Halloween Crafts

[tenderhearts]

I was really thinking at our Halloween party I'd like to do carmel apples with the kids. The majority are 4 & 5 yrs. Has anyone ever done this before and is it messy or maybe another suggestion I can do with them? I thought it would be fun and I think they'd have a lot of fun.
Usually with for the kids in a clear cup I put chocolate pudding for mud then crumble an oreo for dirt then I put 2 gummy worms in it but I wanted them to be able to do something this time.

[Lilbutterflie]

Are you planning on having them MAKE the caramel apples, or are you pre-making them and letting them eat it?
I'd say you are in for a giant mess if they are making them, but as long as you don't mind the cleanup, go for it!
Expect messy faces and such, but I don't see anything wrong with it.

[SandeeAR]

Have you thought about "painting" pumpkins with "washable markers"?

[BentleysBands]

it doesnt work, the marker wipes off

[tenderhearts]

Well I of course would just basically be having the "dip" it into the carmel and then putting in on wax paper then letting them put their nuts or sprinkles on it then I'd have them take it home to eat it
I've done the decorating pumpkins with washable markers and it didn't work, it didnt' dry and and each time they touched it it would smear all over it and i don't want to get other paints that could stain their clothes.

[SandeeAR]

Well I of course would just basically be having the "dip" it into the carmel and then putting in on wax paper then letting them put their nuts or sprinkles on it then I'd have them take it home to eat it
I've done the decorating pumpkins with washable markers and it didn't work, it didnt' dry and and each time they touched it it would smear all over it and i don't want to get other paints that could stain their clothes.

Glad to know that about the markers . Won't be doing that as planned with the 2 y/o.

[SilverSabre25]

My group is pretty young--12 months, 15 months, 17 months, 20 months, 2.5 and newly turned 3.

I got a kit from Target that has foam stickers in the shapes of pumpkins, stems, eyes, and mouths, and I'm planning on having my older (2.5 and new 3) kids make their jack o' lanterns. I also got a box of foam stickers that are pumpkins, bats, and ghosts and I'm going to print out haunted house templates and have them stick the stickers to the template. Lame sounding, I know, but I think they'll get a kick out of it!

We're also going to make orange playdough scented with pumpkin pie spice, and the kids will each get to take home a ball of playdough, and bake and decorate cut-out sugar cookies. I did this with DD last year when she was newly 2 and she LOVED getting to push down the cookie cutter and then frost and sprinkle her own cookie before eating it.

For lunch I think I'm going to use some of the ideas from this blog post: http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/10/...arty-food.html--probably the mummy dogs, cheesy fingers, and monster jaws.

[tenderhearts]

I always give the kids a little "goody" bad but instead of candy I put those little individual foam crafts in their bags as one of the goodies. I was just trying to think of something "different" they could do.

[MommyMuffin]

My group is pretty young--12 months, 15 months, 17 months, 20 months, 2.5 and newly turned 3.

I got a kit from Target that has foam stickers in the shapes of pumpkins, stems, eyes, and mouths, and I'm planning on having my older (2.5 and new 3) kids make their jack o' lanterns. I also got a box of foam stickers that are pumpkins, bats, and ghosts and I'm going to print out haunted house templates and have them stick the stickers to the template. Lame sounding, I know, but I think they'll get a kick out of it!

We're also going to make orange playdough scented with pumpkin pie spice, and the kids will each get to take home a ball of playdough, and bake and decorate cut-out sugar cookies. I did this with DD last year when she was newly 2 and she LOVED getting to push down the cookie cutter and then frost and sprinkle her own cookie before eating it.

For lunch I think I'm going to use some of the ideas from this blog post: http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/10/...arty-food.html--probably the mummy dogs, cheesy fingers, and monster jaws.

Would you share your playdough recipe please?

[jenh171]

this site, dollarstorecrafts.com had really cute Halloween ideas. I love that cheese puff container made to look like a Jack O Lantern!

http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2010/10/halloween-party-food-cheese-balls-jack-o-lantern/

[DCMomOf3]

4 and 5 are decent ages for apple dipping. If you wanted to eat them there, you could have them dip apple slices instead.

If you want something made ahead time, this looks cool.

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/witches-brooms/02120d3c-3a34-4b2f-aa6f-79b18fdddb72?WT.mc_id=partner_facebook_Bettycrocker

Are you looking for food crafts only?

[SunflowerMama]

We're definitely going to try this slime recipe at our Halloween party!! Looks so cool!

http://www.ourbestbites.com/2010/08/kids-in-kitchen-slime.html

[SilverSabre25]

Would you share your playdough recipe please?

Certainly! I love making playdough with kids and don't do it enough even though it's fast and easy. Along with the food coloring you can also add spices, vanilla extract or other extracts, essential oils, etc to make it smell nice. Or, if you google "scented playdough recipe" you can find recipes that scent the playdough in other ways. You can also add glitter to make it sparkly.

Traditional Play Dough

* 1 cup flour
* 1 cup warm water
* 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
* 1 teaspoon oil
* 1/4 cup salt
* food coloring

Mix all ingredients, adding food coloring last. Stir over medium heat until smooth. Remove from pan and knead until blended smooth. Place in plastic bag or airtight container when cooled. Will last for a long time.

[Unregistered]

I have done caramel apples numerous time with the daycare kids. They help unwrap the caramels to melt in the pan, wash the apples, insert the sticks. I help them dip and roll then we have plates of toppings to roll the apples in. I usually have them do one to take home, and we do a couple to share at daycare. I slice off chunks to share instead of letting them bite off the caramel apple. They have always enjoyed it.

[AfterSchoolMom]

Pumpkin painting with acrylic paint works great, and acrylics are completely washable. You can usually get a set of different pots of color made by crayola, or they sell them in little bottles at craft stores for about .75 to 1.00 each.