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Halloween is a fun time for children. Adults presume that the plethora of sugary treats is what makes the festivities especially popular with them. However, it's more than that. Children are fascinated by the macabre and so Halloween goes down well with them.

Therefore, when organizing classroom games at Halloween, you can go on the assumption that children are far from squeamish. They squeal with delight when confronted with what they make believe are squishy squashy body parts. The more ghoulish the game, the more fun they seem to have, as the 'brain game' proves. Although the game is available in stores, it's easy enough to make yourself. Children">All you need is a bowl full of jello, which represents the brain. The jello is filled with various items like gummy sweets in strange shapes, even worms. If the jello is black, the children can't quite see what they're handling and this adds to the mystery. Children mess around in the bowl and try to guess what's in the 'brain'. They seem to derive as much fun from the mess they create, as from the guessing!

Another game on similar lines is played with a bowl of spaghetti. Items like plastic insects, jelly worms and other creepy crawlies may be included. The children dig into the bowl with their fingers and identify the objects by touch. The one who lists the most number of objects correctly is the winner. Play clothes or a smock would be ideal since the children are bound to dirty themselves.

A variation of the former game is to provide a black box with a hole in the top, just big enough for a hand to slip through. In the box are placed an assortment of articles, some Halloween-related (pumpkin, sweetmeats), some not (toys in general). Add some pulpy items to emulate body parts. The children take turns, put a hand into the box, and guess what they feel. The individual with the longest list of correct items wins the entire box.

Who can be more fanciful than children! They love telling tall tales. Give them an opportunity to be creative. Ask them to write the most frightening story they can imagine. Some may need guidance to keep the storyline from getting too bizarre and ghoulish. When the assignment is completed, each child picks and reads any story, in as dramatic a manner as possible, without knowing whose it is. The listeners guess the name of the writer. The most original and elusive author is voted the winner.

Word related games keep children interested and occupied. Give the children a long word and get them to juggle the letters to find shorter words that have relevance to Halloween. A series of words with jumbled letters on the same theme, and unscrambled by the children is a good diversion too. A list of spooky words around which the children are required to spin a tale should get them excited as well. Set a time limit and don't forget the much looked forward to prize.

A little thought, some planning and a great deal of imagination can keep children entertained and happy at Halloween. So go ahead and make it happen!