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Top 4 Faith in Kids Halloween resources for 2023 - Faith in Kids

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Top 4 Faith in Kids Halloween resources for 2023 - Faith in Kids

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Here are the top 4 Faith in Kids Halloween resources we have to offer for 2023. Church leaders/kids workers Parents Kids

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https://open.spotify.com/episode/6544t9gnYH4lrUV4HfhqUf...

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Tried & Tested 26 Light Party Crafts and Games

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Tried & Tested 26 Light Party Crafts and Games

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Looking for last minute ideas for a Light Party? Here are 26 tried & tested crafts & games for kids of all ages to enjoy!

Light Parties are a fab opportunity to share fun, faith & light on a dark night. I've been involved in organizing them for the last 12 years, catering both for small gatherings of 20 & larger groups of 100+ children. Each party has offered children, their friends & families a warm welcoming space with no tricks, just lots of fun with plenty of treats. We've offered a variety of activities, games, crafts, music & food, with the key theme of the evening focusing on celebrating light overcoming darkness.

At each event, we've had a selection of around 5 crafts & 7 games & the following are just some of the most popular we've used. They've all been designed for children 4-11yrs, but younger & older children have equally loved them too.

Light Party Craft Ideas

:: Design Your Own Pumpkin
Offer paint, eco-friendly biodegradable glitter, feathers, buttons, tissue paper etc & let the children get creative. For older kids (& better for limited numbers with adult supervision) you could do alternative pumpkin carving, creating hearts, stars, crosses, positive images instead of scary faces.

One of my all-time fave activities. All you need are some recycled jam jars, PVA glue & oodles of coloured tissue paper. Add a tealight & your lanterns are ready to shine. For more info here are some we made a few years ago.

Invite the kids to write or draw something they'd like to pray for; it could be a family member, friend, pet, or a current situation in the news, anything that's important to them. When they've finished invite them to add their rock to a prayer cairn on a nearby table.

Use a simple eye mask template & have a table full of shiny sparkly craft items for the children to get creative with. Pens (glow-in-the-dark, or neon) eco-glitter, feathers, kitchen foil, scraps of tissue paper, buttons, scraps of ribbon, pompoms have all created some amazing masks.

Suggested Bible verse: Psalm 139:11-12

A super simple activity for all ages. A cost-effective idea too as one large bag of clay goes a long way! If you want to add a text alongside you could use; Here's how we made ours.
"Shine as a Light in the World"

:: Recycled Stained Glass Window

Collect any old plastic lids from your recycling & use colourful Sharpies/glass pens to create images of things that create light (sun, stars, moon, rainbow, lighthouse,) Add a small hole in the top & thread cotton through so you can hang your mini stained glass in a window at home.

Add Bible Verse "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:14 on a sticker attached to the thread.

Cut some black card to A5 size & attach a mirror ( like these from Baker Ross) to the centre. Have copies of Psalm 139 or verses from it covering a table. Invite the children to write all their qualities, skills & things they like about themselves around the mirror (some children may need some prompting) We found bright colourful chalk pens work really well on the black card.

Add a verse from Psalm 139 on the back.

Add eco-friendly glitter, some warm water, glycerine & a few drops of blue/purple liquid food colouring to a jar (or recycled plastic bottle), attach the lid firmly & watch the glitter swirl as you gently shake it. As you shake it thank God for our amazing world, may we always take care of it.

Turn yourself into a Superhero with these Superhero cuffs from Kids Activities. Great for younger children, encouraging imagination, & thinking about different Super Powers. You could encourage the children to think about the different superpowers they already have... Kindness, love, friendship etc.

This collaborative activity can be created during the evening & then shared together at the end of the party. Here's our Recipe . Add fountain candles or mini sparklers (with adult supervision) & celebrate with light & chocolate cake!

:: Make mini glow in the dark lava lamps

Ideal for smaller groups of children, these work best with a black light/UVA light. Add fluorescent paint to water & mix well. Half fill another glass with vegetable oil, then slowly pour over the paint mixture. Once the mixtures have settled, drop in an Alka Seltzer tablet & watch your Lava Lamp bubble away.

Suggested Bible verse: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

:: Glow in the Dark Edible Cookies.

Decorate cookies with magical glow icing. We use rich tea biscuits or homemade cookies as a base & invite the kids to decorate their cookie with the glow icing & a selection of sweets. To make the icing we add a small amount of tonic water to a cup of icing sugar (powdered sugar) & mix until smooth & slightly runny. You really don't need to use much of the tonic water. To make the cookies glow place them in front of a black light.

Suggested Bible verse: "Taste & see that the Lord is good" Psalm 34:8

:: Friendship Bracelets
Great for making alongside friends at the Light Party or to give to friends the next day. We've used neon paracord to create chunky style bracelets or a variety of colourful embroidery threads for thinner more detailed designs. Search YouTube for 'simple friendship bracelets' if you need some design ideas.

Print out on a large sheet of paper "Encourage one another and build each other up..." Thessalonians 5:1l.

Always popular especially if they can take a little home in a small container.
The recipe we've used is similar to this one from Left Brain Right Brain.

:: Paper Cup Lanterns

So effective & great for all ages to create. Here's how we made ours.

Suggested bible verse to add to each lantern: "Your word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path" Psalm 119:105

:: Glow in the dark face paint/body paint

This is always popular. Cover a table & set up a body paint area where kids can decorate the hands or arms or faces with neon face paint. Ask an adult to do face painting for the evening using these glow in the dark paints, or set up an area where you can paint the children's nails with bright or glowing nail varnish.

Make your mark & glow in the dark. You could use "L et your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16
:: Make your own Glow in the Dark Play Dough

This can be made in advanced for children to play with, or they could make it from scratch during the party. Here's our recipe. Great for Glow in the Dark Play Dough Prayers too.

Print out: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5

Light Party Games & Challenges

:: Pumpkin Jenga!

Ok well not exactly pumpkins, but you get the idea (see the pic at the top of this post). Have a basket of satsumas alongside a pot of Sharpie pens for the children to draw a pumpkin face on the fruit. Invite them to stack their 'pumpkins' & see how high they can get them in 1 minute. When they've finished their game they can either eat the fruit or take one home at the end of the evening.

Here's a simple DIY version from My Kids' Adventures

:: You've been Giftwrapped!

Celebrating that we're each a unique gift the aim of the game is to wrap an adult head to toe in either loo roll or thin paper gift wrap. We normally have 2 teams with an adult in each & as many kids who want to join in & wrap them up in a given time. Complete the wrapping with a bow on the top of their head. The team to wrap their gift in the fastest time wins.

:: Glow in the Dark Hockey

If you have enough contained space this is a great game for 8-10 players. Stick some glow in the dark tape on the floor to create a mini hockey pitch & add some strips of tape to a set of plastic hookey sticks. Create 2 hockey goals by attaching more tape to the corners of mini football nets, throw in a glow in the dark ball & some reflective jackets/glow in the dark bands for players to wear & you're ready to go! For the best glow in the dark effect play either in dim light or with black-lighting.

:: Glow in the Dark Twister

Create your own version of this popular game with this tutorial from Holidappy

:: Doughnuts on a string

It's a classic but the kids love it! Hang small doughnuts or party ring biscuits from lengths of string, the children then have to eat it without using their hands.

:: Glow Hoopla

Make hoops with glow sticks to throw over bottles/containers filled securely with water/sand. To make the containers glow simply stick 4 glow sticks to the sides. You can make this game as simple or as complicated as you like by adding obstacles in front of the containers.

:: Glow in the Dark Balloon Volleyball

Again this a perfect game for a large clear space & great for encouraging children to work together. You can buy glowing nets or make your own with some glow in the dark tape. We've used a glow in the dark balloon ball like these from the Glow Company & given players high-vis jackets to wear.

Write or draw clues on black card using Ultra Violet marker pens & hide them around the room. You won't be able to see what's on them in normal light. Invite teams to search for clues together using a black light torch. When they've collected them all & worked out the answers offer a prize. These pens from Amazon are great for this.

Whatever activities you're using for your Light Party, I hope it goes brilliantly & shines brightly!

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26 Tried & Tested Light Party Crafts & Games (Alternative Halloween Activities)

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Looking for last minute ideas for a Light Party? Here are 26 tried & tested crafts & games for kids of all ages to enjoy! Light Parties are a fab opportunity to share fun, faith & light on a dark night.

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SU have produced a light trail this year - as well as ideas for a LIGHT PARTY and an outline for COLLECTIVE WORSHIP.

Why not ask your local school to host a trail station - a great way to get the children involved?

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In Search of Light is a treasure trail that introduces children aged 5 to 11 and their families to Jesus as the Light of the World. At various points in the trail, participants will encounter videos based on the Scripture Union book, Jesus is the Light? that encourage discussion.

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Clay tealight holders - artificial tealights might be a good idea.

Night sky jars - use glow in the dark paint on the inside of jars to make a night sky.

Glow in the dark playdough - https://www.messylittlemonster.com/2020/11/glow-in-the-dark-no-cook-playdough-recipe.html

Glass painting

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Candle cakes - melt white chocolate in the microwave. Get the children to dip mini chocolate rolls in white chocolate and then place it on top of a rich tea biscuit. They then mould a flame from fondant icing and stick it on top.
If you can't melt white chocolate, you could wrap the mini rolls in white icing.

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Tealight holders - Using deko pens the children decorate glass tealight holders.

Lighthouses - Tape 3 white stripes (Double sided sticky tape or plain paper) around a large red cup.
Draw round the bottom of a small clear cup onto black card square and cut it out.

Cut out windows and a door from the black card too.

Glue the circle of black card onto the bottom of the clear cup - & glue the door & window onto the red cup.

Put the artificial tealight on top of the red cup and place the clear cup on top over the light.

Paper Spring Candles - Use red and orange strips of paper to make a spring – as shown in the picture above.

Cut out a flame from the yellow paper and stick it on top.

Stained Glass Windows - Draw on black construction paper how you want your stained glass window to look
Cut out the shapes where you want the colour to be.

Place the black paper on a flat surface and glue tissue paper over the cut out holes.

Allow to fully dry.

OR

Use a coffee filter and colour on it with different colours of WASHABLE markers.
Spray it with water from a squirt bottle.
Cut a cross (or whatever shape you would like) out of paper - the filter to be the stained glass, the paper the frame.
Glue the 'painted' filter to the back of the frame.

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Glow bowling - partially fill a number of same-sized bottles with water and add a lit glow stick in each. Set them up like a bowling alley and have the children bowl them over.

Glow hoopla - make glow sticks into 5 hoops with 3 sticks in each. Place the hoops as targets. The furthest hoop gets 5 points, then 4, 3, 2 and 1. The children to throw bean bags into the hoops and see who gets the highest score.

Party rings* - Hang a string line between 2 points (pillars work well). Then hang party ring biscuits from other bits of string at different heights. The children try and eat a biscuit without using their hands.
Check for allergies before you begin.

Apple bobbing* - Fill a washing up bowl with water, add apples and put it on a table. The children take it in turns to get an apple out using their mouths only.
Tarpaulins & towels are a good idea!

*in the light of COVID, these games might be best put off till next year...

Lighten Up - Like "Captain's Coming". Shout out the instruction and the children do the action as quickly as they can. Starlight (make twinkle stars with their hands), Candlelight (make a flame with their hands on their heads), Lamplight (hold their hand out with the hand pointing down), Sunlight (Stretch out arms and legs), Northern lights (run to the north), Lighthouse (Twizzle round)

Starlight Express - In relay, the children take it in turns to race to get a star and bring it back to their team. The team with the most stars at the end, wins.

Glowstick Scavenger Hunt - How many can they find in "their" colour hidden around the church? Team with the most, wins.

From The Good Book Company:
Coin-it challenge - You will need: washing-up bowl (or bucket), water, coins, targets (e.g: black metal shapes, or targets drawn on the bowl with permanent marker pen)

A washing-up bowl with black targets in the bottom of it is filled with water. Children try to drop shiny coins onto the black, to cover dark with light. Keep a record of the best.

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Begin by reading John 1:6-9 to the whole group

John spoke about Jesus as being a light. What might he have meant?

If we imagine ourselves in a very, very dark room, what can we see? Turn the lights out!

If we then put a light in the centre of the room, what happens? Light the candle.

The great thing about light is that it ALWAYS wins. In a battle between dark and light, light ALWAYS wins. The smallest bit of light that shines beats the blackest and biggest darkness.

That means we never need to be afraid of the dark or of anything dark in the world. Because Jesus is the light of the world. And when Jesus came to our dark world and died for us on the cross he beat the darkness in the world and he beat the darkness in us, the bad stuff that we choose to do.

If we ask the light of the world to come to us and to live in us) then we have the light with us always.

And that light continues to win.  We need never be afraid.

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Jesus took the darkness out and brought light - when we come to him, we shine like stars.

Prep a pumpkin with most of the goo out already, and stars carved in the back. Show them the world and the bad that is in it - Jesus came to take out the bad.
Scoop out the last bits, then say Light beat the dark - inc all Halloweeny stuff - add a candle and link to Philippians 2 - shine like stars and turn it round.

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For home or church, virtual or live...

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Pumpkin Heroes is a free pack of Christian resources to help children aged 4-10 in your church group enjoy alternative Halloween crafts, activities and games.
THIS YEAR'S PACK CAN HELP CHILDREN HAVE FUN AT CHURCH OR AS A VIRTUAL ONLINE EVENT
The pack includes: NEW book Patch the Pumpkin Being Generous, cartoon film, sing-along-song and a Leaders Handy Guide that helps you enjoy activities, games and crafts.

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Pumpkin Heroes is a free pack of Christian resources to help children aged 4-10 in your church group enjoy alternative Halloween crafts, activities and games. THIS YEAR'S PACK CAN HELP CHILDREN HAVE FUN AT CHURCH OR AS A VIRTUAL ONLINE EVENT The pack includes: NEW book Patch the Pumpkin Being Generous, cartoon film, sing-along-song and a Leaders Handy Guide that helps you enjoy activities, games and crafts.

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Good things? Philippians 4:8 (For 11-14s)

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Good things? Philippians 4:8 (For 11-14s)

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At Halloween it’s not uncommon to see things disguised as something else - and we’re not talking people in fancy dress! You can walk down the aisle in the supermarket and see costumes for mass murderers or ‘ouija board’ board games, for example. It can be so easy to take something dark and wrong and disguise it as something that’s okay and fun for one night of the year!

The problem with this is we can begin to actually think that these things ARE okay, and we are tempted to get involved with things we shouldn’t. Bad can easily be made to look good.

Read Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (ESV)

Ask

What do you think this verse means? Why do you think it’s a good idea to think about these things? Do you associate any of these with Halloween? Why or why not?

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Why Light Parties?
Light parties are positive alternatives to Halloween and give churches the opportunity to provide a safe place for families who do not want to get involved in Halloween events, as well as making a stand for truth and light.

Practical Points

Timing – can you run it on Halloween itself? Either late afternoon or evening?

Team - make sure you have enough team to keep the children safe, run activities and oversee the event. The NSPCC have MINIMUM ratios here: https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/briefings/recommended-adult-child-ratios-working-with-children

Invitations - will your local school send an invitation out for you or put a poster up? Don’t assume it will just be church families who are interested!

Activities - consider having a theme run through the games, crafts and talk.

Logistics - do you need people to book a place in advance? Do you have a registration form to include medical and allergy information? Do you have a register for the event? Without forgetting GDPR, can you get permission to send them information about other events that the church might run?

Take home - party bags are great, with sweets and glowsticks, BUT, what about an activity sheet they can complete at home, involving their families? Linked to the theme, involving the Bible and with puzzles and maybe something to help them reflect?

Think about

The children could get a lot of sweets if they go trick or treating – sweets are good for light parties!

It can be really hard for children who want to be involved in Halloween activities, and don’t understand why they can’t - make it fun! Be clear why we celebrate Jesus the light. And be kind.

How will you handle children coming in Halloween costumes?

Follow up – what might someone come to next? Messy Church? A family service? What can you invite them to at the Light Party?

Prayer backing – before, during and after the event.