Halloween is upon us, and with the start of the spooky season, many of us look forward to Halloween activities. Growing up, my mom used to do many Halloween crafts with us because crafts were one of her favorite things. As kids, my sisters and I also loved crafts, especially Halloween activities. Even though some parents are not keen on allowing their kids to participate in Halloween activities, there is nothing wrong with kids doing Halloween activities, going trick-or-treating, or dressing up for Halloween.
Here are five Halloween activities that point kids to Jesus:
1. Pumpkin Carving and Candle Placing
One Halloween activity that points kids to Jesus is carving pumpkins and placing a candle inside. The candle inside the pumpkin can be a way to teach kids that Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12). Halloween night can be scary for many children because most Halloween activities take place during the dark, which can cause many children to be fearful even before seeing anyone dressed up in scary costumes. This is a great time to teach how Jesus is the Light of the World.
Carving pumpkins is a staple for many families on Halloween. You should always supervise your children while they are working with pumpkins, even if they are not carving them themselves. After your Halloween pumpkins have been carved, you as the adult, can place the candle inside the pumpkin and light the candle. This is when you can share the truth that Jesus is the light of the world. Just as the light illuminates the dark night, Jesus illuminates our dark world. Remind your kids that there is nothing to fear because Jesus is always with them.
2. Stargazing
A second Halloween activity that points kids to Jesus is going stargazing on Halloween night. While this might not be the most common activity on Halloween, it is something different you could try this year. Maybe you could take your kids out to a country field and let them look at the stars on Halloween night. This could be an especially good idea if your kids get overwhelmed in crowds or are too frightened by other children’s Halloween costumes. As you and your kids are stargazing, tell them about how God created them.
You can read the Creation account from the Bible, or you could tell them about God’s beauty on your own. It would be a great time to tell them that just as God cares about each of the stars, He also cares about them. This can transition into you sharing the Good News of Jesus by telling them that God loved the world so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins (John 3:16-17). This can be a hard concept for young children to understand; however, it is always good to lay a foundation for them to come to know Jesus when they are ready.
3. Utilizing Scripture and Drawings with Sidewalk Chalk
A third Halloween activity that points kids to Jesus is sidewalk chalk. By using sidewalk chalk, your kids can draw whatever they want to draw, such as pumpkins, bats, or candy pieces since it is Halloween. However, as an adult, you can write Bible verses or draw pictures of crosses to symbolize Jesus. Your kids might be interested in what you are writing or the meaning behind the drawings of the crosses. These would all be great opportunities to share Jesus with them and to teach them to know more about Jesus while they are doing a fun Halloween craft.
If your child is older or already knows Jesus as their Savior and Lord, they could also write down some of their favorite Bible passages and teach their friends the meaning behind these verses of Scripture. In this way, even more people will hear about Jesus on Halloween. Despite the common viewpoint that Halloween is not okay for Christians to celebrate, there is nothing wrong with celebrating Halloween with your kids. It is mainly a children’s holiday, and there is nothing to feel bad about if you are celebrating this holiday.
As we can see, Halloween can actually be a great time to help point kids to Jesus. Children love to do activities, and they are more prone to join in as compared to tweens or teens. This is why connecting with kids while they are young is important in order to lay a foundation for them to learn more about Jesus. Never underestimate the impact you have in your child’s life because you can be a great beacon of hope in their life and be the hands and feet of Jesus to them. Even in little things, such as doing Halloween activities, kids remember and cherish them in their hearts.
4. Going for a Hayride and Talking about Jesus
A fourth Halloween activity that points kids to Jesus is going for a hayride and using the hayride as an opportunity to talk about Jesus. Children normally love to ask questions, and going on a hayride could be the perfect opportunity to answer some of their questions surrounding Jesus. If your child already goes to Sunday school or attends church with you, they might know some things about Jesus; however, they might still have some questions. As you ride on the hayride, be open to questions and make sure to ask them if they have any questions about anything they have heard about Jesus.
Sadly, if your child attends public school, they might have heard a lot of misinformation about Jesus. Up until seventh grade, I attended public school, and there wasn’t ever any positive talk about Jesus. Jesus was only seen as a myth and not the Savior of the world. In the same way, kids are taught evolution in school rather than a literal six-day creation by God. While you ride on the hayride, bring up science and evolution to see if your kids have any questions surrounding these topics. Through your kids asking questions, it would help them receive a true, biblical answer that will truly help them as they form their worldview.
5. Making a Candy Corn Cross
A fifth Halloween activity that points kids to Jesus is to make a candy cross. My sister came up with this idea just this year as we were thinking about something new to make as a decoration for Halloween. She thought a candy corn cross would be fun because it would be Halloween-themed and most importantly, it would point people to Jesus. When we hang our decorated candy corn cross on our front door, all of the neighborhood kids who would trick-or-treat will see the cross. Some might ask questions, which we could answer and others might not think much about it, but that’s alright too.
The main idea is to lay the foundation to help prepare kids to come to know Jesus. Kids don’t have to come to faith the same exact day we tell them about Jesus for the first time; however, the goal needs to be to help them learn all they can about Jesus. The ultimate decision has to be made by them of whether they will place faith in Jesus or not. Don’t be disheartened if your kid doesn’t place faith in Jesus right away. They have time, and they have you as a parent, who will help them learn more about Jesus. Give them time and soon, they also will be helping others learn about Jesus in unique ways.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/dimetradim
