10 Easy Halloween Activities for Preschoolers

Fun, friendly, and just the right amount of spooky!

Boo!  Halloween is sneaking up fast — and if your preschoolers are anything like mine, they’re already buzzing about costumes, candy, and pumpkins galore. To help you plan a not-too-spooky celebration, here are ten simple, teacher-approved Halloween activities that keep little hands busy and big smiles shining!1. Pumpkin Playdough

Mix up some orange-tinted playdough with pumpkin pie spice for a festive scent that fills the classroom. Add cookie cutters shaped like bats, cats, and pumpkins — instant sensory play and fine motor fun!

Teacher Tip: Store the dough in airtight containers to reuse all week.2. Ghost Footprint Art

1. Paint the bottom of each child’s foot white and stamp it onto black paper. Add googly eyes once dry. Voilà — adorable little ghosts!

 Learning Boost: Talk about shapes (“oval feet”) and body parts while stamping.3. Pumpkin Patch Counting Game

2. Cut out paper pumpkins, label them with numbers, and let kids “pick” the right one with tongs or clothespins. It’s great for counting and number recognition — and builds hand strength too.

Extension: Hide the pumpkins in a sensory bin of dried corn or rice!4. Monster Freeze Dance

3. Play Halloween-themed songs like Monster Mash or Five Little Pumpkins. When the music stops, everyone freezes like silly monsters. Giggles guaranteed!

Movement Focus: Perfect for releasing energy during a sugar-fueled week.5. Spooky Sensory Bags

4. Fill ziplock bags with hair gel, plastic spiders, candy corn, or googly eyes. Seal with tape and let kids squish and explore the textures.

 Science Spin: Ask, “What happens when you push the spider?” — a mini cause-and-effect experiment.6. Jack-o’-Lantern Emotions

5. Cut out pumpkin shapes and provide different eyes, noses, and mouths to mix and match. Talk about emotions: happy, sad, silly, sleepy — just like real preschool moods!

 SEL Focus: Builds emotional vocabulary and empathy.7. Candy Corn Patterns

6. Use real candy corn (or paper cutouts) to practice ABAB or ABC patterns.
(And yes — it’s okay if one or two “accidentally” get eaten. )

 Math Connection: Early sequencing and visual pattern recognition.8. Witch’s Brew Science Experiment

7. Fill a cauldron (or bowl) with vinegar, then add baking soda “magic powder.” Watch it bubble like a witch’s potion! Add a drop of food coloring for extra flair.

 STEM Boost: Introduces chemical reactions — safely and magically.9. Halloween Story Stones

8. Paint or draw Halloween images (bat, pumpkin, spider, cat) on small stones or wood chips. Let kids use them to tell silly or spooky stories together.

Language Focus: Encourages storytelling, sequencing, and imagination.10. Costume Parade & Photo Booth

9. Wrap up your Halloween week with a mini parade! Set up a backdrop with orange streamers and let each child pose in their costume.
Invite families to join or share photos in your classroom newsletter.

10. Memory Maker: A joyful way to celebrate creativity and community.🕸 Final Thoughts

Halloween in preschool doesn’t have to be complicated — it’s all about laughter, learning, and just a dash of magic. With these simple activities, your classroom will be filled with pumpkins, play, and happy little ghosts (the friendly kind, of course!).

Happy haunting, teachers!