Arts & Crafts
Glow-in-the-Dark Ghost Boards
Kids decorate their own ghost with feathers, glitter and glow glue, then turn off the lights to watch it glow.
Ages 4 to 8
45 minutes, plus 30 minutes of dad prep
Save as PDF from your print menu.
Get ready
About 30 minutes the night before. Draw a ghost on each board, glue on the eyes and draw the smile.
What you’ll need
One foam board per kid, a black Sharpie, glow-in-the-dark googly eyes, paint sticks, glitter, metallic and glow-in-the-dark glue, craft mix-ins (feathers, buttons, pom-poms, pipe cleaners) and Halloween stickers. Shopping links are below the steps.
Let’s play
Night before (dad):
1. Draw a ghost outline on each foam board with the black Sharpie.
2. Glue on two glow-in-the-dark googly eyes and draw the smile.
3. Write each kid’s name on the back of a board.
Set the table:
4. At each seat: one ghost board, a few feathers and pipe cleaners, and a sticker sheet.
5. Between every two kids: glue and paint sticks to share. Mix-ins like pom-poms go in jars in the middle.
With the kids:
6. Kids color their ghost with paint sticks.
7. They glue on mix-ins with the glitter, metallic or glow glue.
8. Stickers go on last.
9. Lay boards flat to dry.
10. The glow reveal: hold the boards under a bright lamp or window for a few minutes, then turn off the lights.
Shopping list:
Black Sharpie for the outlines
Craft mix-ins (feathers, buttons and more)
As an Amazon Associate, PAPITO earns from qualifying purchases.
Your part in the adventure
You do the prep: outline, eyes and smile. During the session you're the glue helper and you run the lights-off glow reveal at the end.
What they’re discovering
They're practicing fine motor control, making design choices and seeing how glow-in-the-dark materials store light and release it in the dark.
Before you begin
Keep buttons, pom-poms and googly eyes away from kids under 3 and any baby siblings: they're choking hazards. The Sharpie stays with the grown-up.
Keep the idea going
After Halloween, make it Silly Monster Faces: same supplies, draw a monster outline instead of a ghost.
Every child is different. Adjust activities for their age and abilities, and stay close by. These are play ideas, not medical or developmental advice.