Halloween is one of the most exciting times of the year for preschoolers. Between costumes, pumpkins, and all things spooky, children love exploring the sights and colors of this holiday. Crafting is a wonderful way to channel that excitement into safe, hands-on activities that spark creativity and build important skills like fine motor development, color recognition, and sensory exploration.
These 15 Halloween crafts are simple, budget-friendly, and designed with preschool-aged children in mind. With basic supplies, a little supervision, and lots of imagination, these projects will keep little hands busy and make Halloween extra memorable.
Paper Plate Pumpkins
Paper plate pumpkins are a timeless Halloween craft that preschoolers love. Starting with a plain paper plate, children can paint or color it orange to create the base of their pumpkin. It’s simple, low-cost, and requires only a few materials, making it a favorite for both parents and teachers.
Once the plate is dry, a stem can be cut out of green construction paper and glued on top. Kids can then decorate their pumpkins with drawn faces, googly eyes, or cut-out shapes. This step adds a fun layer of personalization to the craft.
The beauty of this project lies in its flexibility. For a mess-free version, tissue paper squares can replace paint. Children not only practice their fine motor skills but also explore color recognition and creativity while proudly displaying their pumpkin art.
Handprint Ghosts
Handprint ghosts are a quick and engaging way for preschoolers to get into the Halloween spirit. This craft involves painting a child’s hand white and pressing it onto black paper to create the ghost’s shape. The handprint naturally forms a floating ghost silhouette that’s both fun and easy to recognize.
After the print dries, children can add googly eyes or simply draw them in with a marker. This small detail gives each ghost its own personality, whether spooky or silly. For extra fun, multiple prints can be combined into a “ghost family.”
This project is process-oriented, giving kids the joy of experimenting with textures and prints. It also introduces the idea of printmaking in a very accessible way. Best of all, it’s quick to complete, making it perfect for a short classroom activity or at-home Halloween project.
Puffy Cotton Ball Ghosts
Puffy cotton ball ghosts are a fantastic craft for little hands. Children begin by drawing a simple ghost shape on black paper. Glue is applied inside the outline, and then cotton balls are pressed down to give the ghost a soft, fluffy look. This tactile step is often the highlight for preschoolers.
Once the body is covered, kids can add eyes and a mouth with googly eyes or cut-out paper shapes. Each ghost turns out a little different, which adds to the charm of the project. It’s an easy way for children to explore texture and layering.
This craft is not only fun but also beneficial for fine motor development. The act of pinching and placing cotton balls helps strengthen hand coordination. Puffy cotton ball ghosts make adorable decorations that children will love showing off at home or in the classroom.
Pumpkin Seed Mosaics
Pumpkin seed mosaics give preschoolers the chance to create colorful and detailed Halloween art. To start, dried pumpkin seeds are painted in different shades and left to dry. This step alone sparks excitement, as kids get to play with color and texture.
Once the seeds are ready, children arrange them into festive shapes like pumpkins, bats, or ghosts on a piece of paper. Gluing them down helps kids practice patience and focus, while also strengthening fine motor skills. The end result is a textured mosaic that feels unique and artistic.
For an easy variation, pasta shapes can be used in place of seeds. This craft introduces the concept of patterns and design in a playful way. Pumpkin seed mosaics are not only creative but also connect the Halloween theme with real seasonal elements.
Toilet Paper Roll Monsters
Toilet paper roll monsters are a fun and eco-friendly Halloween craft that sparks children’s imagination. Using empty toilet paper rolls, kids can paint them in bright or spooky colors as the base of their monster. This simple start makes the project approachable for preschoolers.
After the rolls are painted or wrapped with paper, the fun begins with decorations. Children can add googly eyes, yarn for hair, paper arms, or even silly monster mouths. Each monster turns out completely unique, which encourages creativity and storytelling.
The best part of this craft is its flexibility—kids can design friendly, goofy, or spooky monsters. It’s a perfect way to recycle while keeping little hands busy. Plus, it promotes imaginative play as children use their creations in games or Halloween decorations.
Coffee Filter Bats
Coffee filter bats are an easy Halloween project that little ones can complete with minimal guidance. Flattened coffee filters are painted or colored black to form bat wings, creating a simple but striking base for the craft.
Once dry, the filters are pinched in the middle and clipped with a clothespin to form the body. Adding googly eyes to the clothespin gives the bat personality, making it look more playful than scary. This step is often a favorite for preschoolers who enjoy customizing their creatures.
To take it further, the bats can be clipped to a string to form a flying bat garland. The project strengthens fine motor coordination while producing a fun decoration for classrooms or homes. Coffee filter bats are lightweight, budget-friendly, and perfectly suited for little crafters.
Q-Tip Skeletons
Q-tip skeletons are a creative way for preschoolers to learn about body structure while crafting. Kids begin with black construction paper as the background, which makes the white Q-tips stand out clearly. Cutting Q-tips into different lengths introduces a simple step in design and planning.
Children arrange the pieces to resemble arms, legs, and ribs, then glue them into place. A skull can be drawn with a marker or cut from paper to complete the skeleton. The process is easy to follow, yet it allows kids to practice spatial awareness.
For added fun, glow-in-the-dark paint can be used to make the skeletons shine under dim light. This craft is not only engaging but also educational, giving children a hands-on way to learn about the human body while improving fine motor skills.
Egg Carton Spiders
Egg carton spiders are a classic Halloween craft that’s perfect for preschoolers. A section of an egg carton is cut out to form the spider’s body, then painted black to give it a spooky appearance. The round shape works wonderfully for this project.
Once the paint dries, children poke small holes and insert pipe cleaners as legs. Adding googly eyes brings the spider to life, and kids love giving their spiders quirky expressions. This step allows plenty of room for creativity.
To make them extra fun, the spiders can be hung on strings to dangle like real ones. The activity encourages hand-eye coordination and imaginative play. Egg carton spiders are an affordable way to recycle and decorate for Halloween while keeping kids entertained.
Paper Bag Pumpkins
Paper bag pumpkins are a delightful Halloween craft that preschoolers can easily handle. Starting with a brown paper lunch bag, kids stuff it with crumpled paper or newspaper to give it a round, pumpkin-like shape. This step is simple but provides great sensory fun.
Once stuffed, the bag is painted orange, instantly transforming it into a festive pumpkin. The top is twisted shut and tied with a green ribbon or pipe cleaner to form a stem. Children can even add faces with markers for a personalized touch.
This project encourages both creativity and pretend play. Paper bag pumpkins can be used as decorations, classroom displays, or even as props for storytelling. They’re quick, inexpensive, and always a hit with preschoolers.
Yarn-Wrapped Mummies
Yarn-wrapped mummies are a spooky yet playful craft that young children find exciting. Kids begin by cutting a simple mummy shape out of black paper, giving them a sturdy base to work with. This easy outline sets the stage for the fun wrapping step.
Using white yarn, children wrap around the cutout, creating the look of mummy bandages. The process is engaging and helps strengthen fine motor skills as kids wind and loop the yarn. Adding googly eyes peeking through the “bandages” brings the character to life.
This craft is quick, mess-free, and a perfect group activity. With a little glow-in-the-dark yarn, the mummies can even light up at night, adding an extra spooky touch to classroom walls or home decorations.
Sponge-Stamped Pumpkins
Sponge-stamped pumpkins are a wonderful way for preschoolers to combine painting with shape recognition. To start, a sponge is cut into a simple pumpkin shape. Children dip it into orange paint and press it onto paper, leaving fun pumpkin prints.
After stamping, they can add details like green stems, vines, or even jack-o’-lantern faces with markers. This lets kids personalize their artwork and practice hand-eye coordination. It’s also an excellent opportunity to introduce basic shapes and patterns.
Sponge stamping is a low-mess, quick project that produces vibrant results. Each pumpkin print is unique, and children love experimenting with how much paint to use or how hard to press. It’s a perfect seasonal craft for both classrooms and home.
Paper Strip Witches’ Hats
Paper strip witches’ hats are a creative Halloween project that blends crafting with imaginative play. Using black construction paper, kids cut strips and glue them into a cone shape to form a simple hat base. This makes the project approachable yet exciting.
Once the hat is assembled, children can decorate it with stickers, sequins, or cut-out paper stars. This step encourages them to explore colors and textures while making each hat unique. Adding glitter can also give the hats a magical sparkle.
To finish, the hats can be turned into party hats by attaching a string. Preschoolers love wearing their creations, and it adds an element of role play. The craft is simple, affordable, and a great way to let kids embrace the Halloween spirit.
Bubble Wrap Printing – Pumpkin Patch
Bubble wrap printing is a fun sensory craft that preschoolers will love. To begin, bubble wrap is cut into small circle shapes. Kids dip the bumpy side into orange paint and stamp it onto paper, creating textured pumpkin prints. The popping feel of the bubble wrap adds to the excitement.
After stamping, children can draw green stems and curly vines using markers or paint. This step gives them the chance to personalize their pumpkins and practice fine motor skills. The mix of textures makes each pumpkin look unique and playful.
This activity combines art and sensory exploration, making it perfect for preschool classrooms. The prints can even be used to create a whole pumpkin patch mural on the wall, giving kids a sense of contribution to a larger project.
Popsicle Stick Haunted Houses
Popsicle stick haunted houses are a wonderful way to introduce preschoolers to simple building crafts. Kids start by gluing popsicle sticks together to form the outline of a house. This step encourages problem-solving and patience as they arrange and secure the pieces.
Once the structure is dry, the house is painted black to give it a spooky feel. Children then decorate with stickers, paper cutouts, or googly eyes to bring their haunted house to life. Glow-in-the-dark paint or glitter can be added for an extra magical effect.
This craft promotes creativity while also building hand-eye coordination. Each haunted house turns out differently, reflecting each child’s imagination. They make excellent Halloween decorations for classrooms or at-home displays.
Pumpkin Finger Painting
Pumpkin finger painting is a simple, hands-on craft that lets preschoolers dive right into the fun. Kids dip their fingers into orange paint and press them onto paper, forming circles or clusters that resemble pumpkins. This process is messy but exciting, encouraging sensory exploration.
After the paint dries, children can add green stems and leaves using markers or brushes. For a playful touch, they can also draw funny faces to turn the pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns. This gives them ownership of their artwork while developing fine motor control.
Finger painting is ideal for introducing children to textures and colors in a relaxed, creative way. It’s a short activity with big rewards, leaving kids with colorful seasonal art they’ll be proud to show off.
Final Thoughts
Halloween crafts for preschoolers don’t have to be complicated to be fun. With just a few household supplies and a sprinkle of creativity, these 15 activities offer endless opportunities for children to play, explore, and learn. Whether you’re a parent setting up an afternoon activity or a teacher planning a classroom project, these crafts are sure to spark joy and imagination—without any fright.
