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Halloween Storytime

Friday, May 30th 2025. | Halloween

halloween story time playdate lesson plan

The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows across the faces of the children gathered on the plush rug. Outside, a brisk autumn wind rustled through the bare branches of the oak trees, a fitting soundtrack to the Halloween tale about to unfold. I adjusted my slightly askew witch’s hat, a playful grin spreading across my face.

“Alright, little pumpkins,” I began, my voice a low, theatrical whisper. “Tonight, we’re not just reading a story. We’re *living* a story. A story about a spooky, strange, and maybe just a little bit silly Halloween night…”

I held up a large, oversized picture book, its cover adorned with a mischievous-looking black cat perched atop a grinning jack-o’-lantern. “This is the tale of Barnaby, the bravest (or maybe the most foolish) scarecrow in the whole wide world. Barnaby lived in Farmer McGregor’s field, and every year, he did his best to scare away the crows, but Barnaby… well, Barnaby was a bit of a scaredy-cat himself!”

I turned the page, revealing a vibrant illustration of Barnaby, looking decidedly nervous amongst rows of plump pumpkins. “Barnaby wasn’t afraid of crows, oh no. He was afraid of… *ghosts!*” The children gasped dramatically, their eyes wide with anticipation. I lowered my voice again, making it sound extra spooky. “And on Halloween night, the ghosts came out to play.”

I continued the story, weaving in sound effects. I rustled a pile of dried leaves to mimic the wind, and clapped my hands together to represent the crows’ cawing. I even let out a pathetic little “boo” to show how Barnaby thought a ghost might sound. The children giggled and squirmed with a mixture of delight and feigned terror.

As the story progressed, I introduced a cast of quirky characters: a wobbly-wheeled witch on a rusty bicycle, a gaggle of giggling goblins looking for candy, and a rather grumpy vampire who just wanted a good night’s sleep. Each character had a unique voice, from the witch’s high-pitched cackle to the vampire’s deep, mournful groan. I encouraged the children to join in, prompting them to make their own spooky noises. The room filled with a cacophony of laughter, howls, and whispers.

The climax of the story arrived when Barnaby, armed with nothing but a rusty watering can and a whole lot of courage (that he didn’t quite feel), confronted a shadowy figure looming in the moonlight. I dimmed the lights slightly, casting long, eerie shadows across the room. “Barnaby took a deep breath and yelled, ‘Go away, ghost! I’m not afraid of you!’ But his voice trembled so much, the ghost probably thought he was singing a song!”

I paused for dramatic effect. “And what do you think happened?” A chorus of voices rang out: “What?!”

I turned the page, revealing a hilarious image of the “ghost” – a small child dressed in a bedsheet, holding a flashlight under his chin. “It wasn’t a ghost at all! It was just Timmy McGregor, Farmer McGregor’s son, playing a trick! Barnaby felt so relieved, he almost fainted.”

The children erupted in laughter, relieved that the scary situation had a happy ending. I continued the story, explaining how Barnaby and Timmy became friends, and how they spent the rest of Halloween night sharing candy and laughing at their silly adventure.

As I reached the final page, I closed the book with a gentle thud. “And that,” I announced, “is the end of Barnaby’s spooky Halloween adventure.”

But the storytelling wasn’t quite over. Now, it was time for interaction. “What was your favorite part of the story?” I asked. Hands shot up in the air, eager to share their thoughts. Some loved the goofy goblins, others were captivated by the wobbly witch, and a few confessed to being a little scared (but also entertained) by the “ghost.”

We talked about what makes Halloween special, about dressing up in costumes, eating candy, and the thrill of being a little bit scared. We discussed the importance of being brave, even when you’re feeling nervous, just like Barnaby.

Before the children departed, I offered them each a small bag of candy corn and a Halloween-themed sticker. As they skipped away, their faces glowing with excitement, I felt a warm sense of satisfaction. Halloween storytime wasn’t just about telling a story; it was about creating a shared experience, sparking imaginations, and reminding everyone that even in the spookiest of settings, there’s always room for laughter and friendship.