29 Halloween Activities for Toddlers
Get ready for some Halloween fun with your little ones! Here are 29 easy and exciting activities just for toddlers.
From simple crafts to fun games, these ideas will make Halloween special and safe for your child. Let’s start the fun!
Halloween Activities for Toddlers
1. Foam and Toothpick Construction
Using foam shapes and toothpicks, toddlers can create different structures and designs. This activity keeps them entertained and helps improve their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills as they handle the small pieces.
It’s a great way for them to learn how to connect pieces and understand basic shapes and structures, all while having fun.
Plus, it provides a wonderful opportunity for parents to join in and guide their little ones in making cute Halloween-themed figures, like pumpkins or friendly ghosts.
The soft foam and toothpicks are safe for young children, making it a worry-free option for parents.
2. Wall Spider Decoration
This is not just a regular decoration; it becomes an interactive playground for little ones. By adding cup holders to the spider’s legs, you have a convenient place to store markers or crayons.
This allows toddlers to enjoy coloring and drawing right on the wall, making the spider come to life.
Plus, the spider fits perfectly with the Halloween theme, making it an exciting and festive decoration for your home.
Parents will love that it’s both fun and functional, keeping toddlers entertained and involved in the Halloween spirit.
3. Halloween Sensory Bin
You can use things like plastic spiders, orange and black colored rice, and miniature pumpkins.
Toddlers love playing with these items because it gives them a chance to feel different textures and have fun at the same time.
This activity is great for developing their sense of touch and coordination. As they play, they will use their fingers to scoop, pour, and sort the items.
This simple yet exciting activity provides endless fun while helping toddlers grow and learn through hands-on play!
4. Rice Sorting Game
You should first color grains of rice in shades like orange, black, and purple to match the Halloween spirit.
Spread them out in a shallow container and add small, safe items such as plastic spiders, mini pumpkins, and ghost shapes.
Encourage the little ones to sort these items by color or type, using their fingers or small scoops.
Sorting is a foundational skill for early cognitive development, helping children understand categories and organize their thoughts.
5. Bathtub Spider Fishing
You can fill the bathtub with water and drop in some floating eyeballs and plastic spiders—fun little objects that bob around. Give your little one a small net to scoop them up, making it a playful challenge.
As they try to catch these spooky critters, kids also work on improving their hand-eye coordination without even realizing it.
It’s a safe, enjoyable way for toddlers to engage their senses and practice their motor skills while enjoying a Halloween twist.
Moreover, this game is easy to set up and clean up afterward, making it a win-win for parents.
6. Vehicle Construction with Recyclables
This can be a great way to get little ones involved in a creative project that’s both fun and educational.
Start by gathering simple items such as cardboard, empty boxes, bottle caps, and any other safe materials you have at home.
With some child-safe scissors and glue, toddlers can create their own unique cars, trucks, or even spooky Halloween-themed vehicles.
This activity provides a chance to craft something cool and helps develop important skills like problem-solving and hand-eye coordination.
By using everyday items, toddlers will see how they can turn what might seem like trash into something amazing.
7. Noodle Scoop Sorting
All you need are some kitchen tongs, cooked spaghetti dyed in various colors, and a few containers to match those colors.
Spread the colorful noodles out and let the little ones use the tongs to pick them up and place them into the corresponding containers.
This activity keeps toddlers entertained and helps improve their fine motor skills as they practice gripping and maneuvering the tongs.
Furthermore, it boosts their ability to recognize and sort colors, a vital skill for their development. Plus, it’s mess-free and safe, making it an ideal indoor activity.
8. Eyeball and Spider Rescue
In this fun game, we’ll place toy eyeballs and plastic spiders inside a wobbly gelatin mix. The kids will become little heroes, using tongs, spoons, or their fingers to rescue the trapped items.
This activity is not only thrilling but also fantastic for developing fine motor skills. As the children carefully extract the eyeballs and spiders from the gooey mix, they work on their hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
Plus, the gelatin provides a messy, squishy sensory experience that toddlers love. With lots of giggles and excitement, “Eyeball and Spider Rescue” will be a memorable part of their Halloween fun!
9. Harvest Sensory Bin
This activity captures the spirit of fall by using colored rice in shades of orange, yellow, and red to mimic the vibrant colors of autumn.
Add small pumpkins, leaves, and other seasonal items to the bin. This sensory bin not only entertains but also helps toddlers develop important skills.
As they play, children will touch and feel the different textures, enhancing their sensory awareness.
They will also practice important fine motor skills by picking up and moving the small items.
This activity fosters curiosity and encourages toddlers to use their hands and fingers in new ways.
10. Bat Rice Search
You start by taking a container and filling it with orange-colored rice to give it a spooky Halloween vibe. Then, hide small toy bats within the rice for the toddlers to find.
Provide them with little scoops or spoons so they can dig through the rice to uncover the hidden bats.
This simple hunting game is not only entertaining but also helps develop their concentration skills.
As they search for the bats, they get to practice their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
Plus, playing with the rice and feeling its texture can be a soothing and engaging sensory experience for them.
11. Witch Hat Ring Toss
To set it up, you need some witch hats placed on the ground or a low table and lightweight rings that kids can easily throw.
You can make the hats from paper or use store-bought ones, and the rings could be plastic or made from soft materials to ensure safety.
This game helps toddlers practice their throwing skills and improves their hand-eye coordination in an enjoyable way.
It’s engaging because kids love the challenge of trying to land the rings on the witch hats, and there’s a sense of achievement when they succeed.
12. Monster Letter Feed
Begin by crafting a playful monster face from a cardboard box, complete with a wide mouth for “eating.”
Fill a sensory bin with foam or magnetic letters, stirring in a seasonal twist by adding Halloween-themed objects like mini pumpkins or spooky toys.
Encourage toddlers to pick out letters from the bin and “feed” them to the hungry monster.
This game captivates young minds and helps them recognize and learn the alphabet in an engaging way.
It’s an excellent way to mix learning with play during Halloween, providing endless giggles and educational value.
13. Spider Web Rescue
In this game, you create a pretend spider web using string or yarn, and then scatter small toy spiders within it. Using tongs or tweezers, toddlers are tasked with rescuing the spiders from the web.
This activity not only entertains but also helps develop problem-solving skills as children figure out how to carefully remove each spider.
The use of tongs enhances their fine motor skills, crucial for tasks like holding a pencil or using scissors.
This game is simple to set up and provides an engaging, themed challenge perfect for the Halloween season.
14. Pumpkin Seed Sensory Bin
This fun setup involves filling a container with pumpkin seeds and adding small pumpkins along with colorful blocks.
The mix of textures and colors provides a hands-on experience that toddlers find exciting.
As they run their fingers through the seeds and pick up the pumpkins and blocks, they engage in play that helps develop their senses and fine motor skills.
This activity entertains them and helps in building their coordination as they grasp and move the different items.
Plus, it offers a chance for parents and caregivers to bond with their toddlers over a playful and educational experience.
15. Spider Leg Pinch
In this game, toddlers use clothespins to clip onto the legs of a plush spider. It’s a simple yet engaging activity that combines learning with the excitement of the Halloween season.
It helps strengthen their fingers and coordination and provides a sense of accomplishment when they successfully attach the clothespins.
The Spider Leg Pinch is a wonderful way for toddlers to enjoy some festive fun while practicing important skills they’ll need as they grow.
Plus, it’s a great opportunity for caregivers to interact with and encourage their children during playtime.
16. Ghostly Crafts
This activity encourages little ones to get creative while having a blast making spooky yet cute ghost figures. Gather simple materials such as marshmallows and pasta to get started.
Marshmallows can be shaped into round ghost heads, and pasta pieces can serve as arms or legs.
Parents or caregivers can help by gently pushing pasta into the marshmallows to create a cute ghost shape.
This hands-on craft not only sparks artistic expression but also helps develop toddlers’ fine motor skills as they manipulate small pieces.
17. Skeleton Cotton Bud Craft
This simple craft is both educational and enjoyable. To start, gather some cotton buds, black paper, and glue.
Begin by helping your toddler place some glue on the black paper in the shape of a skeleton.
Then, let them stick the cotton buds onto the glue to form the skeleton’s arms, legs, rib cage, and spine.
This hands-on experience is perfect for young learners and a great way to celebrate Halloween with an educational twist.
Plus, it’s an easy setup and a mess-free craft that will keep toddlers entertained and engaged!
18. Autumn Leaf Painting
By using leaves as stamps, children can create beautiful patterns and designs on paper. This activity introduces them to the vibrant colors of autumn and enhances their creativity and fine motor skills.
To start, gather a variety of leaves in different shapes and sizes. Provide child-friendly paints in autumn shades like red, yellow, and orange.
Encourage the toddlers to dip the leaves in the paint and press them onto the paper. As they work, they will enjoy the sensory experience of feeling the leaves and seeing the colors mix and blend.
This simple yet engaging task keeps little hands busy and allows them to express themselves artistically.
19. Furniture Matching Game
You should use simple materials like colored pasta and cards featuring images of various furniture pieces. On each card, draw or paste a picture of furniture, such as chairs, tables, and beds.
Then, provide your toddler with colored pasta shapes that correspond to each furniture piece.
The goal is for your toddler to match each pasta shape with the correct furniture image on the cards.
Adding a Halloween theme can make it even more exciting—consider using pasta shaped like pumpkins or ghosts, and draw spooky furniture like a witch’s chair or a haunted table.
20. Halloween Tic-Tac-Toe
You should collect some smooth rocks and twigs from outside. Wash and dry the rocks, then paint them with Halloween designs such as pumpkins, ghosts, or bats.
These painted rocks will serve as the game pieces. Arrange the twigs on a flat surface to form the tic-tac-toe grid.
This activity helps toddlers learn basic strategy and turn-taking skills while enjoying the festive Halloween spirit.
It’s a great way for them to engage their creativity by choosing colors and designs for their game pieces.
Best of all, this Halloween tic-tac-toe is reusable, so you can enjoy it again and again throughout the season.
21. Cotton Swab Skeletons
Using cotton swabs, little ones can create simple skeleton figures on a plain white background.
This hands-on activity is not just about crafting; it helps toddlers understand basic human anatomy in an easy and enjoyable way.
As they arrange the cotton swabs to form the skeleton, they’ll improve their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Plus, it fits perfectly into the Halloween theme, making it a festive and educational experience.
Parents or teachers can guide the toddlers in placing the “bones” correctly, turning it into a fun group activity.
22. Gingerbread Counting
You start by providing little gingerbread-shaped cutouts to the children. With these, they can practice counting numbers in an enjoyable way.
By decorating each cutout with colorful sequins and using markers, toddlers can reinforce their understanding of numbers and enhance their fine motor skills.
As they carefully place sequins onto the gingerbread figures, they use their tiny fingers with precision, which helps develop their hand-eye coordination.
This activity also invites them to be artistic, as they choose colors and patterns to create their unique designs.
23. Pumpkin Sensory Art
Start by drawing pumpkin outlines on paper. Provide your little ones with orange-colored rice in a shallow dish or bowl.
The idea is to let them decorate the pumpkin shape by sticking the rice onto the outline using glue.
This activity is not only enjoyable but also beneficial for toddlers as it helps boost their fine motor skills.
Moreover, the bright orange rice and the act of sticking it onto the pumpkin outline offer a captivating visual and tactile experience.
Plus, it’s easy to set up and clean up, making it a favorite among parents and caregivers.
24. Ghostly Textures
This simple project lets little ones enjoy creating something spooky while working on their fine motor skills. All you need are some basic supplies like glue, cotton balls, and rice.
The children can use their hands to stick these items onto paper cutouts of ghost shapes. As they place each piece, they learn about the feel of different materials and where to put them for the best effect.
This hands-on activity is not just about making cute decorations but also about helping toddlers develop their artistic skills in a playful and engaging way.
25. Jack-O’-Lantern Sensory Bin
You can start by filling a large container with orange-colored rice, which serves as the base of your sensory bin.
Add various items with jack-o’-lantern themes, such as small plastic pumpkins, scoops, and spoons.
Toddlers will enjoy using their hands to scoop, pour, and sift through the rice, which helps develop their fine motor skills.
As they play, they will also experience different textures and colors, making this activity great for sensory development.
The cheerful orange color and themed items add to the festive Halloween atmosphere, making it a delightful and engaging way for young children to celebrate the season.
26. Magic Potion Exploration
You should set up a little potion station with bowls of water, different colored liquids, and some glitter. Let the toddlers pour, stir, and mix these ingredients to make their own sparkling potions.
This hands-on activity brings joy and helps them learn about how different things combine to make something new.
With each swirl of their potion, they will see how colors change and glitter swirls, which is exciting for their little minds.
27. Spooky Noodle Play
This activity involves using green-colored noodles, plastic eyeballs, and fake spiders to create a pretend witch’s brew.
It’s a hands-on experience where young children can have a lot of fun by mixing and playing with the different textures.
As kids play with the noodles, they can feel the squishy texture, touch the smooth eyeballs, and handle the tiny spiders.
It provide entertainment, but it also helps toddlers develop their tactile senses and fine motor skills.
28. Handprint Monsters
This involves using the little ones’ handprints to create colorful and playful monsters. It’s a simple painting activity that starts with having them dip their hands in paint and press them onto paper.
Once the handprints are dry, you can help them add googly eyes, smiles, and other decorations to bring their monsters to life.
This results in a unique piece of art and allows them to have fun while expressing themselves.
The final creations can vary widely, with different colors and features, making each monster special.
29. Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe
You can use mini pumpkins as the playing pieces, adding a festive touch to the classic game. Simply draw a grid on a tabletop or board using tape or chalk.
The rules are the same as regular tic-tac-toe, where players take turns placing their pumpkins to get three in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
This game is not only festive but also helps toddlers practice important skills like taking turns and planning their next move.
It’s a simple setup that requires minimal materials, making it an easy and enjoyable activity for parents and kids alike.