When you’ve got preschoolers bouncing with excitement, Halloween becomes more than just costumes and candy—it’s a season full of imagination, giggles, and creativity. But let’s be honest, trying to keep tiny hands busy without the mess spiraling out of control? That’s the real trick.
The good news? Halloween crafts don’t have to be complicated to be magical. All it takes is a few basic supplies, a spark of spooky inspiration, and a whole lot of enthusiasm. These 10 easy Halloween crafts for preschoolers are not only super simple, but also loaded with sensory fun, color play, and fine motor development.
So grab those glue sticks, construction paper scraps, and googly eyes—it’s time to craft your way into a not-so-scary Halloween wonderland.
1.Paper Plate Pumpkins
Who knew a simple paper plate could be the start of something so adorable?
Start by giving each preschooler a paper plate and orange paint. Let them paint to their heart’s content—it doesn’t need to be perfect (in fact, the messier, the better). Once the paint dries, help them glue on triangle eyes, a smile, and maybe even a green paper stem.
Want to level it up a bit? Add yarn for vines or use a hole punch around the edge and let them thread green ribbon through to mimic curling vines.
Why this craft works: It’s low-prep, encourages creativity, and helps preschoolers practice shape recognition and motor skills—all while making something festive!
2.Cotton Ball Ghosts
Ready to create the fluffiest little ghosts you’ve ever seen?
All you need is white cardstock cut into ghost shapes, glue, and a bunch of cotton balls. Let your preschooler smear glue all over the ghost cutout (this is half the fun), then press on the cotton balls until the entire ghost is soft and puffy.
Add googly eyes and a smile—or leave it faceless if you’re going for a mysterious vibe. You can also punch a hole at the top and string it up like a floating specter.
Learning angle: This craft encourages tactile exploration and helps build hand strength through squeezing and pressing motions.
3.Handprint Bats
Want to make a keepsake that’s both spooky and sentimental?
Trace your child’s hands onto black construction paper and cut them out. These become the bat wings! Then cut a bat body from black paper (just an oval or peanut shape will do) and glue the wings onto each side. Add eyes, fangs, or even glitter if you’re feeling fancy.
You can hang them in windows or make a little bat mobile by tying them to a coat hanger or hoop.
Why kids love it: They get to see their own handprints transformed into something spooky and cool.
4.Q-Tip Skeletons
Got some Q-tips in the bathroom? You’ve got the start of a skeleton craft!
Give each child a sheet of black construction paper. Help them glue on Q-tips as bones—two for arms, two for legs, a rib cage, and maybe even fingers if they’re feeling precise. Use a white paper circle for the head and let them draw a silly or spooky face.
This is one of those crafts where kids can follow a pattern or go completely freestyle—and both are totally okay.
What it teaches: Great for spatial awareness, counting, and practicing basic anatomy in a fun, non-scary way.
5.Jack-o’-Lantern Faces Collage
Want to work on emotions, shapes, and creativity all at once?
Cut out several pumpkin shapes from orange paper and a variety of face parts—triangles, circles, half-moons—for eyes, noses, and mouths. Lay them all out and let the preschoolers mix and match to create their own jack-o’-lantern faces.
Some will be happy, others spooky or surprised—it’s a great way to talk about feelings, too.
Bonus activity: Ask your preschoolers to name their pumpkins and come up with a short story for them!
6.Paper Cup Spiders
These little critters are so much fun—and surprisingly easy to make.
Start with a basic paper cup (black ones work best, but you can always paint white cups). Glue on eight pipe cleaner legs—four on each side—and bend them to make the spider look like it’s crawling. Then add googly eyes. Lots of them.
You can even poke a hole in the top and hang your spider from string so it dangles like it’s coming down from the ceiling.
Why this one’s a hit: It adds a touch of 3D fun and helps build fine motor skills while twisting and bending pipe cleaners.
7.Tissue Paper Mummies
This one is as fun to make as it is to display.
Start with a simple mummy outline on cardstock or cardboard. Give your preschooler strips of white tissue paper or toilet paper and have them wrap up their mummy. Criss-cross it, layer it, scrunch it—anything goes! Finish with two googly eyes peeking out.
Add a name tag like “Max the Mummy” or “Mini Mummy” and proudly stick it to the fridge.
Perfect for: Practicing wrapping and layering, and talking about textures and Halloween traditions.
8.Monster Stick Puppets
Need an easy puppet idea with tons of personality? This one’s monster-sized fun.
Cut monster shapes out of foam or cardstock—think blobs, triangles, or fuzzy round creatures. Provide preschoolers with googly eyes, yarn (for hair), markers, stickers, and glue. Let them decorate however they want. Attach a popsicle stick to the back and voilà—monster puppets ready for action!
Use them for Halloween storytelling or puppet shows where kids can create silly monster voices and plots.
Why teachers love it: It inspires dramatic play and helps develop emotional expression through character creation.
9.Pumpkin Stamping with Apples
Want a painting project without traditional brushes? Let’s get stamping.
Cut an apple in half and dip the flat side into orange paint. Stamp it onto paper to create pumpkin shapes. Once dry, add green stems and jack-o’-lantern faces with markers or paint pens.
This sensory-rich project is especially fun for preschoolers who love a hands-on approach—and it’s a sneaky way to talk about fruits, colors, and Halloween symbols.
Pro tip: Use different apple sizes to make a whole pumpkin patch!
10.Halloween Shape Match Craft
Looking for a way to blend crafting and early learning?
Create a large Halloween scene on a poster board—maybe a haunted house, graveyard, or night sky. Then cut out basic shapes like circles (ghosts), triangles (witch hats), rectangles (doors), and stars (sky). Let kids match and glue each shape into its spot, turning a lesson into a colorful collage.
You can even add fun labels or have kids count how many of each shape they used.
What this builds: Shape recognition, counting, sorting, and decision-making—all in a crafty, seasonal way.
Final wrapping It All Up (Like a Mummy)
Crafting with preschoolers doesn’t have to be messy or stressful—it just needs a pinch of patience and a big scoop of imagination.
These 10 easy Halloween crafts for preschoolers are designed to inspire creativity while building skills like cutting, gluing, sorting, and storytelling. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or caregiver, these ideas turn Halloween into a hands-on, heartwarming celebration for even the tiniest goblins.
So roll out the craft paper, let go of perfection, and watch your little monsters beam with pride as they bring spooky (and silly) creations to life. Happy crafting—and happy Halloween! 🎃✂️🖍️
