31 Halloween Ideas That’ll Guarantee A Fun October For The Whole Family

Halloween is one of our favorite times of year because families can have so much fun together with—and without—media. From spooky movies, music, and games to fun crafts, snacks and parties, October offers a month packed with family pleasures.

We culled the web for inspiration to get kids and families learning, doing and having fun together.

Cool Pumpkin Ideas

• Motion-Controlled Silly-String-Shooting Pumpkin
  Looking for a fun Halloween project? This is it.
• Pumpkin Carving Ideas
  Hundreds of designs and stencils, including geeky, pop culture, and traditional styles.
• DIY Pumpkin Decorations
  No carving needed!
• Pumpkin Recipes
  When the holiday’s over, don’t toss it — cook it!

Costume Inspiration

• Dirty-Laundry Group Costume
  Keep it clean this Halloween.
• Classic Literary Costumes
  Bring these characters to life.
• YA Book Cover Costumes
  Dress up as your favorite heroine.
• Last-Minute Costumes
  What busy family doesn’t need these?
• Incredible Pinterest Costume Page
  If you can’t find an idea here, maybe you should just give up.

Food Fun

• Halloween Lunchbox Ideas
  Keep the spirit going throughout the school day.
• Healthy Halloween Snacks
  Counteract all the sugar with these holiday treats.
• Candy-Coated Caramel Apples
  This classic fall treat doubles down on the candy.

Spooky Crafts and Activities

• Icky Science Experiments
  Using anything from slime to potions, kids will delight in these weird educational projects.
• Hot-Glue-Gun Necklaces
  As part of a costume or just for Halloween fun, these are easy to make.
• Bread-Clip Comic Strips
  Create your own scary or not-so-scary ghost stories.
• Easy Sewing Patterns and Projects
  Some are creepy, some are cute, but they’re all fun.
• Trick-or-Treat Bags and Buckets
  Carry your candy in style.
• Scary Witch Rhythm Song and Game
  Preschoolers will love this fun Halloween-y song activity.
• Candy-Toss Game
  Even if they can’t eat it all, they can play with it.
• Pumpkin Pie Play Dough
  Fun to make and fun to play with, too.
• Candy Activities for Fun and Learning
  Think candy’s bad for the brain? Wrong!
• Find Haunted Houses
  Teens and adults might enjoy seeking out a scary spot nearby.
• Halloween Hacks
  Spirited activities and eats you can do at the last minute.
• Start a Boo-Bag Tradition
  Surprise your friends and neighbors with Halloween goodies.

Scary (and Not-So-Scary) Media

• Halloween Apps
  Stock your device with seasonal games for the kiddos.
• Classic Horror-Movie Posters
  Get decor or costume inspiration from these great images.
• Halloween Books for Young Kids
  Wee ones will love these adorable and not-too-scary tales.
• The Best Spooky Music Videos, Ever
  From “Thriller” to “Monster Mash,” kids will adore these creepy songs and videos.

More Halloween Fun

• Party Planning
  Throw the best kids’ Halloween party on the block.
• History of Halloween
  Teach curious kids why we do all this silly, spooky stuff each October.
• Tips for Taking Good Halloween Photos
  Want some great pics for your Instagram?

Written by Sierra Filucci and originally published on Common Sense Media.