How to Make Halloween Crafts for Kids

It's Halloween and the kids are tracing pumpkins onto construction paper, scrunching up paper napkins for ghosts and cutting out high, pointy triangles for witch's hats. But, the craft ideas don't stop there. Glance through websites, books and classrooms will show you that crafts made from household articles can be simple and unique at the same time--ghoulish Halloween fun for all the children you know!

Things You'll Need

• Pipe cleaners, cut in half, eight per person
• Egg carton cut into individual sections
• Plastic googly eyes (optional)
• Craft books (optional)
• A sharp marker

Instructions

Prepare for Your Halloween Crafts

1. Choose a craft that can be made with household items. Toilet paper rolls, cotton swabs, toothpicks, meat trays, egg cartons and much more can be used effectively and more cheaply than purchased art supplies.

2. List and obtain the materials you need. Make sure you have everything before you start. If you have a group of kids bringing their own materials, keep some extras on hand in case somebody forgets something.

3. Set up the craft in advance so that all the items are within easy reach. Allow enough room at the craft table for each child to maneuver.

Sample Craft--Egg Carton Spiders

1. Pass out pieces of cut up egg box and sharp markers. Demonstrate how to draw a tiny face on the box section. Have one or more finished products for the kids to look at with various facial expressions.

2. Watch the kids as they draw their faces. Help those who are having problems. Make sure the marker gets on the cardboard not faces, hands and clothes.

3. Hand around the pipe cleaners, eight per person. Older kids may take the full-length pieces and cut them in half for themselves.

4. Show how to space the legs, four on each side, before using the glue. Again, oversee the activity as the children do their gluing. If you are using glue-on eyes repeat the same steps.

Tips & Warnings

• Match the crafts you plan with the age group of the children to avoid, boredom and frustration.

• Be sure to find a way to display or use the crafts so that the children can be proud of their work.

• For younger kids choose "cute" crafts over scary ones.