15 Halloween Play Dough Activity Ideas
15 Halloween Play Dough Activity Ideas for 2023
Fall is here and that means Halloween is just around the corner. It’s the perfect time to engage the little ones in exciting and spooky crafts. One of the most versatile and child-friendly materials you can use for these activities is play dough. Not only does it allow kids to let their creativity run wild, but playing with play dough also enhances fine motor skills.
Before we dive into the 15 Halloween play dough activity ideas, let’s start with a simple, non-toxic play dough recipe that you can make at home.
Homemade Play Dough Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
- 1.5 cups boiling water
- Food colouring (optional)
- Essential oils for scent (optional)
Instructions:
- Mix the flour, salt, and cream of tartar in a large bowl.
- Stir in the vegetable oil.
- If you’re using food colouring and essential oils, add them to the boiling water, then slowly pour the water into the dry ingredients, stirring continuously until a dough forms.
- Once the dough is cool enough to handle, knead it until smooth.
- Your play dough is now ready. Remember to store it in an airtight container when not in use.
Now that you have your play dough, it’s time for some Halloween fun.
Halloween Play Dough Activity Ideas
1. Pumpkin Patch
Create a small pumpkin patch with orange play dough. Show your child how to roll the dough into small balls and flatten the top and bottom to make a pumpkin shape. Use a toothpick or a small stick to make lines on the pumpkins.
2. Haunted House
Build a haunted house setting using black and white play dough. Encourage your child to create the house, trees, and ghosts. Use googly eyes for the ghosts to make them more spooky.
3. Spider Web
Create a spider web using white play dough. Roll thin strands and arrange them in a web pattern. Use black play dough to make a little spider.
4. Witch’s Cauldron
Use black play dough to shape a cauldron. Then, use green play dough to create the witch’s brew. Add small shapes like snakes, spiders, or eyeballs into the brew.
5. Play Dough Monsters
Use different colours of play dough to create funny or scary monsters. Add googly eyes, pipe cleaners for arms, or beads for teeth.
6. Halloween Cookie Cutters
Use Halloween-themed cookie cutters to create shapes like bats, skulls, or witches out of the play dough.
7. Candy Corn
Show your children how to make candy corn shapes with white, orange, and yellow play dough. Stack the colours and roll them into a triangle shape.
8. Play Dough Mummies
Make play dough mummies by creating a basic human shape and wrapping it with thin, white play dough strips. Add googly eyes for a fun effect.
9. Pumpkin Faces
Create pumpkins using orange play dough and use black play dough to make faces on the pumpkins.
10. Ghosts in a Graveyard
Use black play dough to create a graveyard scene and white play dough to make ghosts popping out of the graves.
11. Play Dough Bats
Create bats using black play dough. Show your child how to make the body and the wings separately before putting them together.
12. Play Dough Witches
Create witches using different colours of play dough. Make the body, the broom, and the witch’s hat separately and assemble them.
13. Play Dough Skeleton
Use white play dough to create a simple skeleton by forming and arranging the bones.
14. Play Dough Zombies
Create zombies using green play dough. Use red play dough to add some spooky details.
15. Halloween Night Scene
Encourage your child to create a complete Halloween night scene using different colours of play dough. Include elements like a haunted house, a graveyard, pumpkins, and ghosts.
These 15 Halloween play dough activities are sure to keep your little ones excited and engaged for hours. Remember, the goal is to have fun and encourage creativity. Don’t worry about the end result. The most important part is the process and the memories you’re creating together. Happy Halloween crafting!
