I don’t know about you, but I am always looking for toddler-friendly Halloween activities to do with my little ones growing up in our Christian home.
As a family, we love this time of year! We love the crisp fall leaves, and fresh donuts and cider…YUM!
But you know what I don’t love as a parent?
I don’t love having to explain to my kids what ghosts are as they float around houses, and line the trees on Halloween.
I don’t love the “spooky playful” songs that expose my kids to witches, monsters, and evil spirits.
As parents, don’t we try to protect our children from the moment we first lay eyes on them? And doesn’t the Bible command us to do so?
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” -Proverbs 22:6
From the food they are putting in their bodies, the difference in right and wrong, and what we are allowing to influence their little minds?
So why should this day be any different?
Now, with that being said…
We absolutely celebrate October 31st in the Mager home.
We celebrate the light we can be to others as we carve pumpkins, and we talk about how Jesus overcame death, and because of that, we don’t have to walk around living in fear because His light is living on the inside of us. Let me also say, since before we had kids, my husband and I have dressed up for Halloween.
We’ve carved pumpkins with friends, hosted chili-cook-offs, and dare I say, went trick-or-treating as 20-something-year-olds because Matt has the world’s largest sweet tooth (he calls it a sweet mouth) and we both could still pass for middle-schoolers (especially in costume!)…and #freecandy!
And now, with children of our own, I don’t want them to feel left out or like they are missing out on the fun times this day can bring. But I want to expose them in my home, in my way, and with those in our village that we love and trust to not exposing them or focusing on the “evil” part of this holiday. I don’t want one day of the year to be a reason for my children to fear, or for the enemy to get even the smallest foothold over these little minds we are daily trying to protect.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but He’s given power, love, and a sound mind.” -2 Timothy 1:7
I am all for the safe, fun activities that are not-so-spooky, and safe for my kids!
I love the way their little faces light up as they snicker, “Trick-or-Treat-Smell-My-Feet” (thanks Grandma!), and the matching family costumes they pick out each year and will continue to do so until they don’t let us anymore!
If you are a parent with little ones at home, check out these toddler-friendly Halloween activities you can do in the comfort of your home, and still include Jesus in casual conversation.
1.) Pumpkin Carving/Painting + Pumpkin Prayer Printable –
- You’ll need a small pumpkin for each little in your family
- 3D paint or Washable paint (we love 3D “puffy” paint because of the fun textures it creates when it dries!)
- Wiggly eyes, sequins, pom-poms, or any other creative fun thing to decorate your pumpkin with
- Modge-Podge glue
- Paintbrushes / Q-tips / Cotton balls
- Small carving tools (if you are doing this with younger kids, I suggest paint!)
- The Pumpkin Prayer Printable mentioned above
*Mama Tip: Whenever doing crafts with my kids, I have these craft mats from Amazon that I love (and it saves me clean up time, which means more time investing and having fun with my littles! And a hassle-free clean up; aka stress-free mama!)
First on the list for our toddler-friendly Halloween activities, place the pumpkins on the mats, and let your kids go crazy with decorating! We love painting the pumpkins first with modge-podge glue, then sticking whatever we can on the pumpkin. Then, decorating with paint, or 3D puffy paint! As you are decorating your pumpkin, even if you aren’t carving it, talk about how the candle placed inside the pumpkin brings light for all to see. And the one flame that lights up a jack-o-lantern can light the candle of others, so that they may share the light with their friends too. Then, take your pumpkin prayer card and even if they may be young for this, it’s fun to have them repeat these prayers + share them with friends or mail them to a family member!
2.) Glow Baths –
A personal favorite of ours for those icky-cold winter days! Also, a perfect for a Halloween treat to get them nice and warm and ready for bed after Trick-or-Treating.
- Get glow sticks and glow balls from the local dollar store
- Add bubbles + babies and turn off the lights, and you’re in for a #momwin clean night of fun!
- If you are feeling like going a little over-the-top, as we all do at times, make your own Glow Bath Bombs here!
As you get them out of the bath, ask them some ways they think they’ve lit up someone’s life this week. Our little girl’s name, Luella, means “carrier of light” and her and her brother, Chase, both light up any room they go into. Whether it’s saying hi to a stranger, or giving a hug to the grocery clerk, these little ones have the power to daily bring light to the darkness, and are called to do so!
“You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” -1 Peter 2:9
3.) Mummy-Wrap-Race –
- You’ll need a roll of toilet paper for each child in your family
- Team up in 2’s (this is a fun, friendly competition for mom and dad AND the kids)
- Set a timer for 60 seconds
- As fast as you can, wrap your partner like a mummy, spinning around and around as fast as you can in 60 seconds
- Once you’ve all completed, have the “Mummy” ask how they feel being trapped and unable to move freely
Talk about how that is how many people of the world are living. Trapped in their sin, unable to feel the freedom that is given when accepting Christ. So it is our responsibility to lead them to the One who brings life and freedom, Jesus. It is our responsibility to be the light to them. Because God loves them, just as He loves you. God is the God of Light!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. -2 Corinthians 5:17
However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. -1 Peter 2:9
4.) Apple/Pumpkin Stamping –
This is one of our favorite Toddler-Friendly Halloween Activities!
- You’ll need 2-3 apples
- Construction paper
- Washable paint (Orange, Red, Green, Brown)
- Pipe-Cleaners for stems
- Cut the apples in half, and spread out the paint onto paper plates so they can stamp the apple halves in the paint
- Stamp the paint-dipped apple on the paper, making pumpkins and apples
As you and your littles are doing this craft, ask them if any of their pumpkins or apples they stamped look the same?
Talk about how Jesus made us all unique and different from one another.
Ask them something different they love about themself that their brother, sister, or friend may not have.
He made us all perfect having our own uniqueness. Some people have blue eyes, brown eyes, some people can do this, some people can do that, some people are right-handed, some people are left-handed.
You were made for a purpose. God has a plan for everyone and we are all an individual member of the body of Christ.
Just as this painting you are making is a piece of art, you are a masterpiece.
As you grow more and more as a Christian you will truly see how special and unique God created you.
“You alone created my inner being. You knitted me together inside my mother. I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this” -Psalm 139:13-14
And, just for fun – some of our past family-themed costumes!
