Halloween time is nearly here!

For lots of people, Halloween means scary costumes, haunted houses, and other spooky stuff, but around here, we like to keep it very kid-friendly.

Today we’re sharing one of our favorite Halloween art ideas – this cute handprint ghost art project.

It’s a fun way to get a little hands-on sensory play and turn your child’s hand into a very cute, very silly little ghost!

Read or watch our video below to see how simple it is to make with your kids or students!

Also, be sure to look through all of our fun Halloween crafts for kids.

Handprint Ghost Art Project

We love this kids’ art project because it uses supplies most people already have in their craft closets.

Supplies

• Canvas or thick black card stock
• Black acrylic paint (if using the canvas)
• White acrylic paint
• White card stock
• Paint brush
• Markers (in black and orange)

Directions

1. If you’re using the white canvas, cover the entire canvas in a few thin coats of black paint so the entire surface is completely covered in black paint. Let dry completely. If you’re using the black card stock, skip to step 2.

2. Use the paintbrush to brush on a medium coat of white paint all over your child’s hands.

3. Press your child’s hand firmly down on the canvas/card stock, with their palm at the top and the fingers pointed down. Press all along the hand to be sure the paint is transferred to the canvas.

4. Pull your child’s hand gently up, being sure not to smudge the paint as your pull the hand up.

5. Repeat as many times as you’d like all over the canvas. Let dry completely.

6. Use black paint or a black marker to draw eyes and a mouth on each handprint ghost.

7. To add a little more embellishment, use the orange marker to write the word “boo!” on the white card stock. Cut out in the shape of a speech bubble.

8. Glue the speech bubble above each of the handprint ghosts.

That’s all there is to it to make this cute Halloween craft!

How To Minimize Messes

If you’re reading this section, you may be a bit like us…

You want to give your kids hands-on, potentially messy play experiences, but you don’t want a paint trail of disaster spread all over the house.

We get it.

And we’re here to tell you there are a few simple ways to keep the mess contained and still have fun!

First, make sure you have some baby wipes nearby. These little guys are a lifesaver when you’re doing paint based handprint projects.

When we do these projects, we paint the hands as many times as we want and let our kids feel all the squishy paint they want. Then when we’re done we place the wipe on their hands and walk them to the sink.

This way, even if they accidentally touch something the wipe keeps the paint aways from anything in your home.

Another option is to take this entire craft outside to do. This way, you can take all the pressure off and just let the kids have fun and use the hose to rinse off.

One last tip is to wear play clothes if you think your child will be extra messy. This way, if they do get something on their clothes they’re not ruining any new outfits.

If you’re really worried about the mess but you still want to make something similar, you can instead make these cute little handprint ghosts out of white construction paper.

Simply trace your child’s hand on the white card stock, cut it out, and glue it to a piece of black card stock. Then you can follow the rest of the directions above (with the markers, not the paint).

Halloween Ideas For Kids

Parents love Halloween just as much as their kids do. What’s not to love? The costumes, the candy, the parties. But let’s be honest, by the time Halloween rolls around, parents are just as ready for a break from the chaos of everyday life as their kids are.

So why not take a break from Halloween shenanigans and prepare a mini Halloween theme for the kids that includes crafts, activities, and books? It’ll be so much fun they won’t even know they’re learning! Plus, you can get in on the fun too. So go ahead and give it a try! We promise you won’t be disappointed.

Halloween Children’s Books

First up are books! Reading books to your child is a great way to get ready for Halloween and to help increase your child’s focus.

Below are some of the top-rated Halloween books for kids. Add them to your home collection or borrow them from your local library.

Room On The Broom: This has to be one of our favorite Halloween books of all time! The story follows a witch and her cat as they happen upon some animals who help the witch. There’s danger, mystery, and friendship in this adorable children’s story.

5 Minute Spooky Stories: We love Disney’s 5-minute storybooks and this one is perfect for Halloween! See how all your favorite Disney characters celebrate this spooky holiday.

Ten Timid Ghosts: This is a fun countdown book about a witch who moves into a haunted house where 10 ghosts already live. The witch scares the ghosts out one by one until they devise a scheme to get her out of their house. This Halloween children’s book is good for kids who love rhyming stories!

Kids’ Halloween Crafts

Halloween is the perfect time to get your kids involved in some spooky crafts. Not only are crafts a fun way to pass the time, but they also offer a number of benefits for kids.

For example, crafts can help to develop fine motor skills, boost creativity, and promote problem-solving. What’s more, Halloween crafts are a great opportunity for kids to get into the Halloween spirit and have some ghoulish fun.

Zombie Paper Plate Craft – This zombie craft is perfect for kids to make this Halloween! It’s easy, inexpensive, and makes a great decoration for your fridge or windows. Plus, it’s super fun to make!

Witches Brew Handprint Craft – Witch’s brew is a staple of Halloween, and this handprint craft is the perfect way for kids to get into the spirit of the season! All you need is some paper and pom poms, and your little ones will be able to create their very own spooky witches’ brew.

Candy Corn Craft – These candy corn crafts are so stinkin’ cute, we can’t even stand it! They are perfect for kids to make, and they are a great way to use up some of that extra paper around the house. To make these cute little guys, you will need some paper, pipe cleaners, scissors, and glue.

Paper Bag Bat Craft – Paper bag bats are the perfect craft for kids who love pretending to be creatures of the night. These simple bats can be made from brown paper bags, and they make great props for spooky stories and Halloween games.

Halloween Kids’ Activities

Looking for a fun and festive way to help your little ones work on their fine motor skills, letter recognition, and handwriting? Look no further than these free printable candy corn worksheets for kids! Simply print out the worksheets, grab some crayons or markers, and let your kiddos go to town.

We’ve created a fun collection of free Halloween coloring pages for kids. From ghosts and vampires to Frankenstein and candy, there’s something for everyone in this scary-good selection. So go ahead and print out a few sheets – your little ones are sure to have a blast filling them in with their favorite Halloween colors.

As any parent knows, keeping kids entertained can be a full-time job. These Halloween do a dot printables are an easy way to keep them having fun. They’re easy to set up and use, and they’ll keep your little ones busy for a while. Plus, they’re also educational!

Share With Me

Did you make this handprint ghost art with your kids or students?

We love seeing how your artwork turns out. Share a picture with us by posting it to our Facebook wall or in the discussion area of our private Facebook group.

More Halloween Ideas For Kids