft and maybe a game if time – or attention spans – permit.

Click on a craft, snack, favor or game to jump straight to the individual details.

Crafts

Pumpkin painting

Footprint Ghosts

Paper Bag Pumpkins

Hand Print Spiders

Halloween Bracelets

Snacks

Monster or Witch's Hands

Wicked Witch Cupcakes


Favors

Lollipop Ghost

Bat and Moon Treat bags


Games

Scavenger hunt

Musical chairs

Pin the Grin on the Pumpkin

"Ghost Ghost Boo!" This is a fun variation of " Duck Duck Goose."

Pumpkin painting (A great activity to do at the beginning of the party)

You’ll need:

One pumpkin per student – make sure they are big enough to allow for broad brush strokes!

Washable paints

Paint brushes

Aid each child in painting her pumpkin. Set aside to dry. Cover with plastic bag to take home.

Pin the Grin on the Pumpkin

You’ll need:

Large pumpkin with stem, nose and eyes painted on posterboard.

Separate wide toothy grin for the pumpkin.

Hook and loop velcro

Halloween-themed mask

Attach the posterboard pumpkin to the wall at a kid-friendly height.

Use a strip of hook and loop velcro on the back of the grin and on the pumpkin where the grin will go.

Cover each child's face with mask, put the grin in their hands and spin them a couple of times.

Aim them toward the pumpkin to put the grin on him.

Halloween Bracelets

You’ll need:

Orange, black, white and/or black beads – look for Halloween shapes. Make sure holes are big enough for kids to string through.

Similar colored pipe cleaners

Cut pipe cleaners to fit little wrists.

Let kids string beads on pipe cleaners.

Twist to close off.