The countdown to Halloween has officially begun!
With Halloween falling on 31 October, the week leading up to it is the perfect time to introduce a few fun activities that get children excited for the big day.
As parents, we don't always have the time—or the energy—for complicated Halloween crafts.
So if you're looking for something simple, screen-free and creative, playdough can be a great place to start.
Here are some easy Halloween-inspired play ideas to try at home using products from The Children's Lab's Halloween Collection.
🎃 1. Make a Pumpkin Patch
Pumpkins are one of the easiest Halloween creations for little hands.
Give your child some orange-coloured dough and let them make their own pumpkin patch.
They can make pumpkins in different sizes and shapes, add funny faces and even create a little pumpkin garden.
Want more colours to work with?
Rainbow Playdough gives children plenty of colourful dough to experiment with.
👻 2. Create a Friendly Ghost
Instead of making Halloween scary, make it silly!
Ask your child to create a friendly ghost and give it a funny expression.
Then ask:
"What's your ghost's name?"
"Where does it live?"
"Who are its friends?"
Before you know it, one little ghost can turn into an entire Halloween story.
🕸️ 3. Make a Monster Family
This one can be especially fun for siblings.
Give each child some dough and ask them to create their own monster.
The challenge?
Every monster needs to be different.
One could be tiny.
Another could have three eyes.
Another might have a funny hat.
Once they're finished, create a monster family and invent a story together.
🍭 4. Open a Pretend Halloween Candy Shop
Halloween and sweets go hand in hand.
So why not let children create their own pretend candy shop?
They can make colourful pretend candies, cupcakes and other treats and arrange them in their imaginary shop.
The Candy DoughLab Themed Kit is a natural fit for this kind of imaginative play.
Take turns being the shopkeeper and customer.
It's simple, but children can stay engaged for much longer than you might expect.
🧙 5. Create a Halloween Character
Ask your child to invent a completely new Halloween character.
Don't give them too many rules.
Let them decide:
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What does the character look like?
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What is its name?
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Where does it live?
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What does it like?
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Does it have any special powers?
Then let them build their character with dough.
This is a great way to combine creative making with storytelling.
🦇 6. Build a Spooky Little World
Once your child has created a few characters, take things one step further.
Create a whole Halloween scene.
Maybe there's a little house, a pumpkin patch, a candy shop and a group of friendly monsters.
Children can decide where everyone lives and what happens next.
There is no right answer.
That's what makes open-ended creative play so enjoyable.
🎨 7. Let Children Choose Their Own Halloween Activity
Sometimes the best activity is the one children come up with themselves.
Put out a few colours and let them decide what they want to create.
You can keep the Halloween Collection handy for inspiration and let your child's imagination take over.
You might start with a pumpkin and end up with an entire imaginary Halloween town!
Why I Like These Activities as a Parent
The best thing about simple play ideas is that they don't require a lot of preparation.
You don't need to spend an entire afternoon setting everything up.
You can simply bring out the dough, suggest an idea and let your child take it from there.
They get to create, experiment and tell stories while you get to enjoy watching their imagination unfold.
Make the Days Before Halloween More Fun
Halloween doesn't have to be limited to one evening.
The days leading up to 31 October can be just as exciting.
A little playdough, a few fun prompts and some imagination can turn an ordinary afternoon into a Halloween adventure.
If you're looking for more seasonal inspiration, explore The Children's Lab Halloween Collection and find something creative for your little Halloween enthusiast.
Because the best Halloween memories aren't always the biggest ones—they're often the little moments of play, laughter and imagination along the way.
