Need an easy Halloween activity for toddlers and preschoolers? Try this Halloween matching game using sticky notes. This fun (and simple) set-up will have kids asking to play it over and over.
What is a Halloween matching game?
The Halloween matching game merges my two loves: Halloween and sticky notes. If you haven’t figured out that sticky notes are a unicorn activity supply (aka magical) let this be your introduction.
Why? Because kids and sticky notes are like moths to a flame.
And come to think of it, kids and Halloween are like moths to a flame.
So really, this matching activity merges everything kids love as well. And in this activity, where we match Halloween drawings to sticky notes: everyone is a winner.
RELATED: Looking for even more Halloween activity ideas for all ages? I have the best list!
The Supplies
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- Sticky notes (tip: get the name brand sticky notes… the ones Romy and Michelle “invented”)
- Black marker – I couldn’t live without this size
- White butcher paper
- Painter’s tape – It’s wall safe tape
Remember: great activities don’t need grand supply lists. They don’t need to cost a fortune or have a supply list that has you running to a craft store.
How to set-up a Halloween matching game
Matching games with sticky notes are some of my favorite activities. In the past, we’ve matched sticky note letters, letters in names, and shapes.
It was my friend from Toddler Approved who first introduced me to matching symbols. For this matching game, kids will be matching Halloween symbols.
On the white butcher paper, draw 8 Halloween-themed symbols. I drew Jack-o-Lantern, bats, witch hat, candy, skeleton face, ghosts, spider, and crescent moon (which my kids 100% thought was a Halloween banana).
Next, grab your sticky notes. Draw the same symbols there. I used two-different colors and repeated the symbols four times each for a total of 32 sticky notes to hide and find.
Oh yeah, did I mention this is “hide and seek” style activity?
RELATED: What Halloween supplies are the best? This list breaks down the few supplies I have and how we use them.
The hide and seek bonus of this activity
Could we just put the sticky notes next to poster? Sure… but where’s the fun in that?
Instead, take this activity up a hug notch by adding a finding element. Hide the sticky notes around the house.
For this activity, I ended up having my 7-year-old hide them for my 4-year-old. Over the next few days, all my kids hid these sticky notes, looked for them, and had a ball playing this.
After a week of playing, we decided to gift this activity to our favorite 2-year-old neighbor who had a ball playing it with her 6-year-old brother.
When I say this activity works for all, I mean it!
Are kids learning anything with this Halloween activity?
Kids are always learning, so no need to seek extra justification for an activity.
But if you are wondering, an activity like this promotes:
- Gross motor development
- Identification of objects
- Noticing similarities and differences
Again, remember kids are great at learning on their own, but activities like this are a fun bonus for play at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two things: remember think stages not ages. What stage is your child in? Can they see the difference between shapes? Carry a sticky note? Push it onto the paper?
Additionally, it’s more important to consider a child’s interests rather than their age. Activities are like food. Every child has different tastes and different foods they like. Age doesn’t play a role in what foods kids like, and it doesn’t often play a role in activity-enjoyment either.
Check the packaging always. I’m just some lady on the Internet. But generally speaking, painter’s tape is created to be on wall so it should be just fine.
You should remember that these are children and they think whatever we draw is magnificent. Children are not art critics (thank goodness) and they have no idea you didn’t go to college for art course. Just draw the symbols as best you can. The kids will love it.
Susie Allison, M. Ed
Owner, Creator
Susie Allison is the creator of Busy Toddler and has more than 2 million followers on Instagram. A former teacher and early childhood education advocate, Susie’s parenting book “Busy Toddler’s Guide to Actual Parenting” is available on Amazon.
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