Halloween can be a lot of fun for kids. The costumes, the decorations, the spooky snacks, the excitement of deciding what they’re going to dress up as on October 31st…
And then there’s Mum, quietly wondering when exactly she agreed to make a full-size dragon costume by this weekend. 😂
But Halloween doesn’t have to be another thing that Mum has to organise while everyone else sits back and enjoys the results. Some of the best bits of Halloween can be the things you make and do together.
And that doesn’t mean handing your child your sewing machine and the fabric scissors and hoping for the best! 🫣
Whether your kids want to get properly involved, would rather choose the colour combinations while you do the tricky bits, or are perfectly happy sticking to glue (get it?!? 😉🤣) and scissors, there are plenty of ways to make Halloween a creative family activity.
So, how about we make this a little choose-your-own-adventure…
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that I get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you.
Choose Your Halloween Adventure: How Much Do You Want Your Kids to Help?
The beauty of making things together is that it isn’t a “one size fits all” deal.
Maybe you’ve got an enthusiastic little helper who wants to do EVERYTHING. Maybe you’ve got a child who loves having ideas but mysteriously disappears when it’s time to tidy up. Or perhaps you’re working with a toddler who thinks fabric scissors are fascinating but should definitely not be allowed anywhere near them.
All of those are real. And completely valid concerns. 😂
The trick is to choose a Halloween project that matches how much everyone (including yourself) actually wants to participate.
Pick Your Halloween Level
Halloween Crafts for Kids Level 1: “I’ll help choose!”
If your child loves being involved but isn’t quite ready to do much of the actual making, let them be the creative director. ✨
They can help choose the fabrics, colours or vibe. They can decide whether their costume needs stripes, spots, ears, wings or a ridiculous amount of glitter. Or they could help you decide which decorations to make and where everything should go.
You do the sewing and the actual making. They make the important creative decisions.
This works particularly well for Halloween costumes, because kids usually have VERY strong opinions about what they want to be.
I’ve made plenty of costumes over the years, so if your child has already announced their Halloween character of choice, you can start here:
👻 13 DIY Halloween Costumes to Make and Wow Your Kids
👻 Simple DIY Halloween Costumes Anyone Can Sew
👻 More Halloween Costumes to Create this October
The finished costume doesn’t have to be complicated (or even requiring a sewing machine). What matters is that your child gets to feel like they had a hand in creating it.
Halloween Crafts for Kids Level 2: “Okay, I’ll actually help!”
If your kids are a little older—or simply very keen to get their hands dirty—there are plenty of jobs they can take on without needing to master the sewing machine.
They can help choose and prepare the fabric, cut out simple pieces (with age-appropriate scissors and supervision, of course), pin things together, stuff decorations, add details or help with hand sewing.
And sometimes the best job is simply sitting beside you while you sew, keeping you company and passing the odd snacks 😊.
Because let’s be honest, sewing for Halloween is much more fun when you’re chatting about trick-or-treat plans at the same time. 😉
Simple projects are especially good for this. You don’t necessarily need to start with a huge costume. A small Halloween decoration can give everyone that lovely feeling of “we made this!” without taking over your entire week (or household).
In addition to the tutorials above, take a look through these Halloween sewing projects for more ideas:
🎃 Devilish DIY Décor Projects to Sew this Halloween
Tip: Pick one project rather than trying to make ALL THE THINGS.
One homemade decoration that your child helped create can be much more memorable than twenty Pinterest-worthy projects that left everyone exhausted and your house a disaster zone. 🤣
Halloween Crafts for Kids Level 3: “I’m making it myself!”
Got an older child or a tween who is showing an interest in sewing?
This is where you can hand over a little more responsibility.
Maybe they choose the project, pick the fabric and help with the cutting. Maybe they do some of the sewing while you help them figure out the pattern instructions that aren’t quite making sense.
And if they’re not quite ready for a big Halloween project, that’s okay too. Learning to sew doesn’t have to begin with a complicated costume.
I’ve got more ideas specifically for sewing with tweens and teens. And while these aren’t specifically Halloween-themed, with a change of fabric or a few added accessories, it can look hauntingly perfect for this Halloween. Take a snoop here:
👻 Super Sewing Inspiration for Teen and Tween Girls
Halloween can be a fun excuse to let them experiment, make something a little silly and discover that they really can create something themselves. 💪
Halloween Crafts for Kids: “Nobody is sewing!”
And this is where I want to give you permission to pack your sewing machine away and not sew anything at all. 😯
Because perhaps your child is too young. Maybe they’re not interested in sewing anything. Perhaps you’ve got half an hour between school pickup and dinner and a pile of craft paper waiting to be put to good use. 😅
You can still make Halloween things together.
My blog post full of no-sew Halloween decorations are perfect for these kinds of situations. Kids can get involved with cutting, sticking, painting and decorating, while you get to supervise the bits that need a little more grown-up help.
You could also turn your Halloween prep into a little family activity without making anything at all. Put on some music, get everyone involved in decorating the house and have a competition to see who can come up with the best Halloween joke.
To get your creative giggles started I’ve already collected a batch of those for you:
🎃 Kid-Friendly Halloween Jokes for the Whole Family
The thing about making Halloween projects with your kids is that the finished thing doesn’t have to be perfect.
In fact, it probably won’t be. 🙃
There might be some wonky stitches. There could be glue and paint in places glue and paint definitely shouldn’t be. And it might happen that a costume looks absolutely nothing like the picture your child originally showed you.
And that’s totally okay!
The point isn’t to create the most impressive Halloween project on the internet. ☝️ It’s to spend some time together, make something a little bit spooky, laugh when things go off-plan and give your kids the chance to say, “We made that!”
So, choose your adventure.
💡 Mum does the sewing. Kids choose the details.
💡 Different family members join in the sewing.
💡 Forget the sewing machine and make something simple together while sharing laughs and getting in the Halloween mood.
There really isn’t a wrong way to do it.
Remember, the homemade thing your child remembers years from now probably won’t be the one with the straightest stitches. It’ll be the one you made together.
