Halloween At Home: Crafts, Books, Activities, & Costumes For Kids and Families

Last year we had a memorable Halloween...

We actually moved across the country from Maryland back to Colorado on Halloween. We drove from Maryland to Ohio for a few reasons including picking up my best friend, Tommy, who'd help Marcello with the drive from Ohio to Colorado (bless his soul); and to drop Lion and me off with my family so we could fly to Colorado from Ohio and spend time with family in the meantime. If you know me well, you know I love holidays and especially love Halloween! I love getting friends and family together to share joy and I love all the creativity that comes along with Halloween costumes and festivities. So naturally, I was anticipating a fun Halloween last year for Lion - as she could finally really partake in the activities and enjoy eating candy for the first time! Given her name being Lion, I ordered the most adorable toddler lion costume I could find online and supplemented her costume with family costumes coordinated with The Wizard of Oz. I was able to find red sparkly sneakers and a pretty midi gingham dress for me (as I would be Dorthy), silver metallic pants for Marcello (for a Tin Man costume), and of course we had our sweet Yorkie Gigi who would make for an adorable Toto. These were my plans. However, as it goes, the universe had other plans and Mama dropped the ball a bit.

The weekend before Halloween, Marcello was flying home from being out of town, and I took Lion to breakfast. Along the way it became very apparent that it was time to celebrate Trick or Treat - kids were dressed in costumes and running around with candy in their treat buckets. Shoot! Half of our costume pieces hadn't yet arrived and definitely not Lion's lion costume. I scrambled and drove Lion to the nearest Target to find a nearly ransacked selection of toddler costumes. I spotted a Baby Shark costume that was sized too small for Lion but seemingly our only viable option. She squeezed into it right there next to the shopping rack and was so happy to be participating with the other kids. We decided to purchase the costume, snug fit and all, and continued on our way to trick or treat around the shopping area. She had the best time! And Marcello arrived home in time to see her in her costume. It was a beautiful and memorable day.

It then came time to officially pack our uHaul trailer and drive to Ohio. Moving is always stressful, but I made sure to pack our Wizard of Oz costumes into a small bag that was easily accessible once we'd arrive to Ohio. Unfortunately, Lion's lion costume never arrived but I was able to improvise with a Lion headband. Finally, to make a long story short, we left a day later than anticipated (as it goes with moving across the country) which had us miss our planned family Halloween. However, we eventually arrived safely to Colorado and we are thankful to have the special, unplanned day of Lion enjoying Halloween in her Baby Shark costume - a day we will always cherish!

Pictured: B is for Boo Board Book, Pick a Pumpkin Hardcover Book, Craft Kit (similar), Divided Bamboo Tray, Tan Suede Booties

Also on my LikeToKnowIt Here!

Happy Halloween! Today I'm sharing craft kits and ideas, Halloween books, activities, and costumes for your little ones...

Books

(1) B is For Boo

(2) Pick a Pumpkin

(3) Room on The Broom

Activities & Crafts

(1) Costume Theme Day (i.e., if your little one is a pilot, enjoy an entire day of "aviation" at home.. have the whole family wear aviation-themed costumes, turn your home into an airplane hanger, paint wooden airplanes, set up your dining chairs like an airplane's interior, etc.)

(2) Halloween Finger Puppets, (i.e., use felt to make witch fingers, ghosts, Frankenstein, etc.)

(3) Scavenger Hunt

(4) Play Games for Treat Prizes

(5) Pumpkin carving

(6) Caramel Apples

(7) Collect Leaves Outside

(8) Ghost Egg Hunt

(9) Front door decorations, (see image collage below)

(10) Halloween Zoom Party

(11) Pumpkin painting

(12) Halloween cutouts

(13) Send Halloween Cards to Loved Ones/Neighbors

(14) Ghost Balloons (i.e., white balloons, ribbon, black markers (washable here), helium tank (also available here))

(15) Peg Doll Costumes

(16) Paper Plate Masks

(17) Decorate Your Own Cape

(18) DIY Edible "Blood" (check out the recipe linked or I'm pretty sure I just used raspberry jelly one year!)

(19) Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin

(20) Make Your Own Candy (or watch a candy factory virtual tour)

(21) "Boo" Your Neighbor

(22) Hanging Bats, (i.e., paper bat cutouts, stick on eyes, black satin ribbon)

(23) Have Your Own Party At Home (i.e., decorate & make Halloween themed food and drinks)

(24) Halloween Bath Bombs

(25) Halloween Play Dough

Also, check out this website created by Hershey to better understand the COVID 19 risk levels in your area and Halloween activity ideas based off your risk zone.