Fun and Easy Halloween crafts for kids

10 Fun and Easy Halloween Crafts for Kids This October Half Term 🎃

Halloween is just around the corner, and what better excuse to get creative with the kids?

Whether you're looking for something to keep little hands busy on a rainy afternoon, planning a Halloween-themed playdate or simply fancy a bit of family fun, we've got plenty of ideas to get everyone crafting.

And don't worry,  Halloween doesn't have to be all about scary monsters and spooky surprises! From smiley pumpkins and friendly ghosts to colourful bats and adorable little monsters, there are lots of ways to celebrate that are more fun than frightening.

We've rounded up 10 easy Halloween crafts for primary school children, with ideas for 5-7 year olds and 7+ year olds. Most use everyday household materials, so there's no need to spend a fortune on craft supplies.

Easy Halloween Crafts for 5-7 year olds

These activities are perfect for younger children who love getting hands-on with colours, glue and plenty of imagination. They're simple to follow, with a little grown-up help where needed.

1. Paper Plate Pumpkin Faces 🎃

Time: 15–20 minutes | Difficulty: Easy

Who says pumpkins have to be carved? These cheerful paper plate pumpkins are a lovely alternative, especially for younger children who aren't quite ready for pumpkin carving.

You'll need:

• Paper plates

• Orange paint or colouring pens

• Green card

• Glue and child-safe scissors

• Black paper or googly eyes

How to make them:

1. Paint your paper plate orange and leave it to dry.

2. Cut a small stalk and leaf from green card.

3. Glue the stalk and leaf to the top of your plate.

4. Cut out eyes and a big smile from black paper, or use googly eyes.

5. Stick everything in place and give your pumpkin its own happy personality!

Make it extra fun: Create a whole pumpkin family with different expressions – happy, surprised, sleepy or giggling!

2. Friendly Floating Ghosts 👻

Time: 10–15 minutes | Difficulty: Easy

These little ghosts are much more sweet than spooky, and they're brilliant for decorating windows, bedrooms or Halloween party tables.

You'll need:

• White tissues or kitchen roll

• Cotton wool or scrunched-up paper

• String

• Black felt-tip pen

• Colourful ribbon

How to make them:

1. Scrunch a small piece of paper into a ball to make the ghost's head.

2. Place the ball in the middle of a white tissue.

3. Fold the tissue around the ball, letting the corners hang down.

4. Tie a piece of ribbon or string just underneath the head.

5. Draw on two eyes and a friendly smile.

6. Ask a grown-up to help hang your ghost using another piece of string.

Make it extra fun: Give each ghost a name and create your very own friendly ghost family!

3. Colourful Handprint Monsters 🖐️

Time: 20 minutes plus drying | Difficulty: Easy

Get ready for a little messy fun! These colourful creatures are a great way to let children's imaginations run wild.

You'll need:

• Washable poster paints

• White paper

• Googly eyes or pens

• Glue

• Paintbrush

How to make them:

1. Choose your favourite bright paint colour.

2. Use a brush to cover the palm and fingers of one hand with paint.

3. Press your hand firmly onto a sheet of paper.

4. Carefully lift it off and leave the print to dry.

5. Turn your handprint into a funny monster by adding eyes, smiles, spots and silly hair.

Make it extra fun: Challenge everyone to invent a name, favourite food and special superpower for their monster!

4. Toilet Roll Halloween Characters

Time: 20–30 minutes | Difficulty: Easy

Don't throw away those empty cardboard tubes! With a little coloured paper and imagination, they can become a whole collection of Halloween friends.

You'll need:

• Empty cardboard toilet roll tubes

• Coloured paper

• Glue

• Child-safe scissors

• Pens

• Googly eyes (optional)

How to make them:

1. Choose a character; perhaps a pumpkin, black cat, friendly bat or silly monster.

2. Wrap your cardboard tube in coloured paper and glue it in place.

3. Cut out shapes for ears, wings, arms or pumpkin leaves.

4. Stick your shapes onto the tube.

5. Add eyes, a nose and a big smile.

Make it extra fun: Use your finished characters to put on a mini Halloween puppet show.

5. Pumpkin and Apple Stamping 🍎

Time: 15–20 minutes plus drying | Difficulty: Easy

Here's a fun way to combine art with a little autumn inspiration. Apple stamping makes lovely pumpkin-shaped prints, and every one turns out slightly differently.

You'll need:

• An apple

• Orange washable paint

• Paper plates for paint

• White paper

• Green and black pens

How to make them:

1. Ask a grown-up to cut an apple in half.

2. Pour a little orange paint onto a paper plate.

3. Dip the flat side of the apple into the paint.

4. Press it firmly onto your paper to make a pumpkin print.

5. Repeat to create a pumpkin patch.

6. Once dry, add green stalks, leaves and happy faces.

Make it extra fun: Turn your artwork into homemade Halloween cards for friends and family.

Creative Halloween Crafts for 7-11 year olds

Older children often enjoy crafts that involve a little more planning, experimenting and problem-solving. These five activities offer a fun challenge while still using affordable materials.

6. Halloween Pumpkin Suncatchers

Time: 30–40 minutes | Difficulty: Medium

Brighten up your windows with colourful pumpkin suncatchers that look lovely when the autumn sunshine shines through.

You'll need:

• Black card

• Orange and yellow tissue paper

• Clear sticky-back plastic (contact paper)

• Scissors

• String (optional)

How to make them:

1. Draw a large pumpkin shape onto black card.

2. Cut out the pumpkin and carefully remove the middle, leaving a thick outline.

3. Stick the outline onto a piece of clear sticky-back plastic.

4. Tear orange and yellow tissue paper into small pieces.

5. Arrange the tissue pieces inside the pumpkin outline, overlapping them to create colourful patterns.

6. Cover with another sheet of sticky-back plastic and trim around the pumpkin.

7. Display your finished masterpiece in a sunny window!

Make it extra fun: Experiment with different colours and create autumn leaves, friendly ghosts or colourful stars.

7. Halloween Monster Rocks

Time: 30–45 minutes plus drying | Difficulty: Easy–medium

Turn ordinary stones into extraordinary little monsters! This is a brilliant craft for encouraging creativity, and the finished designs make fun decorations.

You'll need:

• Smooth, clean rocks

• Colourful acrylic paints or paint pens

• Brushes

• Googly eyes

• Glue

• Protective table covering

How to make them:

1. Wash and dry your rocks thoroughly.

2. Paint each rock a bright colour and leave it to dry.

3. Add funny monster faces, colourful spots, stripes or patterns.

4. Stick on googly eyes, or paint your own.

5. Give each monster a name and invent its personality.

Make it extra fun: Create a family of monsters, each with a different superpower. Perhaps one can fly, another can turn invisible and another makes everyone laugh!

8. Friendly Bat Decorations 🦇

Time: 25–35 minutes | Difficulty: Medium

Bats might have a spooky reputation, but they're fascinating animals. These friendly paper bats are perfect for hanging around the house at Halloween.

You'll need:

• Black and purple card

• Scissors

• Glue

• Googly eyes or white pens

• String

• Pencil

How to make them:

1. Fold a piece of black card in half.

2. Draw half a bat shape along the folded edge, including one wing.

3. Carefully cut around the shape and unfold to reveal your bat.

4. Add eyes, a smile and any colourful decorations.

5. Make a small hole at the top and thread through some string.

6. Hang your bats in a window or doorway.

Make it extra fun: Make bats of different sizes and create a family of friendly flying creatures.

Did you know? Bats aren't blind! Many species use echolocation to help them find their way around in the dark.

9. Glowing Ghost Lanterns

Time: 25–30 minutes plus drying | Difficulty: Medium

These glowing lanterns make lovely decorations for a Halloween party or a cosy autumn evening at home.

You'll need:

• Clean empty jars or clear plastic pots

• White tissue paper

• PVA glue

• Paintbrush

• Black paper

• Battery-operated LED tealights

How to make them:

1. Make sure your jar or pot is clean and completely dry.

2. Tear white tissue paper into small pieces.

3. Brush a thin layer of PVA glue onto the outside of the container.

4. Carefully stick the tissue paper onto the glue, covering the outside.

5. Once dry, cut out eyes and a friendly smile from black paper.

6. Glue the face onto your lantern.

7. Place a battery-operated LED tealight inside and watch your ghost glow!

Make it extra fun: Make a few different characters, including smiling pumpkins, colourful monsters and friendly ghosts.

Safety tip: Always use battery-operated lights, never real candles. Adults should supervise the use of glass jars.

10. Create Your Own Halloween Board Game 🎲

Time: 45–60 minutes | Difficulty: Creative challenge

Why not combine Halloween crafting with a fun family game? Children can design their very own board game, complete with characters, challenges and silly surprises.

You'll need:

• Large sheets of card

• Coloured pens

• Scissors

• Dice

• Small counters or buttons

• Stickers (optional)

How to make it:

1. Give your game a fun name, such as Pumpkin Patch Adventure or The Great Ghost Race.

2. Draw a winding path across your card, with a clear start and finish.

3. Divide the path into squares and decorate them with Halloween characters.

4. Add some special squares with fun instructions, such as "Jump forward three spaces" or "Do your funniest monster dance".

5. Make small counters from coloured card, or use buttons.

6. Create your own rules and invite the family to play!

Make it extra fun: Ask everyone to contribute a funny challenge or design their own game character.

More Ways to Make Halloween Crafting Fun for the Whole Family

Halloween crafts aren't just about the finished decorations. They're a lovely opportunity to spend time together, encourage creativity and give children a sense of achievement.

Here are a few ways to make your craft afternoon even more enjoyable:

• Create a mini craft station: Lay out the materials and let children choose what they'd like to make.

• Use what you've already got: Recycle cardboard, paper scraps, packaging and old magazines.

• Let imaginations run wild: A pink pumpkin or a rainbow-coloured ghost? Why not!

• Make it a family challenge: See who can invent the funniest monster or most unusual Halloween character.

• Celebrate everyone's creations: Put your finished artwork on display or share it with grandparents and friends.

And remember, there's no such thing as a perfect craft. Sometimes the wobbly eyes, wonky smiles and unexpected colours make the best creations of all!

More October Half-Term Fun with Barracudas! 🎃

Looking for more ways to keep the kids happy, active and entertained this October half term?

At Barracudas, we're the Champions of Fun, with exciting activities, new experiences and plenty of opportunities for children to get creative, make friends and build confidence.

Our October half-term theme, Mystery & Mini Monsters, is packed with imaginative fun, themed activities and a fantastic Friday Finale!

And there's much more than arts and crafts on offer. With our ACTIVE Motto, children enjoy six activity sessions a day, with a choice every session, so there's something to suit different interests and personalities.

For parents, we offer full-day childcare from 8.30am–5.30pm, with Early & Late Clubs extending the day from 8am–6pm.

Whether your child loves sports, creative activities, games or trying something completely new, there's plenty of fun waiting for them at Barracudas.

Ready for an October half term full of fun?

Explore our October half-term camps