Kids' Halloween party ideas

Two hours. That's the whole secret of a children's Halloween party. Four short games, food in the middle, cake and a party bag on the way out, and everybody leaves before it turns.

Below is that plan in order, with the games that reliably work for four to eleven-year-olds and the ones that end in tears.

Keep the scary dial low for under-sevens: pumpkins and friendly monsters, not gore. Older ones will want the lights off and a torch.

The two-hour plan

• 0.00 — arrival, costume parade round the living room, one photo. Shop this card
• 0.15 — mummy wrap in teams while everyone's still arriving. Shop this card
• 0.35 — apple bobbing and doughnuts on strings, towels ready. Shop this card
• 1.00 — food. Hot dogs, crisps, orange jelly. Shop this card
• 1.25 — torch treasure hunt with the lights off. Shop this card
• 1.45 — cake, sing, party bags at the door. Shop this card

Games that work for little ones

• Pin the spider on the web. Shop this card
• Musical monsters — freeze in a monster pose. Shop this card
• Pass the parcel with a sweet in every layer. Shop this card
• Feel the guts: grapes and spaghetti in covered bowls. Shop this card
• Pumpkin bowling with plastic bottles. Shop this card
• Sleeping lions, for the five minutes before food. Shop this card

Food that gets eaten

• Hot dogs — the only hot thing you need. Shop this card
• Orange jelly in clear cups with a sweet worm. Shop this card
• Cheese and pineapple hedgehog, painted as a pumpkin. Shop this card
• One cake with a Halloween topper, cut at the end. Shop this card
• A bowl of sweets by the door for trick-or-treaters. Shop this card
• Water and squash, not fizzy — you'll thank yourself. Shop this card

Party bags without the tat

• A slice of cake wrapped, sweets, one pin badge, one small toy. Shop this card
• Same bag for every child, no exceptions. Shop this card
• Skip the plastic whistle unless you dislike the parents. Shop this card
• A card with the child's name on it costs pennies and gets kept. Shop this card
• Hand them out at the door as they leave, never earlier. Shop this card

Banners and cake toppers

The two things that do most of the work in a party photo.

Confetti and table bits

Cheap, quick and posted from the UK.

Halloween and birthday cards

Printed in the UK and blank inside, so the message is yours.

Where to shop next

• Halloween party ideas
• Halloween party games
• Halloween party ideas for adults
• Kids' Halloween party ideas
• Halloween birthday cards
• Halloween card messages
• Buy Halloween cards
• Halloween cards
• Party supplies
• Buy party supplies
• Birthday cards
• Birthday party ideas
• Bonfire Night
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Gifts to make someone smile
• Thinking of you gifts

Frequently asked questions

How long should a kids' Halloween party be?

Two hours. Four short games, food after the first hour, cake and party bags at the end. Anything longer and the sugar catches up with everyone.

What games can you play at a kids' Halloween party?

Apple bobbing, doughnuts on strings, mummy wrap, pin the spider on the web and a torch treasure hunt with the lights off. All five cost almost nothing.

What goes in a Halloween party bag?

A wrapped slice of cake, a few sweets, a pin badge and one small toy. Make every bag identical and hand them out at the door on the way out.

How scary should a children's Halloween party be?

For under-sevens keep it friendly — pumpkins, cartoon monsters, no gore or jump scares. Eight and over generally want the lights off and something that makes them squeal.