How to Celebrate Samhain When You Have Kids

Samhain used to mean hosting bonfire rituals and talking to ghosts. Now it’s mostly about lighting candles that your toddler can’t reach and trying to talk to your partner before one of you falls asleep mid-sentence.

Listen, parenting as a witch, Wiccan, or pagan and also trying to celebrate the Wheel of the Year holidays (or frankly, any) or do ritual work is not for the faint of heart. But, maybe it doesn’t have to be so hard.

As we learn by following the Wheel, nature is all about cycles and transitions. They’ll take you from newborn snuggles to “ow! was that a Lego I just stepped on?” to “Can you please get off your phone during dinner?” to the surprising moment when the little one who once pulled down your altar candles is now helping you light them as an adult.

But, for now, you’re juggling nap schedules, snack demands, play dates, and bored teenagers. If you don’t want to give up your rituals and celebrations, you don’t have to. But, it might be worth accepting that they might look different until your little ones aren’t trying to taste-test all your crystals.

So, here’s your guide to how to celebrate Samhain if you’ve got kids. Every family and little one is different, so pick activities from the section that best fits yours.

Also, if you want to get your little one some spooky clothes or accessories for the holiday, we’ve collaborated with Witching Hour Baby and feature everything from baby bat fleece jumpsuits to spooky bat mobiles in our shop.

1. Newborns (0–8 Months)

At this stage, your baby’s schedule rules everything and the witching hour has a different meaning. To help you keep your sanity and not feel guilty about what you’re not doing because of lack of time, energy, or interest, keep your celebration simple. No, no. Even simpler.

Samhain ideas for parents of newborns:

• Make a simmer pot that fills your home with the scent of apples, cinnamon, oranges, and rosemary. Here’s a recipe.
• Go on a fall walk with the stroller and notice the changing leaves. Point them out to your little one and let them enjoy crinkling them. Or, let them nap while you take a moment to breathe in the crisp fall air.
• Bake something seasonal. This could be pumpkin bread, apple crumble, anything that feels like autumn. Here’s some Samhain recipes to inspire you, but just know that heating something up in the oven from the freezer section counts.
• Light flameless candles. You’re tired. You also shouldn’t leave burning candles unattended. If you want to have candles but there’s a chance you might get nap trapped or fall into a slumber yourself, the solution is battery-operated ones. Here’s some black ones for Samhain.
• Enjoy cider or a fall-themed treat. Yes, the PSL counts.

If you’re feeling like you have more energy and desire, some other relatively low-energy lifts include setting up a small ancestor altar while your little one naps or hanging some themed decor.

One redditor suggested “eating a meal together by the ancestral altar would be something doable… Put a place out for those you’d like to introduce him to, and speak to them over the meal. This may be something that could keep him settled longer while he feeds and you all eat.”

2. Infants (8–24 Months)

Your adorable little one is now a grabby goblin (I mean that in a cute way) that wants to touch everything, put everything in their mouth, and occasionally let out a bloodcurdling scream for no apparent reason. Adjust your rituals accordingly. And recognize that no surface they can reach is safe from disruption.

Everything that newborn parents can do you can try and incorporate also. Every little one is different, so adjust to meet what feels possible for you. Even if it’s just enjoying a hot apple cider.

If you want to set up an altar, do so on a high surface they can’t reach. Otherwise, expect your wand, chalice, and tarot cards to end up with bite marks, on the floor, or broken. If your altar is in a high traffic spot in your home, one Redditor had this suggestion:

“I practice ancestor veneration and we have our altar in our dining room, the most trafficked room in our house. I have a one year old and we practice saying the names of the dearly departed practice saying the names of the dearly departed. Now, he’ll even ask to be held and point to the pictures himself “saying” the names. It’s precious and makes me feel like he’s connecting with our family.”

Samhain ideas for parents of infants:

• Add spooky bath toys to bath time. If you want to add some Samhain flair to your little one’s routine, get some bath toys in the shapes of bats, ghosts, and skeletons. Or, get a set of these spooky rubber ducks.
• Use felt, wooden, or baby-chewing safe decor. Put away anything glass, breakable, or a choking hazard that’s within reach. Iron tools should also stay well out of range.
• Hang witch bells securely. They will likely try to pull them down, but these are pretty baby-safe. And, every time they ring them, more protection!
• Use battery-operated candles. These are a must through at least the toddler stage so your kiddo doesn’t light the house on fire.
• Do some divination. Read the runes, tarot cards, do some scrying into a black mirror (other than your phone), or work with your pendulum when your baby is sleeping or in childcare. It’s best to put these away after you are done, though, so they don’t get chewed on or become a choking hazard.
• Visit a pumpkin patch. Once your little one is old enough to sit up and look around, they might enjoy the pumpkin patch. This can be one of the ones in the parking lot tents or the more fancy ones with activities. You know your family best and what they’ll enjoy. If you want to carve or paint them after, this might be best done while they’re sleeping so they don’t get into the paints or near the knives.
• Go trick or treating. You can do this with a newborn as well depending on their bedtime. But, trick or treating is a custom that goes back not necessarily to Samhain, but to Irish and Scottish guising traditions.

3. Toddlers (2–4 Years)

This age group is pure energy. Get them involved and let them help with safe activities like collecting leaves you can use on your altar, stirring baking ingredients together for the pumpkin bread you’re making, and helping decorate. It’s also a wonderful time to have them spend more time in nature and connecting with the earth.

And, continue explaining everything to them as you did when they were a newborn and infant. For instance, here’s a suggestion one Redditor had for a nature walk: “Be like a life commentator: “This is lavender. It grows in many gardens. Do you want to touch it? Now, smell your hands. What does it make you feel or think of?”

As with the infant stage, anything in the prior stages is also fair game to incorporate. Just be prepared for unexpected tantrum because you cut their apple into slices and now they want it uncut. (Sweetie, your mom or dad is a witch, not a wizard.)

Samhain ideas for parents of toddlers:

• Nature basket collecting. Go on a nature walk and explain how nature is changing for the season. Collect some fallen leaves, acorns, pinecones, or sticks for your Samhain decor or altar. Let them help arrange the treasures in a bowl or basket for your altar or table.
• Pumpkin seed sorting. After scooping seeds for roasting, let them rinse and sort them into little bowls so you can place them on baking sheets and pop them into the oven for snacks.
• Have a spooky dance party. Play witchy or spooky songs and have them dance along.
• Do a flameless candle. If you want to get them involved in ceremonies, have them “help” light a battery candle and say something simple like “thank you for the harvest.” Or, if there’s a loved one that recently passed (like an older family member or the family pet), ask them if they’d like to say a few words.
• Have them help with the cooking and baking. By this age, many kids can pour, sift, stir and even chop using toddler-safe kitchen tools. As you’re making seasonal recipes, give them tasks that they can do too.
• Do your rituals. It’s at this age that your kids are hopefully sleeping more through the night, start to have sleepovers with friends or grandparents, and you start to get more time back. This means all the rituals you’ve been holding off on from hosting a Dumb Supper to casting a circle and doing a full Wiccan ritual are probably fair game now.

Young Children (5–8 Years)

By now, you’ve probably found a little more breathing room in your evenings. This is the perfect time to start weaving your celebrations back into family life in simple, shared ways.

Kids this age love to help. They’re also curious about what the holiday is and why you’re celebrating in the way you do. If they haven’t asked already, this is the age you might start to get a lot of questions about your altar.

Take the time to explain the difference between Halloween and Samhain, what the different tools on your altar mean, and ask them what other questions they have. This isn’t about initiating your child into your path (I personally think they’ll find their own when the time’s right), but more sharing why these annual rituals have meaning to you.

You can also add in anything you feel called to in the newborn, infant, or toddler stages. Just expect a few more questions.

Samhain ideas for parents of young children:

• Tell stories. Share myths connected to the fall (like the one of Persephone), not scary ghost tales, or stories about loved ones who have passed on.
• Decorate! You can start decorating again by this age with less worry that they’re going to pull things down. Give them lightweight felt or paper cutouts and a bit of painter’s tape so they can stick bats, ghosts, or leaves on walls or doors. Easy to remove, no damage, and lets them feel like involved in the decorating.
• Carve Pumpkins. You can keep up the painting tradition or start teaching them how to carve their own pumpkins around now. (Adult-supervised, of course.)
• Throw a bonfire. Or a fire pit. Or light your fireplace. By now, your little ones will also enjoy the warmth of the fire and you could do a gratitude ritual, though you also might want to have some s’more ingredients on hand.
• Tidy a cemetery plot. Go to a local cemetery or one where relatives are buried and tidy up a grave or two, explaining it’s a way to honor those who have passed on and that graveyards aren’t places to be scared of
• Build a Nature Altar. Give them their own spot to arrange items they collect and find in nature (flameless is fine). Let them change it throughout the seasons.
• Craft Ghosts. Make ghosts out of tissues, felt, or fabric. Hang them around the house to represent friendly ancestors or protective spirits.

5. Pre-Teens (9–12 Years)

Now that they’re at this age, you’re probably back to doing your rituals or ceremonies, even if they’re happening when they’re not home.

But, pre-teens might start asking about your beliefs or want to also create rituals of their own. Let them lead small parts if they’re interested such as choosing herbs for incense, writing wishes or intentions to burn (or habits they want to let go of), and have them help plan the menu for the feast.

At this age, they could possibly be part of a Silent Supper, a bonfire or fire pit ritual where you release the wishes or set intentions for the darker half of the year, and work with you to refresh your altar. You can also ask them to tell stories about their favorite loved ones who have passed on as a way to honor their memory.

If they’re not into it, that’s completely fine. Maybe they’re more into Halloween and excited about trick or treating. Or, perhaps they don’t care about the holidays at all. Let that be okay. The best way to keep your connection strong is to let them have their own feelings and beliefs while you honor the season in a way that feels right to you.

And, if they’d still like to hang out while you celebrate, here are a few easy ways to involve them:

• Involve Them in Aesthetic Tasks. Ask for their input on decor or table setup. Show them photos of inspiration you’ve found and see what they find compelling.
• Make It About Food. They might not care about ritual, but snacks are another story. Have them help you plan the holiday menu and include some of their favorite seasonal treats.
• Honor Their Autonomy. You can always say, “You don’t have to do any of this, but you’re welcome to join if you change your mind.” Sometimes just hearing that brings them back around. And, it’s worth reminding them that going on nature walks, carving pumpkins, and other Samhain activities don’t have to have symbolic meaning for them. They can just be fun things you do together.

6. Teens

By the time they hit their teens, most kids are more excited about Halloween parties, costumes, or hanging out with friends than family rituals. Others will roll their eyes and retreat into their phones. Some teens, like I was, will be all-in on your witchy stuff. All those reactions are valid and normal.

If they want to join your rituals or seasonal traditions, let them express it a way they enjoy. Maybe they help cook the feast, create art or music for the night, or make a candle for a loved one who’s passed.

This can also be the season where they rediscover things they were too young for before, like reading classic Irish ghost stories, playing Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board at a sleepover, and casting their own spells.

Invite, don’t require. You can share why Samhain matters to you, or ask if there are any myths or spiritual ideas that interest them. Listen without trying to turn it into a teachable moment.

If they want to be involved but also want to go to the Halloween parties, set up family activities in a way that allows for both. Perhaps you do some of these during the month of October, but not so close to Halloween that the two are competing.

Here are some ideas to do with your interested teens for Samhain, though most of these Samhain activities work work as well.

• Create a Samhain playlist. Let them curate the soundtrack for the season. It could be moody, witchy, or 90s goth themed.
• Have a bonfire. Have them invite a few friends, make s’mores, play music, and toss slips of paper with things to release into the fire. Call it a fall gathering unless they’re cool with you explaining the more historical intentions behind it in front of their friends.
• Suggest an autumn photoshoot or video project. Encourage them to capture moody fall scenes like foggy mornings, leaves, pumpkins and turn it into a photo essay or short video. Print some out and post them on the fridge or frame them and hang them on the walls.
• Have them put together an ancestor or memory collage. Instead of formal ancestor work, they can make a digital or physical collage of people, pets, or memories that shaped them.
• Let them lead the decorating. Let them pick out decorations that reflect what they find cool. This scratches the Halloween itch but still honors the season’s symbolism.
• Go on a nighttime nature or cemetery walk. If they’re into the spooky side, visit a historic cemetery or take a dusk walk in nature. Discuss folklore, local ghost stories, or seasonal myths.
• Experience a haunted hayride as a family. Samhain is partially about the thinning of the veil, the time when the boundary between the living and the dead feels just a little closer. For teens who like horror, they get the thrill of jump scares and eerie storytelling, and you get to join in on something seasonal without it feeling forced. Go for some cider or hot chocolate after to let everyone’s nerves calm down after the adrenaline rush.