The best way to learn is through books! To introduce Mila to Halloween concepts, we’ve been reading a ton of different ones. Lately, Mila’s favorite has been Room on the Broom. We extended her learning by pairing the book with an activity to make handprint art.
Again, it’s another decoration that Mila and I will be able to look at in the future and remember our times when she was little!
I want to start off by saying, I most definitely helped Mila with this craft. Older kids could probably do this alone. But, I used hot glue, cut out the hat, and made the broom. Everything else she had a hand in making… literally.
First, I painted her hand with green paint. Then let her press it on the canvas to make the witch.
While it was drying, I assembled the broom and hat. For the broom I used this cute gold pipe cleaner for the base. Then I cut up ribbon to make the straw part of the broom. I combined them by making a loop with the pipe cleaner and twisting it off.
The hat was easy to make. All I did was cut out a witches hat on black paper and hot glued leftover pipe cleaner for the base of the hat.
When the green paint was dried, I hot glued down the broom and the eyes.
Next, we made the hair. I took a few pieces of orange yarn and braided it to look like the witch in the book. Mila loved helping cut out the pieces and was very impressed with how much it looked like the original witch. She’s finally impressed by my skills!
After that, we glued down the hat and added facial details and the night sky with a permanent marker.
Mila absolutely insisted on drawing the witch’s nose and the moon.
I absolutely love how this turned out… with all of Mila and I’s crafts. It’s festive and we put a lot of hard work into it. Doing a book pairing activity with her also underlines the importance of reading and teaching her that reading is fun and valuable.
Hopefully she’ll want to continue reading and extending upon those lessons in the future.
What’s your favorite Halloween book that we need to get next year?
It’s not secret, Mila and I LOVE Halloween. The one year, we went to a ton of trick or treats and had to be creative with different costumes every time. One of my favorites that we did was this DIY Halloween Costume of Minnie Mouse.
The best part about this DIY Halloween Costume was we had everything at home. BUT if you want to duplicate it, everything can be found on Amazon… which you can get in before Halloween!
SCORE!
We did this costume mostly because Mila was OBSESSED with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. When she figured out what she looked like, she was so happy. I’d love to dress her up as Daisy one year because she has the attitude to accompany it.
There’s only five key pieces you really need to transform your little into Minnie or Mickey Mouse.
We didn’t buy any ears because I did space buns on Mila. I think it made it extra cute. PLUS… she couldn’t rip them off. That’s so important on Halloween nights, when you don’t really want to loose anything. Bows are easy enough to lose!
If we were to do this specific costume this year, I’d definitely do the black nose and maybe red lips too.
I love doing DIY costumes and finding cheaper options than just buying a specific one. For Mila’s costume this year, I bought EVERYTHING from Amazon. It turned out cuter than other options and she’s obsessed. Plus, we can reuse specific aspects of the costume too.
If you’re interested in more DIY or last minute costumes, let me know and I’ll do a few more.
What is your favorite DIY costume you’ve made? Let me know in the comments.
We’re back with another Halloween Craft. Since Mila has a ton of Halloween bows, I thought it’d be fun to make a Fluffy Ghost Bow Holder! Not only is it a festive craft, it’s useful too.
Mila and I both made one of these. Mine became the bow holder and Mila’s became a cute, green ghost. Each of them are so cute and they make me smile each time I see them. This is just a reminder to parents that their kid’s crafts do not need to be ‘perfect.’ They’re so creative as is and what they create is them doing their best!
Without any more introductions, here’s what you’ll need:
First, get a ghost cut out. I found a pack of four ghosts at the dollar store for one dollar. You could also easily find one of these online to print out or with a Cricut. That’s completely up to you.
Then, glue cotton balls down with regular glue. Mila was able to do this, so just use your discretions of your child’s ability. The best part is… it doesn’t have to be perfect.
After it’s completely filled, cut out eyes and a mouth with the black construction paper. You can show whatever kind of expression you want your ghost to have. Mine and Mila’s ghosts have completely different expressions. They’re both so cute though!
At this point, Mila was done with this craft. She decorated the rest of hers with green glitter. It makes me smile to see. We’ll eventually add some ribbon on to hers too.
If you continue on with this craft to make it a bow holder, you need to first make sure the front is dried.
While it’s drying, cut out different pieces of yarn and ribbon. I used both and chose neutral colors, but you can obviously use whatever works best for your space. Mila has asked to use pink for her when we get to it!
Once everything on the front is secure, flip it over and hot glue the ribbons on the ghost. Even though I measured all the ribbons before I glued them down, I had to trim them up since they were on an uneven surface. It didn’t take too long, but I think it made it more clean looking.
To be able to hang the ghost, I also hot glued a piece of ribbon at the top to make a hanger.
I absolutely LOVE how this turned out. All her Halloween bows look so cute on here too. They haven’t pulled any of the ribbons off, so it withstands them too. We’re hanging it on her bedroom door to make our morning bow grab easier. Plus it spooks up our little hallway.
This will be another craft (both Mila and I’s) that we’ll hang up year after year!
Do you decorate your entire house for Halloween or just small places? I feel like we’ll end up decorating every room in the next few years with all our crafts!
One of my favorite fall activities are watching scary movies under a ton of blankets on the couch with a fall charcuterie board. It makes for a perfect date night or just a fun night with Mila.
I mean, who doesn’t love a charcuterie board?
To amp up our normal grazing boards, I incorporated fall colors and tastes. It turned out so moody and tasted delicious too.
Here’s everything I added to this Fall Charcuterie Board:
Apple Cider
Munster cheese
Ritz Crackers
Mini cupcakes
Chocolate covered pretzels (that tasted like pumpkin spice)
Not pictured were raspberry jalapeño jam to put with the crackers and cheese. Jams are the best addition to charcuterie boards. I also usually try to add some type of meat like salami, but I didn’t have room to add it on here either.
To make it a little more festive, I added the white pumpkin and the extras from my DIY Fall Wreath.
Of course, I took a video to show you all the whole process.
I can’t wait to make a more Halloween inspired charcuterie board for Mila’s Halloween party. Stay tuned to check it out!
What’s your go to items for charcuterie boards? Let me know in the comments.
Halloween crafts and activities do not have to be complex. My preschooler’s favorite Halloween Craft are these Googly Eyed Monsters! Not only did she have a spook-tacular time making them, she loves making sure everyone sees them when they come in our home.
The best part about these monsters, you only really need to go buy googly eyes. Everything else are pretty common household items.
To set up this craft for Mila, I cut some squares from old cardboard boxes. We love to upcycle and reuse items. If we can make memories by doing that, I’m all for it!
Then, I put out the colors of paint she wanted to use. I tried to persuade her to use more Halloween colors. She insisted on blue though, but I think it turned out super cute even though it’s not a traditional color.
I let her free paint and do whatever she wanted. They didn’t start off as monsters, just as big blobs.
If you have older kids, they’ll be able to do this next part on their own. I went in and drew outlines of monsters with her blobs. She might be able to do it now, but I just follow her interest and patience level with these types of activities. There’s no right or wrong ways to outline them. Just let their artwork speak to you!
When the monsters were finished and dried, Mila put the eyes where she wanted them to be. Let your child pick out how many eyes and the eye color they think they need. It’s so cute to see how they end up seeing their monsters.
Then, you can hot glue a pipe cleaner on the back of the cardboard pieces to hand them. This is an optional step, but I love it.
I love this little progression picture. This activity came out so adorable and I’ll definitely be hanging these up throughout future Halloweens. At first, Mila was afraid of some of her pictures. Now she thinks they’re cute. She’s really getting in the spooky mood!
My entire house is fully prepped for Halloween! It’s been so fun to see the transformation. Our latest spooky DIY are these Skeleton Animal Glow Ups.
I have been back and forth with sharing these. They’re so creepy, but Mila loves them. Honestly, they’re sort of like a creepy Elf on a Shelf.
They were so easy to make and they fit our Halloween aesthetic. I found them at the Dollar Store for a dollar a piece. Not a bad price in my eyes; especially because it was a craft for both of us and they look so cute.
Cute as in… creepy. They can be both, right?
I will say, Mila had fun painting them, but it was a little tricky. She did them for a while, but I ended up finishing them.
If you do paint them and your kiddo wants to carry them around, I would suggest spraying them with a clear coat. It just helps the paint hold up a little longer. If you’re keeping them out of their hands, it should be okay!
Originally, I had them all on our dining room table. Like I said though, they’ve become our unofficial Halloween Elves on a Shelf.
I actually love how they turned out and will keep them for the years ahead.
Somehow they mesh really well with the white pumpkins and the general feel of my house. We like random things, so they make me smile.
Your Halloween decorations don’t have to be grand to make a statement. Sometimes all it takes is a little paint and a animal skeletons from the dollar store!
What’s your favorite way to decorate for this holiday: scary or pretty? Let me know in the comments.
Another day, another fall activity! Today’s play is a Pumpkin Washing Sensory Bin.
We love sensory play for so many reasons. To summarize all of its benefits, it helps children’s brains in a ton of ways! It also gives me a minute to do a chore or task that needs done around the house too.
Now that it’s spooky season, I’m finally letting Mila pick pumpkins from our pumpkin patch on the side of our house. It led straight to this activity.
Before we paint or decorate these pumpkins, I thought they needed to be cleaned off. Instead of me just doing it, I thought it would be so much fun for Mila… and I was right. All I had to do was set up this station.
The only thing I told Mila was that the pumpkins needed cleaning and she could use more water and soap if she needed.
Let’s just say… she went to work right away!
This activity is so simple and Mila had came up with a big story of why they needed washed. She pretended they came from a different farm and not just outside our home. I always love listening to how her mind works.
That’s what makes sensory play so fun for everyone.
I actually left this activity out for the next day and she kept on playing. Lets hope painting or carving pumpkins goes this smoothly too.
Do you paint or carve pumpkins?
I’ve done both, but I’m thinking Mila may like painting more than carving this year. I’ll keep you all updated when it happens!
Looking for a fun way to count the days until Halloween? Try this cute Halloween Paper Chain Countdown Calendar.
Mila is SO excited for Halloween and keeps asking when it’s going to be. To show her how many days we have to wait to dress up, I thought this paper chain would be an amazing visual representation for her.
It’s filled with spooky and cute Halloween colors that would be perfect in any home. The graphics aren’t too scary either!
All you have to do is print the countdown, cut it out, and then staple it together.
Our little Halloween station is right by our front door. The Halloween Paper Chain Countdown Calendar made a boo-tiful addition to our spot.
I hope you like this little freebie. Make sure to take a picture and tag me in it on Instagram (@greyskies.rainbowhighs). It’d make me so happy to see it in your spot!
Today we’re celebrating October with Monster Rolls for a fun boo brunch. It’s not really a DIY recipe, but a way to make food festive for Halloween. Either way, you’ll love it.
Even though I’m SHOCKED it’s October, I’m so excited to bring you fun activities, crafts, and treats all month long. I absolutely love Halloween and everything that goes along with it. Let’s just say, Mila and I have a lot planned for you.
These Monster Rolls are really simple, which are perfect for fall mornings.
First, cook the cinnamon rolls as directed. Since everyone has their own different recipes or favorite brands, I’ll just leave this up to you!
Next, divide icing in different bowls. Add food coloring and mix. Mila absolutely loved helping with this step. As always, you can make it educational by talking about colors and it’s a great way to work on motor skills.
Then, set out the eye sprinkles and sugar to decorate.
Once the cinnamon rolls are done, I suggest dipping them into icing instead of spreading. It’s less messy and just is was easier in my opinion. Mila also helped with this step too!
After they’re all iced, it’s time to be creative.
I promise you eye sprinkles are a MUST for spooky season. They make any food or treat extra special for halloween. Mila loves them too and I think all kids would think they’re fun too. The ones I bought actually taste pretty good too.
Anyways, I just put the eyes in a little bowl and let her use the sugar dispenser. I let her know we were making monsters and she just went for it!
They were so fun to make… and eat too! I loved how quick they were to bake and that it gave Mila some creative time in the morning. We’ll be making these again this month because we both enjoyed them so much.
What did you think of our Monster Rolls? Do you have any Halloween classic breakfast foods, snacks, or treats that you make every year?
Another week, another activity box! This week’s activity box theme: FARM!
The last two weeks, Mila and her class have been learning about farms. To extend her learning about it, I thought some farm themed activities while she’s at home and when she’s off on Fridays would be fun!
This theme is also a ton of fun because we live in a rural area where a lot of people have farms and farm animals. We can go to different ones and actually see them. It was also a great time because we were just at our county fair where we saw all of the students’ farm animals and 4H projects that they worked so hard on. It was a way to be active while learning too!
Since we can’t go back to the fair or a barn every day, this activity box was perfect for her learning.
There’s a ton more activities you can do too, this just was easy for her to take to her grandma’s house on her day off.
I hope you love everything that’s inside. Let me know if you have other suggestions.
Books
I’ll never stop saying this: WE LOVE BOOKS!
Books help kids discover and learn about the world around them when they can’t get out and see it. Plus, it helps teach them lessons too.
These books are all ones that we’ve read so many times. I think Mila’s favorite is the farm sound. She’s had it since she’s been really little and it helped her learn different farm animal sounds. She also loves the Peek-a-Who and can even read it to me… more like look at the pictures and remember what it said.
We also love the Usborne “That’s Not My…” series and have almost all the farm animals. Sandra Boynton books are a big hit with Mila and this one always makes her laugh.
Lately, Mila has been obsessed with sheep, so The Sheep Who Hatched an Egg has been a new book that we’ve gotten. It’s a really cute book about sheep’s hair and caring about others. I’m unsure how super farm related it is, but Mila’s obsessed!
Painting and play dough are our two go to activities in our house. Mila loves them both and plays with them for a long time.
The farm animal ‘paint with water’ activity book from Melissa and Doug is a huge hit. There’s 20 different animal scenes that are perfect for learning about the farm! I also love that there’s paint on the top of every single page. It came with a brush too! All you need to do is a have a little cup of water and they’re good to go! Mila loves to paint, so I limit how many pages she does at one time!
I always include play dough in Mila’s activity boxes. They help her use her imagination in play and allows her to make shapes with her hands. I thought she might use the different colors to make animals, grass, and maybe just a farm scene. Who knows what she’ll create!
Matching Game and Threading
These two activities are Mila’s favorites!
The first are the threading boards. We got these from Mila’s preschool sale and they’re a blast to work with. It’s helped Mila’s coordination and motor skills. Plus, the scenes are so cute. There are a ton of threading activities that you can find on Amazon as well. This set (not pictured) is so cute and from Melissa and Doug!
Mila’s other FAVORITE game is the ‘grab it’ game. Essentially, you fill the red thing with the scare crow up with chips that have animals in it. When it’s your turn, you grab a chip and see if it matches to your board (the green barn). The first to fill their board up wins.
This game is so educational for us. Not only does it help with matching and animal recognition, it’s taught Mila to take turns and we practice animal sounds too. I found this game at Aldi, but you could make one too. Personally, I would use matching cards with farm animals and then have each player grab them from the deck. Essentially it would be the same thing.
Some of the other items that are in her box was her sheep that her great grandmother made, resin letters (of course), and a quick piggy clean up activity.
You could add any stuffed farm animal and multiple ones. At this stage, they really get into pretend play and it’s so cute to see.
As always, I’ll suggest to get a set of resin letters from Beags and Bubs. They’re the best!
The quick piggy clean up activity is a hit and doesn’t take too long to make at all. All you have to do is print out or draw a piggy. Then, put it in a ziplock baggy. When it’s in there, you just use black or brown markers to make the pig ‘dirty.’ Then, instruct your kiddo to clean the pig with a paper towel or sponge. They can also make the piggy dirty by drawing on it too.
I wanted to share two things Mila has done in preschool that I think would be a fun addition to this box as well. They’ve done a TON of other activities, but I thought these were just the cutest!
First is a story that Mila told her teachers and they wrote down. I actually love capturing her stories and recording them. It allows kids to be creative and see the importance of their words. Also, it’ll be so cute and funny to read when she gets older too!
I think she did a pretty good job!
This next activity was something that Mila talked nonstop about.
It’s a cut out of a big with brown paint. So, they got the pig dirty. I’m unsure what type of paint they used, but if I were to do this, I would probably put a drop of dish soap in the paint and mix it. This way it helps with clean up! Plus, what toddler doesn’t like getting dirty!
I hope you loved all these activities and items.
Let me know in the comments how you felt about this activity box! It was a lot of fun putting it together and watching her interact with it.
