Family Fun

Top 10 Family Halloween Movies

October 16, 2017 By Terri Thompson

You know what would be a fun family activity for October? A Halloween family movie night!

Here are some fun family Halloween movies to choose from. Some of these are traditional Halloween choices and others are just a little bit of spooky fun. But, all would be perfect for a Halloween family movie night.

And, once Halloween is over, check out the rest of our recommended family friendly movies here.

To help you choose a movie, I’m including the age ratings I found on Common Sense Media, which is a great place to check for information about any movie (or book) you want to share with your kids.

Disclosure: There are Amazon Affiliate and other affiliate links in this article which means, at no additional cost to you, we could receive compensation for our recommendations. You can read our full disclosure policy on our Disclosure Page for more details.

Family Halloween movies for the little ones

These choices are perfect for your toddlers and preschoolers, but are enjoyable for all ages.

Room on the Broom (rated G): If you’re a fan of the book by Julia Donaldson, you’ll also love the movie. This is a fun and gentle movie that sticks true to the book. This is my number one choice if you have kids that scare easily with movies. It’s delightful and a little bit scary, but still stays gentle for young kids. Recommended for ages 3 and up. (Tip: This one is often streaming on Netflix!)

It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (Unrated): This movie fills me with nostalgia because it was my favorite Halloween movie when I was a kid. Now, my kids love to watch it every year. This is another gentle choice that it not at all scary. Recommended for ages 4 and up.

If you want even more great suggestions for toddlers, here are the Best Halloween Movies for Toddlers.

Kids Halloween movies for all ages

These family Halloween movies are perfect for elementary aged kids and be can enjoyed by everyone.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (rated PG): This quirky Tim Burton classic is both fun for Halloween and Christmas, although I’ve always thought it more suited for Halloween. Clocking in at just 76 minutes, it’s a good shorter choice for family movie night. Recommended for ages 7 and up.

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (rated G): If you’ve never watched a Wallace & Gromit show, you’re definitely missing out. They’re so funny and this Halloween choice will definitely get the family laughing. Suitable for ages 7 and up.

Casper (rated PG): Based on the classic cartoon, this choice has ghosts, a haunted house, and is kid-friendly – definitely a fun choice for a Halloween family movie night. Suitable for ages 8 and up.

Coraline (rated PG): This movie, based off of the book by Neil Gaiman, is not necessarily a Halloween movie, but it’s spookiness makes it perfect for Halloween time. (And if you haven’t already, you should read the book first!) This one could be a little scary for younger kids. Suitable for ages 9 and up.

Fun Halloween movies for tweens and teens

These family Halloween movies for tweens aren’t necessarily Halloween-specific, but they’re full of ghosts, monsters, and lots of spooky fun. Plus, they’re heavy on nostalgia that the adults will love!

The Goonies (rated PG): You know what’s fun to do on family movie night? Sharing a favorite movie from your childhood with your kids. The Goonies is a fun option for a Halloween family movie night. The tweens will love it and you get to watch a fun favorite from your youth. Suitable for ages 10 and up. (In case you forgot, there is a lot of swearing in the movie. So, if you’re uncomfortable with that, skip this choice.)

Frankenstein, 1931 version (Nonrated) There’s no better time than Halloween to grab a classic horror flick. Frankenstein is spooky but tame in the way that all the classic horror films are tame. It’s a lot of fun to watch. That being said, make sure you grab the 1931 version starring Boris Karloff and not one of the more recent versions! Suitable for ages 10 and up.

Hocus Pocus (rated PG): When I first started thinking about family Halloween movies, this was the first one that came to mind (even before Charlie Brown). This comedy about three witches will get the whole family laughing. Suitable for ages 11 and up.

Ghostbusters (rated PG): I have not seen the most recent version of this movie, so my recommendation is for the 1984 classic. It’s a fun option that both kids and parents will enjoy. And, if you don’t get to it for Halloween, it’s a fun movie choice to watch with your tweens anytime of the year. Suitable for ages 11 and up.

Did I miss any of your favorites? What is your favorite Halloween movie?

Recommended Family Movie Night Resources:

If you’ve got Amazon Prime, it can be so easy to have a fun movie night. They’ve got so many family friendly movies available via streaming (in addition to other great benefits). You can sign up for Amazon Prime via this link.

Neighborhood Halloween Scavenger Hunt

October 11, 2017 By Terri Thompson

It seems like just yesterday I was dropping my kids off for the first day of school. But now, when I look at the calendar, I see that Halloween is coming soon. Very soon.

Where did time go?

It’s too late to cram in a trip to the pumpkin patch and all the community Halloween events have come and gone. But, you still want to have a little family fun for the holiday. What can you do?

You can go on a fun Halloween Scavenger Hunt in your neighborhood. Gather the kids up after dinner, bundle up, and go outside. Check out your neighbors’ decorations and have some last-minute family fun.

Grab the kids for this fun Halloween scavenger hunt which takes you through your neighborhood looking for holiday decorations and other fall fun.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate and other affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for more details.

Scavenger Hunts are perfect for simple family fun

My girls love scavenger hunts, absolutely love them. I tend to agree with them.

Scavenger hunts are a great way to spend a little fun time with the kids. And it can also get them outside and moving. I can’t really think of a negative thing about them.

So when the schedule is tight and you’re just about ready to give up on the possibility of any family time, remind yourself of these two words – scavenger hunt.

Scavenger hunts are usually easy to prep. You can find so many that are already prepared; you just need to print it out. (Just like this one.) All ages love them – heck, I still love to go on scavenger hunts.

Go on a Halloween Scavenger Hunt in your neighborhood

This Halloween Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt should work for just about any neighborhood. I’ve included things in nature as well as popular Halloween decorations.

If there is something on the list that just won’t work for your neighborhood, cross it off and add your own item. The important thing is to just have fun.

You can click the link below to download the scavenger hunt sheet. Print off as many as you need! I keep a couple of clipboards handy for activities like this. It’s so handy to carry along a writing surface with you on your scavenger hunt.

Get your Halloween Scavenger Hunt Here.

Don’t panic when you look at the calendar and see that Halloween is coming soon. There’s still time for a little family fun.

Tips for Observing the Night Sky for Kids

May 16, 2017 By Terri Thompson

You can learn all about the phases of the moon and learned and constellations through activities and books. But one of the best ways to learn is to do the real thing and go stargazing. Observing the night sky for kids is a fun and valuable activity that also perfect for family time.

Stargazing is the perfect activity for a fun family night. It doesn’t require any special equipment. It won’t cost any money. And, if you’re lucky, you may not have to go further than your own front yard.

Grab a thermos of hot chocolate and some snacks. Pack a blanket or two, if it’s cold, and head outside.

Great tip for observing the night sky for kids. Plus, you can write down your observations in this free printable night sky journal.

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more details.

Tips for successful stargazing:

Keep a close eye on the weather report. Choose a night that is clear with little to no cloud coverage.

Dress for the weather and remember that it will be colder at night. Bring blankets for sitting on the ground and for extra warmth.

Choose an area with as little excess light as possible. Stay away from street lights and other city lights. The darker it is, the more stars you will see in the sky. Bring your own flashlight for the times when you need a little extra light.

Do your homework. Be able to identify a few constellations and that night’s moon phase. Bring along a star map and know how to read it. You’ll be better able to help your kids have a successful night of stargazing if you equip yourself with some knowledge.

Look for the moon.

If you’re observing the night sky for the first time or are viewing it with preschool-age or younger children, a good starting place is the moon.

Know what that night’s moon phase will be. A full moon night is a fun time for a night sky observation!

There are many easy ways to check the moon phase. I have Moon Phase Pro, an Android app, on my Kindle Fire to keep track of the moon phases. Moon Calendar is a good app for Apple products. If you don’t want to use an app, you can check out a free moon phase calendar at MoonConnection.com.

It’s fun to observe the night sky a few days in a row to see how the moon changes every night.

Keep a night sky journal

Invite your school-age kids to keep a night sky journal for a few days. Record the night’s moon phase. Look for constellations and draw the ones that you saw.

Compare your journal pages over a few days and note any changes.

I made a simple night sky journal page, free for you to print out and use. Please click here to download and print the journal page. If you want to do something a bit more simple, invite your child to draw or write their observations in a small notebook.

More fun ways to observe the night sky for kids:

The Flourishing Abode has a fun family stargazing night already planned, including a fun printable.

This video from PBS Parents – Adventures in Learning has more helpful tips for stargazing with your kids as wells as information about making your own pocket star guides.

Have you ever gone stargazing with your kids? What are your best tips for observing the night sky for kids?

If you enjoyed this night sky for kids post, the above photo is perfect for sharing on Facebook or you can share the photo below on Pinterest.

Fun Word Scrambles for Kids

March 1, 2017 By Terri Thompson

I love word scrambles. Actually, I adore all word puzzles. Do you?

They’re fun, low-prep, and great for taking on the go. What could be better?

Over the years I’ve been creating some fun word scrambles for kids and are listing them here for a one-stop shop. I know you’ll find some that your kids will love.

Word Scrambles for Kids

Are you looking for a fun holiday word scramble? I’ve got you covered. Click through the titles to download and print each word scramble.

Valentine’s Day Word Scramble – Unscramble ten Valentines and love themed words.

St. Patrick’s Day Word Scramble – Ten fun scrambled St. Patrick’s Day words.

Easter Word Scramble – Unscramble these ten Easter and spring themed words.

School Supplies Words Scramble – Unscramble these common school supplies. This word scramble is perfect for back to school time!

Halloween Word Scramble – Solve these nine spooky mixed-up words.

Thanksgiving Word Scramble – You can find a fun Thanksgiving Word Scramble in this fun printable activity pack.

Spelling Word Scramble – Check out this post to find out how to make your own word scramble based on your weekly spelling words.

Family Word Scramble – Unscramble ten words that are all about families.

I love word scrambles for their simplicity. You don’t need to buy a bunch of supplies because all you need to do is print and go.

They’re perfect for classroom use, waiting rooms, quiet time, or any time your kids need to wait. I don’t know about you, but I would rather have something to do while waiting instead of just sitting and staring into space. So take along a word scramble. It’s perfect!

Keep coming back for more fun word scrambles for kids. I’ve got many more in the works!

You may also enjoy some of these fun printables for kids:

Road Trip Word Search for Kids at Crayon Freckles

Fall Themed Mazes at Powerful Mothering

Dot to Dot Printables for Children at 3 Boys and a Dog

Print and Color Farm Animal Bookmarks at Sunny Day Family

Yummy Popcorn Treats for Your Next Family Movie Night

February 13, 2017 By Terri Thompson

I absolutely love family movie nights.

Often, we pick out a good movie, grab a couple of pizzas, and spread a blanket on the floor for a pizza picnic movie night. It never fails to make everyone happy.

But, pizza is not the only food that is perfect for a movie night.

There are a ton of snack choices, but one of my favorites is popcorn. While it’s delicious with just butter and salt, there are some fun ways to make it special. So, mix it up and try one of these delicious popcorn treats and fire up one of these fun family friendly movies.