How to Make a Fun Halloween Activity for Kids

Halloween is just around the corner which means trick or treating, Halloween parties with friends and family, and decorating houses.

I made this fun activity recently with the kids.  It’s perfect to take to a Halloween party, to put in the front yard for Trick or Treaters, or to take to the school Halloween carnival.

Vampires, black cats, and ghosts - oh my!

This is a simple and fun Halloween activity for kids using empty cans.  Older children will be able to do more of this activity on their own; younger children can help by washing, drying and painting the cans.

What you will need:

• 6 empty aluminium cans
• Outdoor paint in a variety of colors
• A paint primer – such as gesso (to help the paint stick to the can)
• Spray sealant
• Ball
• Sticks

Making Your Monsters

Begin by washing, drying, and applying the primer to the can.  Once dry you can begin painting.  Kids of all ages will love to help with this.

Make sure to put primer on the can first. Otherwise your color will not stick!

Apply 3 coats of paint (or more if the paint appears thin and you can still see the can).  Allow the can to dry between coats.  While drying, start sketching the faces you want to make on the can – this is a great activity for older kids.

Prepare the cans with their base colors, and while the paint dries, sketch out some face ideas.

Here is a list of possible cans you could make: witch, skeleton, ghost, pumpkin, Dracula, Frankenstein, bat, black cat, owl, monsters (you could make a series of 6 different monsters).

When the paint is dry, carefully sketch the face onto the can using a lead pencil.  Then fill in the sketch with paint – you will most likely need to apply 2 coats for the features.  When done, apply a sealant over the top and leave overnight to dry.

Here are a few ideas for playing this fun game.

• Set out a series of sticks.  As the kids knock over the cans at the closest stick, they have to move back to the next stick so they have further to throw.
• Challenge the older kids to knock just the top can off the pile.

Just one of many games in which you can use your new spooky cans.

Tip:  I find it better to place these cans on a softer surface such as sand, grass or carpet.  Although you are using a primer and sealant, paint still may scratch off a little when knocked onto harder surfaces such as concrete or rocks.

What creative can creatures have your kids created?  Has your family come up with any new games that use the cans?  Share them in the comments below!

Tonya
KidZui Mom

Tonya Staab is a freelance writer, and the creative mind behind Create-Celebrate-Explore where she shares craft tutorials, recipes, party planning and travel tips.  She has three kids (twin kindergarteners and a teen) and can often be found covered in flour and glitter.