The Perplexing Hunt is a game that’s fun for kids and a good way to get a party started. In this game, participants are guided from place to place by strategically placed notes that ultimately lead them to a prize. Participants are started on the hunt with this rhyme:

“Perhaps you’ll find it in the air;
If not, look underneath a chair.”

Beneath the chair they find the following:

“No, you will not find it here;
Search the clock and have no fear.”

Under the clock they find:

“You will have to try once more;
Look behind the parlor door.”

Tied to the door-knob they discover:

“If it’s not near the TV cable;
Seek beneath the kitchen table.”

Under the kitchen table they find another note, which reads:

“If your quest remains uncertain,
You will find it underneath a curtain.”

And here the quest is rewarded by finding the prize.

Now, of course, you can change this up a bit and use outdoor clues to add more adventure to the game. Just have fun with it!

Bobbing for apples is a classic Halloween party game. If you’ve ever tried it, you know that it’s not one of the easiest to play but certainly one of the funnest. Here are a few tips for bobbing success.

First , look for the smallest apple in the tub. The smaller the apple, the easier it will be to get your mouth around it. Once you’ve chosen just the right apple, push it with your mouth to one of the tub’s surfaces (the bottom, a side or a corner) and pin it there. Pluck your apple from the tub and do a victory lap around the room to showcase your skills.

If you really want to be a show off, go for a quick kill and duck your head in as fast as you can. The apple won’t know what hit it.

Now, if the thought of swapping water and apples in a tub with a group of complete strangers or even strange friends grosses you out, here’s an alternative. You can modify the game by tying ribbon around the apple’s stems. Use thumbtacks to hang them from the ceiling or the top of a door frame. You can also clip the string to a clothes line.

Next, set the apples in motion. With one participant per apple, and just like bobbing, the first person to get a hold of his or her apple wins. Remember, no hands allowed.

Here’s another set of Halloween games for kids that will be all the rave at any party. Add some Halloween music and lots of treats, and even the adults will want to participate. So, here you go:

Musical Chairs

No game has held onto children’s interests for more years than the classic “musical chairs.” This version includes playing Halloween music (such as “Monster Mash” or “Thriller” by Michael Jackson) and asking the kids to act as spooky and scary as they can while they race around the chairs. For example, you can add challenging elements, such as make scary faces as you walk around the chairs, do the monster mash (whatever that means to the individual kid) and other things like that. You’re sure to get some creative responses.

Cake Walks

Cake Walks (or Treat Walks) are a great Halloween game for kids. You’ll need plenty of treats and some monster pictures like Count Dracula, Frankenstein and characters from “The Munsters” or “The Adams Family.” Mark off a circle in the walk area with the monster pictures and have corresponding monster names in a jar or hat. Usually you’ll want to have at least 12 to 18 pictures, players and name.

Players are to start out standing on or next to a picture. Announce the treat or prize for the current round. Start playing some music such as Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” “Monster Mash” or Halloween scary sounds. Stop the music after 10-30 seconds. Players should end up on a monster. Once everyone has a monster to stand on, pull out a monster name randomly from the jar or hat. The player standing on the corresponding monster wins the treat or prize. If no one is standing on one of the monster names pulled, pull out another name until someone wins.

Although these Halloween games are not specific to Halloween, properly adapted as noted above, they can create hours of Halloween fun. The added benefit is that the games attract the interest of all party goers, so make sure to get some candid shots and videos that can be shared all year long.

Halloween is a favorite among kids, particularly when it comes to Halloween fun and games. And what better way to celebrate than with a raucous Halloween party. With lots of fun Halloween games and activities, and plenty of treats for prizes, it’s sure to be a hit with kids of all ages. The games listed below are sure to get the little ones screaming with delight.

Pumpkin Bowling

Pumpkin bowling is great for younger children. You’ll need several small pumpkins about four to six inches in diameter and a plastic (children’s) set of bowling pins. You can also use 10 empty liter plastic soda bottles as bowling pins and let the kids decorate them before the game. You should add about a cup of sand or pebbles to each bottle so they will stand without falling over.

Set up the bowling pins several feet from the starting line and let the pumpkins roll. Award prizes or goodie bags for kids who bowl strikes and spares.

Mummy Wrap

Kids of all ages enjoy making mummies out of themselves and their friends. Here’s how this works. Get lots of white toilet paper or crepe paper. Divide the kids into teams of two and give each pair a roll of paper. Instruct one member of each team to race to wrap their partner, mummy-style, at the sound of music (play something devilish, such as “Monster Mash”). Kids must use up the whole roll, avoiding the head and wrapping arms separately from the torso.

Once wrapped, the mummy hops to a finish line, holding their arms to their sides and trying not to break any of the wrapping. The mummy can then break out of the wrap with a scary “roar.” Award the winning team and then reverse partner roles. Begin the game again with fresh rolls of toilet paper or crepe paper.

Scary Halloween Stories

Have all the kids get in a circle and begin a spooky story. The story can begin with the classic, “It was a dark and spooky night…” and then the person next in the circle continues the story. Each child adds something to the story as it moves around the circle.

For more Halloween games for kids, visit our Halloween store for a selection of printable Halloween games.