Ah, Halloween. I seem to enjoy you more now that I have three boys. And with the brrrr– months rolling in, you’re probably excited for Halloween too. There’s loads of fun to be had during this season leading up to the big day. And to be honest, it is the Halloween activities that are what make this month super fun. (and there are plenty you don’t have to leave the house or show up in costume for) Here are my favorite 31 Halloween activities for kids to welcome the change of pace, season, and the upcoming holiday.
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What are the best Halloween activities?
Fun Halloween activities bring joy to your family. A Trunk or Treat or Halloween party activity is fun if you enjoy dressing up. If you prefer low-key celebrations, at-home Halloween activities such as pumpkin relay races, playing with pumpkin erasers, and a skeleton black bean sensory bin may be more enjoyable.
This is a fun list of Halloween activities for toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids! PSA: These are fun indoor activities that can be used at home or in a classroom.
I included ideas for pumpkins, sensory play, and ghost activities to keep your child busy. You’ll have enough things on your list to fill up your entire month. So without further ado, let’s dive right in!
RELATED: Like Halloween, but LOVE fall? You must see these 50+ activities for fall.
DIY Robot Costume
Before you roam the aisles of Target, you’ll want to look at how we make a DIY robot costume. The perfect costume that includes kids in the design and cleans out the garage. (wink, wink)
Supplies for Halloween activities
Before jumping in, I want to highlight two Halloween activity supplies. I keep these on hand year after year with my boys. Because let’s be honest. What’s Halloween without plastic eyeballs and mini-erasers?!
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Halloween Plastic Eyeballs
This 20-pack of eyeballs can be used for sensory play or mixed into a giant water bin.
Halloween Mini Erasers
Grab this pack of mini Halloween erasers, and you will see many ways to play.
31 Halloween activities for kids
Do you find it hard to resist the mini pumpkins at the grocery store? Yeh, me too. Let’s kick off this fun list with all things pumpkins so we can get some good use out of them other than decorating our kitchen table! You’ll also notice I grab a bag of pumpkin erasers every year from Target. – an October staple!
1. Fine Motor Pumpkin Patch
Get children to create curved lines by following mini pumpkins placed on paper.
2. Halloween Mini Eraser Graph
Find the mini erasers for a fun way to bring on Halloween and practice sorting.
3. Tissue Paper Pumpkin
Tissue paper, glue, and water. One of my favorite ways to paint with kids!
4. Pumpkin Color by Number
Draw a pumpkin, write a number in each section, then create a key chart for kids to match a number to a color.
5. Pumpkin Faces
Cut out different shapes so your child can make a pumpkin face.
6. Pumpkin Guts Squish Bag
Add the insides of a pumpkin to a freezer bag, and let them squish away! A fun toddler activity.
7. Pumpkin Number Scoop
Write numbers on pumpkins and the same numbers on a sheet of paper. Add the pumpkins to the water so your children can scoop and match the numbers!
8. Save the Pumpkins
Place mini pumpkins on the table and see if your child can pick them up using tongues and put them in a jar!
9. Outdoor Pumpkin Relay
Get children to create curved lines by following mini pumpkins placed on paper.
Sensory Halloween activities for kids
Kids love sensory play all year round, but it can’t hurt to spice things up with some Halloween-themed sensory activities! Creating sensory set-ups with child-friendly spookiness catches your toddler’s attention. It also keeps their Halloween spirit alive all October.
I love having my son work on set-ups and bond over our different ideas to make these activities fun!
RELATED: Headed out to trick or treat? Read my 5 Halloween Safety Tips for Kids.
10. Bubbly Witch’s Stew
One of my favorite Halloween sensory bins! Add spooky food coloring to the water, bubbles, and Halloween decorations.
11. Frozen Water Play
Make frozen Halloween pods with your mini erasers and food coloring, and add them to water.
12. Fall Sensory Bean Bin
Use things like pumpkin seeds and other fall sensory objects in the house. Pop them in a sensory bin along with spoons and jugs.
13. Shaving Cream Eyeball Mix
Lids love shaving cream! Fill a sensory bin with some plus spooky eyeballs. A serious messy play win!
14. Skeleton Bean Bin
This bean bin allowed me to catch up on some work as my child scooped and added black beans into plastic skulls.
15. Eyeball Soup
Not sure what’s for dinner? How about some eyeball soup? Add some orange food coloring to make this stew extra spooky.
16. Pumpkin Kerplunk
How many mini pumpkins can you balance on dry spaghetti? Find out with this Halloween STEM activity.
Halloween crafts and art activities
Having fun with creepy crawlies on Halloween is always a hit with the kids. These preschool activities involve monster puppets and spiders and are a chance to get creative.
17. DIY Spider Ring
Make a spider ring out of black pipe cleaners.
18. Monster Puppets
Create monster puppets using lollipop sticks, cards, and googly eyes!
19. Spider Dots
Get your kids to create mini spiders on a spider web using colorful sticker dots.
20. Bat Headband
Make this fun headband from black construction paper and googly eyes! – a winning combo!
21. Bone Painting
Use Halloween bone decorations and get your child to paint them different colors.
22. Ghost Eyes
Draw outlines of ghosts on paper and see if your toddler can add the eyes using stickers—a fun Halloween counting game.
23. Fine Motor Pumpkin Patch
Create spooky ghost footprints so your child can walk along them. Invite your child to decorate the ghost cut outs!
24. Skeleton Crayons
Melt old crayons into a skeleton mold.
25. Sticky Ghost
Make a ghost out of sticky paper (contact paper) and give your child white tissue paper to bring it to life!
26. Room on the Broom Paint by Number
Draw a witchy outline inspired by Room on the Broom, then add numbers and a color chart.
27. Sticker Shirt Design
This activity screams, “Show me something simple.” Draw the outlines of shirts on Kraft paper and give your child stickers to decorate them.
28. Spooky Halloween Track
Grab a box and invite your child to decorate a spooky Halloween track to play with. Makes a fun activity for kids as you prep dinner.
29. Monster Color by Number
Another fun color-by-number idea includes monsters. I adore this idea for a Breakfast invitation.
30. Sticky Pumpkin
Sticky pumpkin is a fun fall activity to explore this adhesive as you hopefully get to enjoy it from the sidelines. Prep time for this easy toddler activity is less than five minutes.
31. Play Dough Pumpkin Patch
Create a pumpkin patch with play dough and pipe cleaners.
There are many Halloween-themed activities, but not enough days in October to try them all out! Getting into the spirit of Halloween with your child is a way to motivate them to play, grow and develop.
It’s an excellent opportunity to bond and let them know the fun is only limited by their imagination.
RELATED: Books are a fun addition to Halloween activities. Check out this collection of Halloween children’s books by my friend, Lauren, at Happily Ever Elephants.
Empower your child with skills to thrive.
24 low-prep activities and relatable conversation starters that equip kids for life.
- Order the easy-to-follow activity cards.
- Build the foundation for social-emotional learning.
- Notice a shift in self-confidence and self-regulation as you and your child implement what you practice.
Skeleton Bean Sensory Bin
Materials
- 4 bags dried black beans black
- 1 bag skeleton molds
- 1 sensory bin
Instructions
- Add and empty four bags of black beans into the sensory bin.
- Remove the plastic skeleton heads and placed them on the beans.
- Invite your child to play!
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions
Five traditional Halloween activities are designing your costume, visiting a pumpkin patch, playing spider dots, reading Halloween-themed books, and watching Room on the Broom (a favorite!)
Three-year-olds can prepare for Halloween by visiting a pumpkin patch, racing around a spooky Halloween Track, and decorating Halloween sticker shirts.
Practice! Halloween is a wild and chaotic holiday. Practice walking up to the door, talking about foods they are allowed to accept and how to stay close to adults, all while having fun.
Have fun! Halloween can be spooky, magical, scary, or funny. Think about how your child reacts to the Halloween aisle at Target to gauge what they may be interested in. Talk with your child before Halloween trick or treating to make a family plan on how to stay together and safe.
