Impress your kids and all the guests at your Halloween party with these spooky, delicious, and creative treats

If you’ve already sorted out your crew’s costumes and carved up your pumpkin, and you’ve still got time, how about crafting up a few easy Halloween treats? We’ve got all the goodies (and even Halloween-themed dinners) for kids you could ever want, from healthy(ish) picks to snacks inspired by creepy crawlers.

Cute Halloween Cat Treats

A black cat cookie with candy corn eyes
A Taste of Madness

Whole Wheat Black Cat Cookies. How cute are these kitty cookies from A Taste of Madness? You don’t need special cookie cutters to make them, and the kiddos can help top them off with adorable candy corn eyes. Using wheat flour helps make them a little more wholesome than your average dessert, too. 

Black Cat Oreo Treats.
These treats from Moments with Mandi are sure to impress your little ones—they’re (almost) too cute to eat. We love the wide eyes drawn on the chocolate candies and the chocolate chip “ears.” 

Classic Betty Crocker Black Cat.
Your kittens will go crazy for this delish cake from Betty Crocker. No fancy pans are required for this one—just round cake pans and a bit of clever cutting to make the cat shape. Topped off with licorice whiskers, it’ll be just as tasty as it looks.

Black Cat Cutout Cookies. For an easy but delicious treat, make these cutout cats from Cinnamon Girl. The recipe is pretty straightforward, and you can let your little sous chefs dot on watchful eyes once the cookies have cooled. 

Related: Easy Halloween Decorations You Can Make for About $5

Mummy-Themed Easy Halloween Treats

Madeleine cookies are decorated to look like mummies and Minions for Halloween treats
Sugar Bowl Bakery

Mummy Madeleines. These Madeleine Mummies and Minions look like you slaved away in the kitchen, but they're fuss free. Just put some white frosting in a piping bag with a cross-hatch tip, then make lines or zigzags before popping on some candy eyes and sprinkles. We tend to love these soft and fluffy traditional or pumpkin spice Madeleines from Sugar Bowl Bakery.

Mummified Oreos. How Does She serves up a spooktacular assortment of haunted treats, including to-die-for Mummy Oreo Suckers. And think about it: If you can make Oreos into something cute, what other cookies can you transform?

Halloweeño Jalapeño Popper Mummies
. If you’re a fan of spice, this hot idea from The Hopeless Housewife is sure to startle your taste buds. Terrifyingly simple to bake, these Jalapeño Popper Mummies make a great savory appetizer for your Halloween bash.

Mummy Pretzels. This salty, sweet, and spooky treat is scarily simple to make. The most difficult step according to Simply Being Mommy is waiting for the chocolate to cool and harden before eating!

Witch-Inspired Halloween Treats

Decorated chocolate kisses sit on top of Oreos to create the Halloween treat Witch Hat Cookies
Princess Pinky Girl

Witch Hat Cookies. This super easy recipe from Princess Pinky Girl results in adorable witch hat treats in no time flat. Gather up Oreos and chocolate kisses plus a few other ingredients for this party-ready dessert.  

Witch Guacamole Dip. Bright green guacamole glows from underneath a tortilla chip hat in Spicy Southern Kitchen’s Witch Guacamole.  Mash up some avocados or grab your fave store-bought guac as the base for this healthy Halloween treat. 

Butterscotch Brooms.
Every witch needs her broom, so you’ve got to whip up some cute broomsticks inspired by From Calculus to Cupcakes. They’re super quick to throw together, and they hit the perfect balance between sweet and savory.

Deathly Chocolate Graveyard Cakes. We think this spooktastic dessert from Half Baked Harvest is genius. With gravestones made out of brownies and witch legs made out of rolled wafer cookies, decorating them is half the fun. 

Easy Halloween Treats That Aren’t Too Sugary

Low-sugar pumpkin mousse sits in a bowl
Super Healthy Kids

Mousse Made Easy. Looking for a kid-approved party dessert that won’t scare away adults? Like a light, fluffy piece of pumpkin pie without the crust, this pumpkin mousse from Super Healthy Kids uses only six simple ingredients. Prep it in advance and make the most of your time with guests. 

Awesome Apple Cupcakes. Love the taste of old-fashioned Halloween treats? Take a trip down memory lane with luscious fall flavors of apple and cinnamon. These beautiful cupcakes from Sarah Bakes Gluten Free will remind you of the sweet caramel apples of your youth without too much of the sticky stuff.

Not-So-Basic Bark. Turn after-school grumps into giggly ghouls with this super-cute candy bark from Fork and Beans. Vegan and gluten-free with no icky preservatives, you’ll love getting your (somewhat healthy) chocolate fix. It’ll take a few steps to get to the finished product, but we promise this bark will make you want to take a big bite. 

 

(Sort of) Nutritious Halloween Treats

Mini monster sandwiches topped with olive eyes
My Own Road

Monster Sandwiches. What's a monster mash without monster sandwiches? This idea from My Own Road is an easy way to ensure that there's hearty food on your Halloween menu—you know, before the giant sugar rush. Plus, it's a cinch to customize these mini monster sandwiches with your fam's fave deli meat and fillings.

Halloween-Themed Sushi Balls. These adorable Halloween-themed sushi balls from Chopstick Chronicles are fairly easy to make, and you can change up the ingredients according to your little monster's palate. Put a bunch together as a main dish or spread them around as creepy little sides.

Frozen BOO-nana Ghosts. These ghost-shaped boo-nana popsicles are a fun treat the kids will love making as much as eating. Erin Clarke at Well Plated takes the healthy route and dips the banana shapes into vanilla yogurt rather than white chocolate—and you can turn these treats into mummies with a bit of peanut butter, caramel or nut butter, and coconut sugar.

Hooting Owls. Not as spooky as ghosts and gravestones but how can you resist these delicious Halloween owls? Spread peanut butter or cream cheese on crackers and add sliced and whole almonds for this nocturnal nibble from Charity Mathews at Foodlets.

Related: 30 Perfectly Spooky Halloween Books to Read This Year

Creepy, Crawly Treats

Bakerella

Spider Cake Pops. One bite of these creepy crawly cake pops and you might understand why the old lady swallowed the spider. Wriggle over to Bakerella to learn to make these eerily delicious arachnids. Hint: The placement is all about timing.

Dirt and Worms Pudding Cups. We dig this easy-to-make dessert from Like Mother Like Daughter. Great for serving the kids at your Halloween party, they’re also fun for spring and Earth Day, too.

Creepy Corn Dog Centipedes. Hungry Happenings transformed ordinary mini corn dogs into a Halloween centipede, complete with ketchup eyes. If your kids like creepy crawlers and enjoy playing with their food, this might be the snack for you.

Jello Worms. Mel’s Kitchen Cafe used straws and a package of gelatin to make this squirmy Halloween treat. While they might gross out older ghosts, these squiggly creatures are sure to be a hit with your little goblins, and they’re super easy to make.

Kooky Halloween Monster Treats

These Halloween treats are chocolate monster cookies with candy googly eyes, chewy chocolate chip cookies, and chocolate ganache.
Self Proclaimed Foodie

Chocolate Monster Cookies. We’d welcome these monster cookies from Self Proclaimed Foodie to any Halloween party. The secret lies in the edible googly eyes—but don’t forget the perfect chocolate chip cookies and chocolate ganache.

S’more Monsters. What’s better than s’mores? S’mores that look like monsters! You won’t need a campfire to create this delicious Halloween-themed treat from Jodi Levine over at Say Yes, but you will need cookies, marshmallows, and little helping hands.

Dangerous Donuts. Donuts get a monstrous makeover with this snack from A Spicy Perspective that the little ones will go crazy for. Either make ahead for your guests or lay out the supplies and let the kids take creative control. You’ll need some plastic vampire fangs, sprinkles, and you guessed it… candy eyes.

Chocolate Monster Pops. You’ll have plenty of little monsters gathering around a batch of these chocolate Frankensteins from Handmade Charlotte. The supplies include basic baking stuff: chocolate bars, coconut, and icing. We are especially zinging with delight over the Hershey Kiss neck bolts. 

Related: 36 Halloween Movies That Aren’t Too Scary for Kids

Ghost-Inspired Treats

Sugar Bowl Bakery

Brownie Bites with Fondant Ghosts. Need a last-minute Halloween treat? We love these adorable desserts from Sugar Bowl Bakery that use store-bought brownie bites and small pieces of fondant to create the perfect, non-scary ghost friend.

3-Ingredient Easy Ghost Cookies. The only thing scary about these cookies from Butter with a Side of Bread is how easy they are to make. All you need are Milano cookies, white chocolate, and small chocolate chips to whip up these friendly, Casper-style sweets.

Ghosts in the Graveyard Dessert Shooters. Don't worry, these alcohol-free treats from Sugarspun Run are for everyone! Think OREO dirt cup with a marshmallow ghost that is fun and easy to make.

Frightfully Easy Halloween Cupcake Treats

Easy to make RIP cupcakes with chocolate wafers, pumpkin shaped candy corn, vanilla wafers and chocolate frosting.
Christal Yuen

Ghoulish Graveyard. What you'll need: crumbled chocolate wafers, pumpkin-shaped candy corn, vanilla wafers, and chocolate frosting. What to do: After covering the chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting, crush chocolate wafers and sprinkle them over the frosting as "dirt." Set a pumpkin-shaped candy corn on top and write "RIP" on the vanilla wafer before planting it in the "graveyard."

Wicked Witch. What you'll need: green icing, one straw cut in half, and gum drops. What to do: Frost your cupcake in plenty of bright green frosting. Snip your straw in half, and slice a red gum drop down the center, so you have two identical halves (and a pair of ruby slippers). Stick one to each end of the straws and lay the "legs" on your serving platter. Now lay your cupcake house upside down on top of the legs. We can almost hear Dorothy trotting away in glee. 

Not-So-Scary Mummy. What you'll need: Mini M&Ms and white frosting. What to do: Using a piping bag (either store-bought or DIY), place lines across your cupcake to form your mummy's bandages and then two affix candy eyes.

Caught in a Spiderweb. What you'll need: White frosting and black gel icing. What to do: After frosting the cupcake in white, use your gel icing to make three concentric circles on top. Take a toothpick and, starting in the center, drag the toothpick through the icing to the edge (imagine slicing a pizza) to create the spooky spiderweb effect.

The holiday season doesn’t have to be all about Santa and the elves. Other cultures decorate their trees with spider webs, welcome a festive horse into their home, and even dine on the delicacy of KFC to celebrate the holidays

You may look for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, but what if you had 13 Santas? Holiday traditions from around the world include floral abundance, door-to-door witches, and more. We think your kids will especially get a kick out of the tradition of Mari Lwyd—the horse mascot who visits you in the winter season. Take a look at this fun holiday tradition and you might even be inspired to introduce one to your family this season.

Stevepb via Pixabay

Flores de Noche Buena—Mexico

In Mexico, poinsettias aren't just pretty flowers for the holidays. Instead, the bright petals play an important role in the holiday story about a young peasant girl, who, after setting out for a Christmas celebration with no gift to give, sees (with the help of a heavenly visitor) her humble gift of collected grasses and weeds magically transformed into 'Flores de Noche Buena,' bringing her to understand the true meaning of giving from the heart.

Soyal—Southwestern US

In Hopi culture, the Soyal Solstice Ceremony held in December is a time to pray to Father Sun for the renewal of light and welcoming back of the sun. It is a time to purify and to wish for good health and prosperity for one’s family and friends and the kachinas—spirit beings who guard over the Hopi—often bring gifts for children. The start of the celebration begins sixteen days before the solstice when one of the chief kachinas makes an appearance and dances and sings. Families make prayer sticks to bless their friends, neighbors, family, animals, and plants alike. Children are sometimes given replicas of the kachinas to learn about them; they represent animals, plants, and other aspects of nature.

 

 

The Yule Lads—Iceland

 

In the beautiful snow-covered hills of Iceland, there isn’t just one Santa, there are thirteen. Yes, you read that right. Thirteen Yule Lads cause mischief and decide who’s been naughty and who’s been nice. These sons of the evil troll woman, Grýla, arrive in the thirteen days leading up to Christmas Eve, and each has a mischievous specialty including stealing meat, sausages, and candles. They also give small gifts, chocolate, and other sweets to the good girls and boys and raw potatoes to the naughty ones.

Kiwi Christmas Tree—New Zealand

We love our classic evergreen trees, but for the Kiwis in New Zealand, it’s all about the pohutukawa tree. This beautiful tree has deep roots in New Zealand’s culture, with several songs, poems, and other cultural items capturing its significance. It is also part of Maori culture and is considered a bridge to the afterlife.

Marilyn Page via Unsplash

Mummers—Latvia

The yuletide season is a bit more like a carnival with these Latvian party animals, except the purpose of this riot of color and good times is to drive out the evil spirits from the home. The Mummers are hilarious jokers who love dressing up and traveling around in full costume as everything from bears to gypsies and even zombies. With their help, you’ll have a prosperous new year.

 

Mari Lwyd—Wales

Wikimedia Commons

Mari Lwyd is a rare and special character. The name means Holy Mary, but it refers to the horse mascot that is carried door-to-door by singing groups in Wales during the holiday season. Traditional carolers usually stay beyond the threshold of your door, but, in Wales, they're trying to join the party. They sing small pieces of music as a way of asking to be let into each house and will banter back and forth with the family before being welcomed inside to enjoy sweet cakes and ale.

 

Wikimedia Commons

Spider Webs in Christmas Trees—Ukraine

Celebrating Christmas in Ukraine started with a classic Christmas miracle. A penniless family decided to grow a Christmas tree from a pinecone. The excited kiddos spent months planning the perfect decorations for their special tree, but their parents didn’t have enough money to buy the extra decor. On Christmas morning, the family discovered that a group of helpful spiders had spun delicate webs through the tree’s branches. As the light hit the beautiful silk threads, they magically turned to silver and gold. Today, decorating Christmas trees with spiderwebs is a way to usher in good luck for the coming year.

 

Wikimedia Commons

La Befana—Italy

In Italy, Santa is small potatoes compared to the arrival of an old woman on a broomstick named La Befana. She visits children on January 6th, to deliver gifts to the good little girls and boys and lumps of coal (or lumps of black sugar) to the naughty ones. According to legend, La Befana was invited to travel with the Three Wise Men to celebrate the birth of Jesus. She was busy cleaning her house, so she decided not to go. When she realized her mistake, she began searching high and low for the child and still wanders the earth to this day.

KFC Christmas—Japan

When you think of Christmas dinner, turkey or ham are probably your go-to dishes. Well in Japan, the ultimate feast is none other than KFC. The Colonel’s delectable Christmas Chicken started as a promotion in 1974, and the company has seen its sales peak every Christmas Eve since. So if you happen to be in Japan for the holiday, make sure to pop into KFC for finger-lickin' goodness. But, make sure to get there early because there's going to be a line.

 

 

Junkanoo—The Bahamas

 

The Bahamas brings a whole new meaning to the term “Christmas Party” with Junkanoo. This riot of music and vibrant colors was originally developed by enslaved people, who were given three days off for the Christmas holiday. They celebrated with music, masks, and killer dance moves. Today, this festival includes massive dance troupes of up to 1,000 people, elaborate costumes, and gorgeous music created with goatskin drums, cowbells, whistles, and horns.

St. Lucia Day—Sweden

Nordic countries have long celebrated the Winter Solstice, and in modern times, on December 13, Christians in Sweden, Norway, and parts of Finland celebrate St. Lucia Day with a traditional festival of lights. In each town, a representative for St. Lucia is chosen to lead a large procession through the town with all of the young girls dressed in white with wreaths of candles around their heads. The tradition continues at home, where the eldest daughter dresses in a white outfit and serves coffee and yummy biscuits to the family.

Additional reporting by Amber Guetebier

It’s common to see the best and “must-have” gifts this time of year, but what about those that don’t quite make the cut? For as many fun and fabulous toys that hit the market, there are also those that leave us shaking our heads. We’ve sifted through the worst-of-the-worst from the past few years and came up with a few cringe-inducing toys you won’t believe were invented.

Milky the Marvelous Cow

eBay

In this "game" kids can feed the cow water in order to "milk" the cow. We can't really explain it, but something about this just feels kinda weird. However, they aren't cheap, as proven by this one spotted on eBay, so maybe we're missing something. 

Breaking Bad Walt

Amazon

While the award-winning show is one of our favorites, we don't think introducing Walt to the kids is such a good idea. Especially in his hazmat suit. 

Black Panther Slash Claw

Amazon

While we totally get where the creators were going with the Marvel Black Panther Slash Claw, creating a toy that is all about acting like an oversized cat with sharp claws creates a problem. The creator didn't do themselves any favors by including a warning not to swing or hit at people––seemingly the whole purpose of the toy in general.

Nerf Vortex VTX Praxis Blaster

Amazon

Nerf usually comes through with kid-safe options, but not this time. When they released the Nerf Vortex Praxis, they switched up the ammo from soft darts to hard plastic discs. The result? Scared parents who can now truly say "you'll shoot your eye out."

Monopoly Game: Cheaters Game

Amazon

Nothing like teaching your kids right from wrong! While Monopoly Cheaters Edition is supposed to be a funny tack on the OG version, it's definitely not a great option for littles. Among the cards that ask players to cheat, the game also comes with a pair of handcuffs for those that get caught in the act.

Play-Doh Poop Troop

If your littles can't get enough bathroom humor than the Play-Doh Poop Troop is for them. Kids use a variety of tools to literally squeeze out "poop" from the rather large collection of included dough tubs (the most of which are brown) to make personalized turds. Just what they've always wanted.

Lightning Reaction Reloaded

A game that includes electrocution if you're too slow? What could go wrong? Even better is the fact that this is a real game you can still buy on Amazon for $35! The toy description says to "Bust out this shocking game for an electrifying good time," and the comments are equally enjoyable. One user uses the game to encourage the kiddos to do chores and says "What started out as a gag game, has turned into how I dictate which of my 3 kids will do chores. If I lose, I take the garbage out and do the dishes myself. Chores just got a little more fun around this camp." Glad we don't live at her house!

Pole Dance

Mamas want their babies to grow up and be ... pole dancers? While the packaging of this "toy" was made to look pretty alluring to kids, what with the glitter and gems, we all know this is one career we're taking out of the running.

Love n' Licks Pets

Their tagline is that you'll get "so wet, you should wear a bathing suit!" If that's not enough to steer you clear away from this doggy that drools, then consider the goal of this toy is to rub it's head so much that it barks––because everyone loves a barking dog. The commercial is a compilation of kids covered in towels or wearing a raincoat and bathing suit which is a dead giveaway how un-fun this toy can be. 

Super Soaker Oozinator

Ebay

The Super Soaker Oozinator was released in the '90s and was supposed to be the next generation of squirt guns. But instead of shooting free water, kids got to squirt each other from ooze cartridges—basically tantamount to shooting huge boogers at each other. The three-pound gun worked the same way as the traditional super soakers, but this one boasted "extra pumping required." Gross.

Vibrating Harry Potter Broom

Back in 2010, Mattel started selling the Harry Potter Nimbus 2000 vibrating broomstick much to the delight of Potter fans worldwide. But when sex shops in New York City‘s Times Square started buying and re-selling the broomstick for double Amazon’s price, Mattel decided the fun and games were over and discontinued the model. You can still find similar products on Amazon, just make sure to read the reviews, "This broom looks like it has been designed and created by muggles. I arrived late to Hogwarts and almost missed the sorting hat ceremony." Ba-dum tsss...

Pretend Tattoo Parlor

While Spin Master Toys has been cranking out the hits for many years (including Star Wars, Paw Patrol and this year's Hatchimals), every once in a while they have a dud. In 2006, they definitely hit a new low with a pretend tattoo parlor for kids. The set came complete with an electronic tattoo pen, washable ink, stencils, and, presumably, a pretend follow-up morning of regrets and a hangover.

Playmobil Security Checkpoint

Unsurprisingly, this Security Checkpoint model did not perform as well as other Playmobil models like Barnyard with Silo or Pirate Fort, so it was discontinued. After all, no one want to pretend play standing in line with 300 other busy travelers! 

Pee and Poo Dolls

Isn't Potty Humor fun?! Don't you want to cuddle with a defecation-themed plushy?! Originated in Sweden in 2004, these Pee & Poo dolls are an early ancestor of the popular poop emoji we're currently inundated with today (thanks, Uncle Poop!). 

Dora Aquapet

Not only is this a horrifyingly bad design (if you haven't noticed, take another peek), the whole Aquapet concept is a bit creepy as well (like, why isn't she wearing scuba gear? Is this akin to toy waterboarding?). The suggestive design was first noticed in 2009 when the Dora Aquapet started showing up on moms' Christmas lists on Amazon.

Yume-chan Doll That Cries

Introduced at the Tokyo toy fair in 2012, manufacturer TOMY (makers of Chuggington, Pokemon and Lamaze products) had the ill-fated idea that it would be fun for kids to watch their doll cry after immunization. An evil plot by anti-vaxxers to scare kids? We'll never know.

Heelarious Baby High Heels

When we received the first press release for this product, we thought it was gag gift. And while it's true the founder/creator of baby high heels has taken a tongue-in-cheek approach to her products, there are parents on either end of the spectrum either squealing with delight or venting with outrage, regardless of intent

Barbie & Her Dog Tanner

Another Mattel classic sure to be discontinued (note recall for bite-sized magnetic poop pellets) and/or a future overpriced collectible. The $89 sticker price is a bit more palatable when you are entertained by Amazon reviews like this gem, " God bless America! Does this toy teach young girls moral lessons about the responsibilities of pet ownership and the importance of cleaning up their mess? Or, is the feces-eating devil dog teaching impressionable young kids that it's ok to consume their own excrement? Who knows, and who cares."

My Cleaning Trolley

Look at little Arya, doesn't she look like she is having fun vacuuming?! Put your kids to work starting at toddler-age, teaching them how to sweep, mop and dust. The gift offers the perfect inspiration for an aspiring janitorial career.  We're kidding. Of course, lots of kids love to "clean" and "pretend to clean". The primary reason this sparked outrage was because of the packaging, which had a big, "For Girls Only" sticker on the front.

Poopy Time Fun Shapes

This image has been circulating on Reddit and Buzzfeed since 2009, though we can't find an actual manufacturer or more product detail. Since parents seem willing to do anything to get their kids to potty train (rewards, gold stars, M & M's), we'll simply categorize this product as "good intention gone bad."

 

––Karly Wood & Shahrzad Warkentin

 

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Your donuts just got spooky, courtesy of Krispy Kreme! Halloween fans are in for a treat starting today with three seductive sweets to choose from.

“Krispy Screme” offerings include the Bewitched Broomstick, a cream filled donut that features gold stars and a pretzel broomstick. Abra Cat Dabra is an original glazed donut that looks like the classic black cat, including sugar fondant eyes. And Enchanted Cauldron is a chocolate cake donut with green swirled creme plus sprinkles.

If you can’t choose just one, you can buy a “Saturday Scary Sharies” dozen packaged in a special edition spellbook dozen box, while supplies last. This offer is available on Oct. 16, 23 and 30 and includes a $1 dozen to share with your fellow donut lovers.

Finally, Krispy Kreme has another free donut promo in the works. On Halloween, visit a shop in your costume and get a donut with no purchase necessary. ‘Tis the season for screams and kreme!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Krispy Kreme

 

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The countdown to Christmas is on! It’s a few more months until we’ll hang up the mistletoe but Hallmark has already released its 2021 Christmas ornament keepsake collection. Including (drumroll please!) Winifred Sanderson from Hocus Pocus and Blanche from Golden Girls.

We love the new Blanche Devereaux ornament and it’s the perfect addition to any holiday tree. She’s decked out in her red wedding dress and the ornament plays audio clips of some of her classic lines on the popular TV show. It’s pre-packaged for easy gift giving and storage, so Blanche can steal the stage for years to come.

Another classic leading lady has been memorialized in ornament form, thanks to Hallmark. Winifred Sanderson rocks her signature green dress and holds a witch’s spell book and broomstick. She also comes in a commemorative box and can add a festive touch to your Halloween decor, too.

Both ornaments are $19.99 and are available to buy either online or at your local Hallmark store. The two are part of Hallmark’s larger keepsake collection that also features Baby Yoda, Harry Potter, Donkey Kong and much more. Shop the whole collection online today as you dream of merry months ahead!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Hallmark

 

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With shorter days on the horizon, there’s one foolproof way to keep the fun going after dark: flashlight games. Turn any old night at home into a memorable evening with these twists on old classics. Psst! We threw in a few new inventions, too. Read on to light up your night.

In-the-Dark Treasure Hunt

iStock

They’ve got the treasure hunt down pat. Now throw them for a loop with one staged in the dark. Simple items like pirate’s booty (gold coins) or even figurines will do the trick. For older kiddos, consider making a list of the items being hunted. Be sure to have enough flashlights for everyone involved; it’s a lot more fun when each participant has their own beam.

Flashlight Tag

games to play in the dark
istock

Hiding in the dark and being spotted by beams of light can be fairly thrilling—just be sure to clear the way for kiddos running around in the dark. You'll need either an outdoor space that isn't well lit or an empty-ish basement or gym. Get all the rules for variations over at wikihow.

Make Your Own Constellations

Handmade Charlotte

Create your very own universe at home with DIY constellations. The crafty masters at Handmade Charlotte dabble in the dark and offer an easy tutorial with materials you’ve probably got in the crafts box already, including black paper, scissors and a pencil.

Shadow Puppet Theater

Inner Child Fun

Take shadow-making fun to a whole new level with puppet theater. With a cardboard box, foam figures and a flashlight an entire fairy tale adventure comes to life. Valerie, of Inner Child Fun, explains the easy steps in creating this awesome activity.

Morse Code Messages

Tima Miroshnichenko via Pexels

Morse code is kinda like the original form of texting (SOS, anyone?) so kids will get a kick out of learning how to flash-chat with buddies. Create little messages and get familiar with the flashlight for easy code clicking. Daddy Mark of My Kids Adventures provides a full Morse Code Alphabet and even offers up other tutorials (like using your iPhone as the light.) Get all the info here.

Flashlight Word Game

Julie Kirkwood via KiwiCrate

Play this game, and they’ll be working on their reading skills, too. Find the biggest, most empty wall in your house and sprinkle the space with word cards. There are several variations of play, including having Mom call out a word and finding it, or flashing light on a word and reading it. Be sure to use painters tape to stick up the words, otherwise, you’ll lose some paint in the process! Head over to Kiwi Crate for more ideas.

Shadow Dancing

Gabrielle Blair

Turn a dance party into major flashlight fun with shadow dancing. Shine a light against a wall, put on a groovy playlist and get moving! It’s fun to watch shadows boogie or even try to make different shapes. Gabrielle Blair breaks down one of her favorite before-bed activities over at Design Mom.

Flashlight Limbo

PublicDomainPictures via Pixabay

You don’t need a sandy beach, broomstick or even the classic Limbo song to re-create this game. It’s a classic camp activity that’s perfect for a sleepover. Just flash the beam of light on the wall and have everyone wiggle their way under it. The only real question is: How low can you go? Get the details over at Ultimate Camp Resource.

I Spy

arbyreed on Wunderstock

Do they really know what’s in that room? Try out I Spy in the dark for a chance to spot familiar toys and gadgets. Toni Tui, mama in charge over at Wifely Steps, loves to play this game before bed but we’re betting this would be a blast at any time of night.

— Gabby Cullen

 

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The Wizarding World is coming to your Christmas tree. With plenty of pop culture faves on Amazon’s list of trending gifts, it’s no surprise these Hallmark Harry Potter ornaments are sought-after selections!

The awesomely adorable Hallmark Harry Potter ornaments feature the film’s iconic characters on broomsticks and more and are bound to make your muggle tree a little more magical.

Choose from options such as Hermione on a Broomstick, Harry Potter Quidditch or Ron on a Broomstick for $8.99.

If the Potter fan in your life is up for a surprise, the Hallmark Ornament Blind Box ($3.99) is the gift to get. One of six characters from the beloved book/film series comes in a foil bag, keeping their identity a secret. Open the bag to reveal which ornament is inside.

—Erica Loop

Photos: Amazon

 

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Little witch lovers will be over the moon for this sweet and simple craft that they can actually use all year long. With just a few supplies that most people will be able to scare up in the house, you and your witchy apprentice will be able to make this broomstick bookmark in no time flat. No magic spells required!

You Will Need:

–A wide popsicle stick
–Glue
–A small square of black construction paper or craft foam
–Short piece of string or twine
–Scissors

 

Make Your Broomstick

1. Cut the black paper or foam into a simple shape like the one shown below. On the larger end, make long vertical cuts to make the bristles of the broom.

2. Use just a dot or two of glue to glue to black broom bristles to the end of the stick.

3. Take the string and wrap it a few times around the narrowest part of the broom bristles, tying a small knot in the back. Trim the excess string.

Optional: decorate the broomstick itself with your child’s name, or even the title of her favorite book. But make sure you let the broomstick’s glue dry completely before using it in your book. There’s no reversing spell for sticky pages!


—photos and copy by Erin Feher

Do you have any witchy craft ideas you would like to share? Let is know in the comments below!

With Halloween on the horizon, it’s time to start thinking about this year’s decor scheme. The craft giant, JOANN, has you covered!

With plenty of decorative picks for every home, JOANN is the place to start shopping, and that’s why we’ve got some seriously spook-tacular ideas for you!

The Boneyard Mini Mermaid Skeleton Bones

Mermaids never go out of fashion, especially not at Halloween ($5.99) 

Halloween Mystical Unicorn Skull Head with Horn-Oil Slick

What's cooler than a mermaid skeleton? A unicorn skull with an oil-slick black coating, obvi. ($23.99)

Maker's Halloween 60''x22'' Mantle Scarf-Spiders

If you have a mantel, you absolutely need one of these spiderweb mantel scarves. Ask Martha Stewart! ($5.99)

Maker's Halloween Witch Legs Garland

Forget about the plain old garlands of yesterday. This playful pick ($19.99) is imaginative in an outrageously awesome way.

Maker's Halloween Short Novelty Pumpkin with Skeleton Hands

If you want a little something extra with your pumpkin display this year, or you don't want to go full skeleton, try this perfectly wicked compromise. ($14.99)

Maker's Halloween Mini Wall Decor

Are you a frequent flyer? That is, on a broomstick. This holiday decor ($9.99) is the perfect way to get a giggle on Halloween night. 

Maker's Halloween Natural Tuffed Coir Mat

With cute candy corn colors, this "Trick or Treat Yo' Self" mat ($19.99) is pure Halloween holiday happiness. 

Maker's Halloween Skull Wall Decor Halloween Skelefun

Celebrate Halloween with plenty of skele-fun! This holiday sign ($15) can greet Halloween party guests and trick-or-treaters.

Maker's Halloween Wall Decor Hocus-Pocus Co.

Witches are wanted—at least according to this sweet sign ($14.99). 

 

—Erica Loop

Photo: Joann Stores

 

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It’s holiday time in Oreo-land! According to PopSugar, the iconic cookie company recently announced the release of new cookie designs for Halloween and Christmas. And here’s what you should expect!

The limited-edition cookies are holiday faves from years past. But instead of the same old sweet treats, Oreo is giving these seasonal selections a makeover for 2019.

https://www.instagram.com/p/93yXCNxtDe/

So what does Oreo have in store for Halloween? The orange creme-filled cookies will comes in new different designs—spiderwebs, a jack o’lantern and a witch in a broomstick. Look for Oreo’s Halloween edition cookies in stores starting mid-August.

You’ll have to wait until mid-October for the Christmas edition. The red creme-filled cookies will have winter-inspired designs such as smiling snowmen, a penguin (wearing a scarf) and a snowflake!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Oreo via Instagram 

 

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