Guest blog by Georgia Coote

Spooky season is upon us! Halloween comes round so quickly once the kids are back at school, that I always run out of time for the more elaborate makes, so here are some quick and simple ideas which are great to pull out of the bag (or cauldron!) last minute!
 

Spooky spider jelly

Box of 20 spiders - Classic Jokes, £3.95
 

For an easy Halloween gift that’s perfect for older kids, add some clean toy plastic spiders and vampire fangs to your jelly mix and let it set for a wonderfully spooky surprise! Let the children enjoy discovering the creepy crawly decorations, but make sure all spiders and fangs are removed before serving or eating, as these small toys can be a choking hazard. For extra fun, use brightly coloured jelly and display it in clear cups so the spooky shapes are easy to spot.
 

Halloween temporary tattoos

Temporary tattoos - Scary, £1.95

Add a little Halloween magic with some fun temporary tattoos! Let the kids choose from spooky designs like ghosts, spiders, pirates and skeletons, then have fun creating their own Halloween look. They’re an easy, mess free activity that kids can enjoy before a Halloween party or while getting ready for trick-or-treating.
 

Spooky stamp fun

Set of mini stamps - Spooky, £6.95

Get creative with some fun Halloween stamps and ink! Children can use them to decorate paper and create their own spooky pictures, little gift tags, cards and other Halloween-themed creations. It’s a simple activity that’s perfect for letting imaginations run wild and having fun making something wonderfully spooky!

Frightfully fun nails

Children's nail stickers - Spooky, £2.95

Give little fingers a Halloween makeover with some fun nail stickers! Choose from cute pumpkins, ghosts, bats, spiders and other spooky designs to create a fun look. They’re a quick and easy way to add a little Halloween magic and let kids get creative with their own mini manicure. The best thing with these is there’s no need to use nail varnish remover, just peel to remove for school!

Halloween character bottles

Traditional school milk bottle, £2.95

Turn simple glass mini milk bottles into fun Halloween characters! Cut out eyes, mouths and other fun shapes from black paper, then use a small piece of blu tack to stick them onto the bottles. 

You can use simple faces or get creative with different designs. Fill them with orange juice, milk or a green smoothie for an extra Halloween touch - a quick and easy idea that looks great on a Halloween table!

Funny Face Disguise

Disguise glasses - Classic Jokes, £5.95

For a quick and easy Halloween costume, why not have some fun with a joke disguise face? Added to any outfit it lets kids transform themselves in seconds! It’s a simple, inexpensive idea that’s perfect for a last minute costume or just for some role play!
 

Don’t Wake the Spiders!

This fun game is so simple to set up! Just thread dried spaghetti strands through the holes of a colander at all different angles, then carefully place some toy spiders on top. Take it in turns to pull out one strand at a time, trying not to disturb the spiders. If you knock a spider off, you have to take it out of the game. Keep playing until all the strands are gone - the person with the least number of spiders at the end is the winner! A quick and easy game that’s great for all ages.

Halloween chocolate bark

Vintage Apple greaseproof paper, £3.95  (on clearance, now £1)

My kids love a chocolate bark, it’s always such an easy activity to do and with a delicious result! Melt a large bar of milk chocolate and pour into a lined, shallow baking tray and then gather your melted white chocolate, sprinkles and edible eyes to decorate.

These spooky ghosties are dollops of white melted chocolate – to my mind, the more slapdash, the more character your ghouls have! But if you want a more uniform look, you can gently use a cocktail stick to create the tails of the ghosts. Add the eyes and scatter on the sprinkles to finish. Leave to set in the fridge, break it into pieces and devour. Yum! 

Spooky sensory ice play

Assorted creepy crawlies, £12.95

Although this is generally an activity more for younger children, I will say that my older children couldn’t keep away from this little spooky sensory station when I made it!

To make the icy hands, take some disposable gloves (or you could use washing up gloves) and then pour some water with a dash of either food colouring or paint, then carefully add some toy spiders or bugs and a dash of eco glitter!

Use an elastic band to keep all the liquid in and then place in the freezer, after a few hours you can carefully remove the hand shape and place in a washing up bowl/tuff tray or a sink for some sensory fun!

You could make multiple colours and change the things you put inside the ice. Use some warm water in the tray so that the children can see how pouring it onto the icy hands melts the ice and creates colour mixing and dispersing of the insects and glitter. A few of the fingers broke off the hands that I had frozen, but in all honesty it all adds to the spooky play!

You don't need an elaborate plan to make Halloween magical. A little creativity (and plenty of treats!) are all you need to keep your little ones happy. For more inspiration to make your spooky season one to remember, explore our Halloween range and find everything you need for a frightfully fun celebration!