Halloween is just around the corner, and you know what that means. Yes, it is time to cover your kitchen table in glue, glitter, and pure joy! Crafting with little ones can sometimes feel like trying to herd caffeinated squirrels, right? Fortunately, you do not need a degree in fine arts to pull off these easy Halloween crafts for preschoolers that are fun and simple.
We have gathered projects that require minimal prep and maximum fun. Your kids will build fine motor skills while you get to keep your sanity. Ready to create some spooky memories without the massive cleanup? Here are fifteen toddler-approved projects you can make today.
1. Paper Plate Pumpkins
Nothing says autumn quite like a classic pumpkin craft. For this activity, hand your preschooler a paper plate and some orange washable paint. They can brush, sponge, or even finger-paint the surface to create their base. Once the paint dries, let them glue on black construction paper triangles for the eyes and nose.
Do you want to skip the messy paint? Use orange tissue paper squares and school glue instead! This version keeps fingers relatively clean and adds a lovely textured look to the jack-o’-lantern. Finish it off with a green paper stem taped to the top.
Skill Focus: Fine Motor Development
Tearing the tissue paper or placing the small black triangles builds crucial hand-eye coordination. Your child will love showing off their pumpkin on the refrigerator!
2. Cotton Ball Ghosts
These fluffy spirits look incredibly friendly and feel amazing to touch. First, cut a simple ghost outline out of black cardstock or heavy paper. Next, let your child spread liquid glue all over the shape using a foam brush. They will love pressing soft, fluffy cotton balls onto the sticky surface until the ghost looks complete.
Add two googly eyes to give the ghost its final, adorable expression. Alternatively, you can use black felt circles for a safer option if you have very young toddlers. It is a sensory-rich activity that takes less than ten minutes to set up.
3. Handprint Spiders
Parents love keepsake crafts, and this one captures those tiny hands perfectly. Paint your child’s palms and four fingers (excluding the thumb) with black washable paint. Press one hand down on white paper, then rotate the paper and press the other hand down to overlap the palms. This creates a spider body with eight wiggly legs!
Add a pair of stick-on googly eyes to the center of the print. FYI, using washable paint is absolutely non-negotiable here unless you want permanent black handprints on your walls. Wash their hands immediately after pressing for a stress-free cleanup.
4. Egg Carton Bats
Do not throw away your empty cardboard egg cartons! Instead, cut them into sections of three cups each. Trim the outer two cups to look like bat wings with pointed edges. Your child then paints the entire cardboard piece with black acrylic or washable paint.
Once dry, glue googly eyes to the middle cup and draw a tiny mouth with a white crayon. Punch a small hole in the top and thread a piece of yarn through to hang them from the ceiling. They flutter gently in the breeze, making them perfect DIY decorations!
5. Mason Jar Mummy Lanterns
Transform empty glass jars or plastic cups into glowing mummy lanterns. Have your child wrap white crepe paper or masking tape around the jar in random directions. Leave a few gaps so the light can shine through later. Glue two large wiggle eyes near the top of the jar, peeking out from the bandages.
Drop a battery-operated LED tea light inside to bring the mummy to life. NEVER use real candles for this preschool craft to ensure safety. These lanterns look fantastic lined up on a windowsill or front porch on Halloween night.
6. Paper Loop Witches
This project helps kids practice their paper-folding and gluing skills. Cut strips of green construction paper and roll them into cylinders to form the witch’s body. Your preschooler can glue the edges together to secure the loop. Next, cut out a black triangle hat and some orange paper strips for the hair.
Let your child glue the hair and hat onto the green loop. They can draw a silly face with markers to finish their cute little witch. It stands up on its own, making it a great addition to their playroom shelf.
7. Washi Tape Monsters
If you hate messy glue, this is the project of your dreams. Cut out basic monster shapes from colorful cardstock. Give your child various rolls of patterned washi tape and let them decorate the monsters. They can tear the tape and stick it down in any pattern they like.
Finish the monsters by sticking on multiple googly eyes in random spots. IMO, the weirder the tape placement, the better the monster looks! It is an excellent travel craft because it requires zero drying time.
8. Toilet Paper Roll Monsters
Save your cardboard tubes for this incredibly open-ended craft. Wrap the rolls in bright construction paper or paint them in wild colors. Provide your child with pipe cleaners, pompoms, sequins, and buttons. Let their imagination run wild as they glue these elements onto the tubes.
Encouraging Creative Expression
Do not worry if their monster has six eyes and a pipe cleaner ear sticking out of its head. The goal is to let them explore textures and shapes independently. Kids love playing with these cardboard creatures long after the glue dries.
9. Craft Stick Spiderwebs
Hot glue three craft sticks together in a star pattern before you begin. Then, tie a piece of white or gray yarn to the center of the sticks. Show your preschooler how to wrap the yarn around each stick, moving outward to form a web. It is a fantastic way to develop fine motor coordination and concentration.
When they finish wrapping, tie off the end of the yarn and tuck it in. Stick a small plastic spider or a tiny DIY paper spider onto the web. These look beautiful hanging in front of a sunny window.
10. Leaf Monsters
Combine outdoor play with indoor crafting by going on a nature walk first. Collect fallen autumn leaves of various shapes and sizes. Once home, paint the dried leaves with bright colors like purple, lime green, and orange. Let them dry completely before adding decorations.
Use a black marker to draw funny mouths and glue googly eyes onto the painted leaves. This craft costs virtually nothing and connects kids with nature. Plus, it teaches them to see the creative potential in everyday outdoor objects.
11. Paper Bowl Black Cats
Turn a simple paper bowl upside down to create a sturdy cat body. Have your child paint the entire underside of the bowl with black paint. While it dries, cut out two black triangles for ears and some thin pink strips for whiskers. Glue the ears, eyes, and whiskers onto the front of the bowl.
Use a curled black pipe cleaner for the tail and tape it to the back. These little black cats look incredibly cute and do not scratch the furniture! It is a quick craft that yields highly satisfying results.
12. Candy Corn Collage
Draw a large candy corn triangle outline on a piece of white paper. Divide it into three distinct sections to mimic the classic sweet treat. Give your child yellow, orange, and white materials like torn paper, buttons, or pompoms. They must sort and glue the materials into the correct sections.
Developing Early Math Skills
This craft double-duties as a color sorting activity for toddlers. They learn to categorize colors while practicing spatial awareness as they fill the shape. Best of all, this version of candy corn contains absolutely zero sugar!
13. Coffee Filter Monsters
This project uses a classic science experiment concept to create colorful, spooky art. Let your child color a coffee filter with washable markers. Next, spray the filter lightly with water using a spray bottle. Watch their eyes light up as the colors bleed and blend together!
Let the filter dry completely on a tray. Once dry, glue on black paper mouth shapes and googly eyes. The resulting monsters look like watercolor masterpieces and make wonderful window suncatchers.
14. Pinecone Spiders
Grab some pinecones from the backyard for this textured autumn project. Cut brown or black pipe cleaners in half to make the spider legs. Wrap four pipe cleaners around the center of the pinecone, bending them to look like legs on either side. Your child can help press the pipe cleaners into the pinecone crevices.
Glue two large googly eyes to the flat base of the pinecone. These spiders have a wonderful rustic look and feel great in little hands. They make excellent table decorations for a family Halloween dinner.
15. Tissue Paper Pumpkins
Cut a pumpkin shape out of orange cardstock, or use a printable template. Have your child crumple up small squares of orange tissue paper into tight little balls. Dip the paper balls in school glue and press them onto the pumpkin shape until it is full. This gives the pumpkin a wonderful 3D texture.
Finish it off by gluing a green paper stem to the top. The act of crumpling paper is an excellent hand-strengthening exercise for preschoolers. It keeps little fingers busy and helps develop their writing muscles.
Crafting with your preschooler does not need to be stressful or expensive. These easy Halloween crafts for preschoolers that are fun and simple use basic household items. You get to spend quality time together, and they get to display their handiwork. Which of these spooky projects will you try first this weekend?