Halloween is such a magical time for kids—full of costumes, candy, and creativity! But for multilingual families in Australia, it’s also a golden opportunity to sprinkle in language learning in a way that feels playful and natural. From babies to primary schoolers, there are so many ways to make Halloween a fun, multilingual adventure at home.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
1. Read Spooky Storybooks in Multiple Languages 📚
Storytime is one of the easiest ways to introduce new words and phrases. For younger children, picture books with simple Halloween themes work wonders. As kids grow, you can explore more complex stories.
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Babies & Toddlers: Focus on books with colourful illustrations and repeated words like “pumpkin,” “ghost,” or “cat.” Saying the words in both English and your home language makes them stick.
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Preschoolers: Try books with short sentences and interactive elements. Encourage your child to point to the characters and repeat the words aloud.
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Primary Schoolers: Explore slightly longer stories with simple plots. Pause occasionally to ask questions in your home language: “What do you think the ghost will do next?”
At Polyglot Tales, you’ll find specially curated storybooks in Hindi, Chinese, Japanese, and Italian—perfect for weaving Halloween fun with your bilingual journey.
2. Learn Halloween Words in Multiple Languages 🎃
Make learning a game by introducing a few key words in your home language. Here’s a starter list:
| English | Hindi | Chinese (Simplified) | Japanese | Italian |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pumpkin | कद्दू (kaddoo) | 南瓜 (nán guā) | かぼちゃ (kabocha) | Zucca |
| Ghost | भूत (bhoot) | 鬼 (guǐ) | おばけ (obake) | Fantasma |
| Witch | चुड़ैल (chudail) | 女巫 (nǚ wū) | 魔女 (majo) | Strega |
| Cat | बिल्ली (billi) | 猫 (māo) | 猫 (neko) | Gatto |
| Candy | मिठाई (mithai) | 糖果 (táng guǒ) | キャンディ (kyandi) | Caramella |
Turn this into a fun flashcard game or a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt around the house. Kids will love spotting pumpkins, ghosts, or “candy” and saying the words in different languages.
3. DIY Halloween Crafts for Little Hands ✂️
Crafts are not only fun—they also build fine motor skills and give children a hands-on way to connect with new words.
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Pumpkin Decorating: Let toddlers stick paper shapes onto a pumpkin or a cardboard cutout. Talk through colours and shapes in your home language.
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Ghost Puppets: Make simple ghosts with paper bags or socks. Pretend play is a great way to repeat spooky words.
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Witch Hats: Older kids can craft mini witch hats from coloured paper. Count the stars, moons, or shapes in multiple languages as they decorate.
4. Sing, Dance, and Act Out 🎶
Music and movement help embed language naturally. Sing Halloween songs or rhymes in English and your home language. Toddlers can clap along, preschoolers can act out actions, and primary schoolers can create little skits using the new words they’ve learned.
5. Trick-or-Treat at Home
If trick-or-treating outside feels tricky, create a mini indoor version. Label doors or containers with Halloween words in your home language, and let kids “collect” treats while practicing the words. It’s safe, fun, and full of learning!
Making Halloween Multilingual is Easy and Fun
The key is to keep it light, playful, and interactive. Babies and toddlers benefit from repetition and gestures, preschoolers love games and crafts, and primary schoolers enjoy stories and acting. Integrating your home language into Halloween celebrations helps your child see it as part of everyday life—not just something “learned” at home.
Explore Polyglot Tales for a curated collection of Halloween-friendly storybooks in Hindi, Chinese, Japanese, and Italian. These stories are perfect for storytime, vocabulary building, and sharing the magic of Halloween while nurturing your child’s bilingual journey.
Happy Halloween! 🎃👻🕸️