ShareHalloween Activities for Nanny Kids
I love Halloween season! I know it’s not for everyone, but I look forward to the costumes, decorations, & festivities every year, and I especially love sharing the fun with my nanny charges. Here are a few of my favorite books, activities, and tips to help make your Halloween a success with any age.
Books
When choosing Halloween books to share with our nanny kids, it’s important to keep things age-appropriate and lighthearted. There is absolutely no reason to push spooky, scary Halloween stories on kiddos who are not enjoying them. Luckily, there are many Halloween books that mix the spooky fun with humor and empowering messaging. Here are a few of my favorites!
For Toddlers and Preschoolers (ages 2–5)
Go Away Big Green Monster – by Ed Emberly
An empowering classic for our younger friends! Kids love shouting “GO AWAY!” as the monster disappears piece by piece, helping them feel brave and in control. A great choice for children who are wary of monsters. If your kiddos love this one, try Glad Monster, Sad Monster (also by Emberly) to spark conversations about feelings.
In the Haunted House – by Eve Bunting
This adorable lift-the-flap book lets kids peek behind the “scary” details to discover that everything spooky in the “haunted house” is just pretend – bats hanging from strings, red paint instead of blood, and costumes galore. It’s a wonderful way to show that Halloween fun is all make-believe. Ten Timid Ghosts offers a similar behind-the-scenes look at Halloween silliness.
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything – by Linda Williams
A rhythmic, empowering story about a brave woman who faces spooky sounds and sights on her walk home. The repetition makes it perfect for preschoolers who love joining in and want a happy ending for the “little old lady.” Pair it with Room on the Broom for another playful, confidence-boosting read.
The Night Before Halloween – by Natasha Wing
Wing’s “Night Before…” series is gold for helping kids know what to expect before holidays or special events. This one walks through each Halloween tradition – trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins, costumes – and helps set clear, comforting expectations. Can you imagine how bizarre pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating would seem if you’d never tried them before? It’s especially helpful for kids who are too young to remember prior year’s festivities or are new to Halloween fun.
For Early Elementary (ages 5–8)
Gustavo the Shy Ghost – by Flavia Drago
The beautifully illustrated “World of Gustavo” series is full of lessons about self-acceptance, friendship, and asking for help. Gustavo the Shy Ghost learns to connect with others, Leila the Perfect Witch learns to make mistakes, and Vlad the Fabulous Vampire embraces being himself. These stories model courage, empathy, and community – Positive Discipline in action! I hope more books set in “The World of Gustavo” come out; they are wonderful.
Pumpkin Jack – by Will Hubbell
A wonderful story that connects Halloween to science and curiosity. When a boy’s jack-o-lantern begins to decompose, he watches nature’s cycle bring a new pumpkin to life. It’s a gentle introduction to change, growth, and letting go. Try Weird but True! Halloween or I Spy Spooky Night for more nonfiction fun for elementary schoolers.
Ghosts in the House – by Kazuno Kohara
This one is simply too adorable not to include. The bold orange-and-black illustrations pop, and kids love the clever twist as a young witch finds creative uses for her friendly ghosts. Pair it with The Scariest Book Ever by Bob Shea for more silly scares and a giggle-worthy ending (spoiler: it’s naked ghosts!).
Activities
Artwork
Halloween crafts don’t have to be complicated or “Pinterest-perfect” to be adorable. My go-to project? Trace and cut out a big haunted house from recycled cardboard, set out every Halloween-themed supply you’ve got – stickers, googly eyes, glitter, orange paint, whatever! – and let the kids create their own spooky (or silly) haunted house masterpiece.
This activity gives kids ownership over their art and lets them practice cooperation and creative decision-making. We’ve done this one so many times now that my nanny family has a whole haunted neighborhood comprised of these houses!
Another hit for little ones: this “Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet” footprint craft – always a crowd-pleaser for parents!
Cooking
I’ll be the first to admit I’m not much of a cook, but Halloween is the perfect excuse to play in the kitchen with kids. Cooking together helps them practice patience, independence, and teamwork – plus, we get a yummy snack!
A few easy wins:
Candy corn parfaits: Layer pineapple, oranges, & whipped cream for a festive (and kid-led) treat.
Boxed pumpkin loaf mix: No shame in the boxed stuff! It still counts as baking, and kids love measuring, mixing, and seeing the finished product.
Decorations
If your nanny family celebrates Halloween, they may have decorations up. Toddlers and preschoolers will love the novelty of new, special objects! Their curiosity might lead them to touch, move, and play with these items, which is totally natural. This is a great chance to model respectful curiosity: we can show them how to look with eyes or gentle hands and talk about which decorations are for play and which are just for looking.
To channel that excitement, try adding some simple Halloween-themed play items like witch fingers, monster finger puppets, spider rings, or orange-and-black sensory bin fillers. It gives kids an outlet for their curiosity and keeps the “hands-on” fun in a safe, appropriate space.
Older nanny kids can get in on the fun, too! Try a Halloween decoration scavenger hunt around the neighborhood. A quick Google search will bring up plenty of free printable lists. This has become one of my favorite annual traditions with my nanny kids – our favorite find? Those giant 12-foot skeletons!
Pumpkin Play
There are so many ways to explore pumpkins – stack them, wash them, carve them, cook with them, paint them, or cover them in stickers! Pumpkins are an awesome sensory experience and a great opportunity to follow a child’s curiosity.
Two of my all-time favorite pumpkin activities:
Pumpkin hammering: Give kids toy hammers (or real ones if you’re brave!) and golf tees to “hammer” into the pumpkin. Great for fine motor skills and coordination.
Pumpkin boats: Scoop out mini pumpkins and float them in a bin or bathtub with small toys. Kids love experimenting with how to make them move and experimenting with sinking versus floating.
Practice Makes Confident Kiddos
One thing I love about Positive Discipline is that we take time for training before we expect a child to successfully complete a task. Halloween is full of novel, and sometimes overwhelming experiences, and a little practice ahead of time can make the big night go so much more smoothly.
Costume Practice
Please, please let your nanny kid try on and play in their costume beforehand! I know some grown-ups worry it won’t feel as special or that the excitement will fade, but I promise, the opposite is true. Kids love dress-up, and it’s much better to find out a costume is itchy, tricky to walk in, or falling apart before you’re trying to get out the door.
Encourage them to wear their costume around the house. Try moving, dancing, and playing in it, and notice together what’s working (and what’s not). If, on Halloween night, your nanny kid suddenly decides they don’t want to wear it after all – take a deep breath and remember: it’s just a costume! This is all for fun. Practicing flexibility and connection in that moment matters more than the perfect photo.
Trick-or-Treat Role Play
Role play is a fun, low-pressure way to prepare kids for what to expect. Put on costumes and take turns pretending – one of you can be the trick-or-treater, and the other the neighbor handing out candy. Practice walking up to the door, knocking or ringing the bell, and saying “Trick or treat!” and “Thank you!” You can even add in situations that might feel tricky, like:
- A house with a loud barking dog
- Receiving candy you don’t like
- Coming across a particularly scary decoration or costume
By practicing together, you’re helping kids build confidence, manage emotions, and problem-solve, all while having fun!
Halloween is such a neat opportunity to celebrate imagination, creativity, and connection with our nanny kids. When we follow their lead, practice ahead of time, and focus on fun over perfection, we set the stage for a night full of laughter (and hopefully a lot of candy, too!). Whether you’re reading cozy, not-too-spooky books, carving pumpkins, or practicing how to “Trick or Treat,” remember – our goal isn’t just a smooth October 31st, but helping kids feel capable, respected, and confident. Here’s to a Halloween that’s sweet in every sense of the word!
Comments