Halloween Ghost Bowling Game

Only a short time to go before Halloween! Now before having children, I was never a huge Halloween person, and my family wasn’t particularly when I was growing up, but since having the little ones, I have really got more into the spirit of all things spooky (arf arf!), and the children seem to have more and more Halloween parties to attend, which is lovely. 

This fab ‘Ghost Bowling’ fun game as an alternative to pumpkin bowling was one I came across on Pinterest, and I can’t wait to bring it to my friend’s Halloween party tomorrow for all of our toddlers to try. It has been a HUGE hit with Freddie this afternoon at our house who had so much fun, and such a fun game for little ones to try and get the concept of bowling for the first time! This game would also be great for classroom parties, and the best part is that it’s simple to play, easy to clean up, plus requires minimal materials to set up.

Most Halloween games originate in fortunetelling or matchmaking customs from the Celtic festival of Samhain, a celebration of the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Bobbing for apples, originally a way to foresee future romance, was intended for mature eyes only many centuries ago, but has since transformed into a fun family game for everyone to enjoy. Other Halloween games, like scavenger hunts, pumpkin-carving contests, and ‘pin the tail on the black cat’ originated as silly ways to pass the time but are still popular holiday traditions.

For the Halloween Bowling you will need:

• At least 6, white paper cups for the bowling pins (you could also use toilet paper rolls or soda bottles as an alternative using white paint or spray paint in a well ventilated area to upcycle them, but I personally think cups are better, easier, and look more ‘ghost-like’!)
• Black permanent marker pen to draw the ghost faces on with 
• A soft ball, or, in my case, a slightly shriveled satsuma (with pumpkin face drawn on, natch). You could also use a small pumpkin if you want to be really authentic! 

Instructions:

1. On each paper cup, draw on the eyes and mouth of a ghost in black marker pen a la the photo below (you could draw on the face in different ways to mix things up a bit)
2. Stack the paper cups to make a pyramid.
3. Get your toddler to stand a short distance away (or a longer one, if they are a pro), and roll the ball at the ‘ghosts’, and see how many they can knock over in one go.

When it comes to Halloween games, this is a great Halloween activity for hand-eye coordination, and also for stacking practice- Freddie enjoyed making a pyramid with the cups each time, as well as rolling the ball at them!

SO simple to make, and ideal if you want some non-messy Halloween games at your party, and is something that the whole family can take part in.

This Halloween bowling game is part of my post about 10 Traditional Halloween Games for parties that you can check out here!

For more Halloween crafts and activities, look HERE, or check out my Pinterest account for more ideas (and to see this actual activity pinned thousands of times!). 

Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.