SPOTLIGHTSShare the Spirit of Halloween
TOGETHER TIME
CRAFTS
Cotton Swab Skeletons
You will need a sheet of black construction paper and 11 cotton swabs. Six of the swabs need to be cut in half. Make a skeleton head and let your child make the face using white paint. Then glue one whole swab from the neck down; to form the spine, five of the half swabs on either side of the spine make the ribs. You will need two more whole swabs to make the legs with other half swabs for the feet. Add two more whole swabs for the arms.
Using Hands and Feet
You can make several different Halloween objects by simply painting your child’s hands and feet. First there is a bat. Paint both of your child’s hands black with a washable paint. Then have the child put their thumbs together with the other fingers spread out. Carefully place the hands down to make this print. Next paint your child’s foot with white paint and step onto the black paper. This will look like a ghost. When the print is dry, glue on some plastic “googlie” eyes. Date this artwork, as this will become a memorable piece of art as the years go by and your child grows.
Coffee Filter Pumpkins
Take a white coffee filter and spread it flat on the table. Place some newspaper and paper towels to protect the table. Invite the children to alternately drop red and yellow drops from the containers of food coloring to make orange. Use black construction paper to cut out jack-o-lantern facial features. Glue these onto the dried coffee filter.
Puffy Paint Cobwebs
Mix equal parts of flour, salt, and water in a bowl. Pour the mixture into a squeeze bottle. Give your child a sheet of black construction paper. Let the child squeeze the white puffy paint onto the black paper making lines to look like a spider web. When the puffy paint dries, it will look like glittery cobwebs.
Paper Plate Masks
Cut a sturdy paper plate in half. Staple a tongue depressor (or any craft stick) to the bottom right hand corner. Cut a slot in the middle of the half plate to look through. Present a smorgasbord of materials for the children to glue onto the masks. Things like feathers, yarn pieces, shiny paper or foil, buttons, egg carton bumps, Styrofoam pieces, packing pieces, Easter grass, etc. After the kids have glued these things onto their masks and everything is dry, they can hold them up to their face “masquerade style.”
For the Wee Ones
Bring out an assortment of Halloween cookie cutters and let the children dip the cutters into poster paint. Press the shapes onto paper making a real “cool” collage. Another idea is to purchase Halloween shaped pasta (usually found at craft stores and sometimes dyed orange and black) and let the little ones glue these onto construction paper or a paper plate.
Face Paint for Family Fun
1 tsp cornstarch
½ tsp water
½ tsp cold cream
Food coloring
Stir together starch and cold cream until well blended. Add water and stir, then add food coloring. Use a small paintbrush to paint designs on the face. Remove with soap and water. Store in an airtight container.
TOGETHER TIME
GAMES
Halloween Twister
Take a white sheet and fabric paint to make this game. Paint rows of witches hats, pumpkins, ghosts, and black cats. Make a Halloween version of the Twister game. Also make a corresponding cardboard spinner. Spin the wheel and place an arm or a leg on the shape called. It’s a fun game of twisted arms and legs which teaches “left and right” too!
Eyeball Putt-Putt
Buy some novelty eyeballs or make them using ping-pong balls and markers. Decorate boxes or containers in a festive decor and cut out a large enough entrance/exit for the balls to pass through. Then just set up a miniature golf course inside or out for the kids. Just borrow a few of Dad’s putters and the Halloween putt-putt games can begin!
Shave Jack
Spray shaving cream on your carved pumpkin jack-o-lantern. Take turns shaving “Jack” with safety razors that have the blades removed.
Monster Tag
Rope or mark off a circular area inside or out (somewhere safe). “It” is chosen and wears a rubber monster mask (blindfold the child or cover the eye holes). Everyone has to stay within the circle while the monster wanders around with his/her arms stretched out in front, monster style (this also keeps “it” from crashing). When “it” groans, all the players must groan back and extend their arms. This is how the monster zeroes in on his victims. When a player gets tagged, he/she becomes the next “it” and gets to wear the mask.
TOGETHER TIME
FOOD
Scary Face Pizza
Buy some store-bought frozen pizzas and various vegetables. Give each child a personal sized pizza and set out dishes of the vegetables for them to create a pizza face. When finished, bake as directed for a special treat. Topping options include; zucchini, cut in small rounds; onions (green or white) chopped or cut crosswise; mushrooms, sliced; green and black olives; red and green peppers, sliced in curves; fresh or sun-dried tomatoes, chopped or sliced; pepperoni slices.
Ghoul-Cool Punch
Orange juice
Mountain Dew
Blue KOOL-AID
Rubber gloves (disposable)
Food coloring
Fill gloves with water tinted with food coloring, and secure openings with sturdy rubber bands. Freeze overnight. Mix liquid ingredients to create a “radioactive” shade of green. Remove gloves from freezer and quickly run them under warm water. Carefully peel off the gloves. Float the hands in the punch bowl.
Goblin Gorp
Popped popcorn
Dried apricots
Dried cranberries
Raisins
Mixed nuts
Mix together and serve. This is a healthy alternative to the typical Halloween fare. But if sweets are what you’re after, add some M & M’s, Reese’s Pieces and Candy Corn.
Earthworm Surprise
You will need:
1 box chocolate pudding
Assorted gummy worms
Chocolate cookies (crushed)
Clear plastic cups
Make your standard chocolate pudding and pour it into clear plastic cups. Imbed a gummy worm or two in each. Cover with crushed cookies. It’s most effective if the worms are just peeking out of the crumbs. Kids will take great pleasure in scooping the creepy crawlers out of the dirt! J
