Halloween and half term arriving together makes October feel particularly exciting when you're little.
There are pumpkins to carve, costumes to dream up, darker afternoons to fill and — best of all — a few days without the usual rush of school bags, packed lunches and getting everyone out of the door.
But a week off school doesn't have to mean seven days of organised entertainment.
Our recipe?
One brilliant day out. One making day. One friend day. One outdoor adventure. And at least one day with absolutely nothing planned.
Here's a little Binky inspiration for everything in between.
DON'T MISS: Inside Aardman at Young V&A
Wallace & Gromit. Shaun the Sheep. Morph. And, of course, Feathers McGraw.
Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends at Young V&A in Bethnal Green is firmly on our half-term list.
Created during Aardman's 50th anniversary year, the exhibition takes families behind the scenes of stop-motion animation, from the first sketches and storyboards through to model making, sets, lighting and bringing those wonderfully familiar characters to life.
More than 150 objects from Aardman's archives are on display, alongside opportunities for children to explore how stop-motion stories are actually made.
Even better, it might inspire a little making when you get home.
Make a Boo Box
We love Halloween.
We're rather less enthusiastic about buying a bucketful of plastic things that will have been forgotten by 1 November.
So make a Boo Box instead.
The idea is simple: choose a handful of useful things that still feel like a Halloween treat and put them into a box or basket.
Try:
- A torch for darker adventures.
- Cosy or wonderfully silly socks.
- A new book for bedtime.
- Something creative to occupy an afternoon.
- A reusable bottle or cup.
- A little game everyone can play.
- Something for exploring — a camera, walkie-talkies or binoculars.
- And, naturally, a favourite sweet treat.
- It doesn't need to be big or expensive.
Our only rule?
Useful. Playful. Still useful on 1 November.
FIND BOO BOX IDEAS AT BINKY →
Make Something Spooky
Clear the kitchen table and let them loose.
Make paper bats. Paint pumpkins rather than carving them. Turn cardboard boxes into haunted houses. Make ghosts from old fabric. Draw the world's most ridiculous monster.
It doesn't need to look Pinterest-perfect.
In fact, we'd argue that the slightly wonky homemade decorations are usually the ones worth keeping.
For children who prefer a little more direction, a small craft kit can be a lovely way to settle into a rainy afternoon.
Turn the Lights Down and the Music Up
Sometimes the easiest entertainment is the best.
Close the curtains, put on a playlist and have a kitchen disco.
Karaoke microphones are particularly good for this — especially when the grown-ups are prepared to participate.
Our KIDYWOLF KIDYMIC combines a microphone and speaker in one, making it wonderfully easy to bring out when half-term energy levels need redirecting.
DISCOVER KIDYWOLF →
Have a Proper Games Afternoon
Put the screens away.
Everyone chooses one game.
Bring snacks.
Begin.
Games are brilliant when half-term weather turns against you — and there's something rather lovely about children rediscovering games that have been sitting untouched on a shelf.
Quick card games work brilliantly with mixed ages, while older children can handle something more strategic — and take enormous pleasure in beating their parents.
Get Outside After Dark
Halloween is the perfect excuse for a little night-time adventure.
Grab torches, wrap up and head out after tea.
Look at the moon. Listen for owls. Spot Halloween decorations. Take walkie-talkies and let the children lead the expedition.
And if scooters are coming too, darker evenings mean visibility matters.
We particularly love the Scoot & Ride Highwaykick 3S with LED wheels. The wheels illuminate through movement without batteries — a bit of magic for children and extra visibility at dusk.
Let Them Make the Entertainment
- Half term doesn't always need an itinerary.
- Leave a pile of cardboard on the table.
- Bring out the drawing things.
- Give them a camera.
- Build a den.
- Make a film.
- Create a show.
- Invent a game.
- Or simply allow them to announce those dreaded words:
“I'm bored.”
And resist fixing it immediately.
Because boredom leaves space — and children are remarkably good at filling it.the benefits of boredom here
Read about the benefits of boredom here...
One Last Thing…
Don't measure a successful half term by how much you managed to fit into it.
Children probably won't remember whether every day had an activity booked.
They might remember the enormous den that stayed up for three days. The disastrous cake. Dad attempting karaoke. The torch walk after dark. The afternoon everyone stayed in pyjamas.
Leave some gaps.
That's often where the good bits happen.
Happy half term — and Happy Halloween.
