27 Fun DIY Halloween Crafts for Toddlers & Preschoolers

Halloween crafting with toddlers doesn’t have to mean tiny attention spans, messy disasters, or tears over complicated projects.

You want magical memories and adorable keepsakes, but finding age-appropriate activities that actually hold their interest feels impossible.

Get ready for 27 absolutely delightful Halloween crafts designed specifically for little hands – from gooey zombie slime to sparkly unicorn pumpkins that will have your toddler giggling with joy.

Let’s turn your home into a festive craft wonderland where every project ends with proud smiles and Instagram-worthy creations!

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1 Flowerpot Spiders

Terra cotta pots transform into adorable eight-legged friends with just a few simple supplies. Your toddler will love turning an ordinary flowerpot upside down to create the spider’s body.

Pipe cleaners work perfectly for those skinny spider legs. Simply poke four through each side of the pot and bend them into creepy-crawly shapes.

These spiders look amazing on your porch or windowsill all season long. Plus, everything costs about a dollar each at your local dollar store, making this craft super budget-friendly for busy parents.

2 Paper Plate Monsters

Cut out the center of a paper plate, leaving just the rim to create an instant monster mouth with jagged teeth around the edges.

Your toddler can paint the rim in bright monster colors like green, purple, or orange. Let them go wild with the brush strokes!

Add googly eyes above the mouth and draw on extra details like spots or stripes. The hollow center makes it look like your monster is ready to chomp.

Use the downloadable template to guide little hands, or let your child design their own scary creature from scratch.

3 Paper Plate Pumpkin

Orange paper plates transform into adorable pumpkins with just a few simple supplies your toddler already loves using.

Paint the entire plate orange and let it dry completely. Your little one can practice their grip while holding the paintbrush steady.

Cut out triangle eyes and a zigzag mouth from black paper, then let your toddler stick them on. Add a twisted green pipe cleaner at the top for the perfect pumpkin stem.

This craft builds fine motor skills while creating a Halloween decoration your family will treasure.

4 Halloween Painted Rocks

Orange pumpkins and spooky bats come alive when your toddler paints them on smooth rocks. This simple craft turns ordinary stones into Halloween treasures.

Grab some flat rocks from your yard or craft store. Set out orange, black, and white paints with small brushes.

Let your little one paint jack-o-lantern faces, friendly ghosts, or silly spiders. No artistic skills needed – wobbly lines make the best Halloween characters!

These painted rocks become instant decorations for your porch or can tell spooky bedtime stories together.

5 Halloween Vinyl Clings

Spooky shapes dancing on your windows bring instant Halloween magic that toddlers absolutely love creating.

You’ll need colored vinyl, transfer tape, and a cutting machine like Cricut to make these reusable decorations. Let your little ones pick their favorite Halloween colors—orange pumpkins, black bats, or purple ghosts work perfectly.

Cut simple shapes that tiny hands can help peel and stick. The best part? These clings move easily from window to window, giving toddlers endless decorating fun throughout October.

6 Green Slime Recipe

Your little zombie will love squishing this gooey green slime between their tiny fingers! This simple recipe creates the perfect creepy texture for Halloween fun.

Mix school glue with a few drops of green food coloring in a bowl. Add baking soda gradually while stirring until you get that perfect stretchy consistency.

Let your toddler play safely with their zombie toys right in the slime. The bright green color looks deliciously gross and washes off hands easily with soap and water.

7 Yarn Spider Web

White yarn transforms into a perfectly spooky spider web that toddlers love creating. This chunky texture makes the web visible and extra creepy for Halloween decorating.

Gather wax paper and a few pipe cleaners alongside your yarn. Your little one can help arrange the web pattern while you secure the pieces together.

White craft glue works better than clear glue for this project. It adds extra spookiness and helps the yarn stick properly to your base paper.

8 Toilet Paper Spiders

Orange hair and googly eyes make these toilet paper roll spiders absolutely adorable instead of scary. Your toddler will love creating these friendly creatures that look more like curious owls than creepy crawlers.

Start with an empty toilet paper tube and paint it black. Once dry, glue on large googly eyes and add bright orange yarn or paper strips for wild hair on top.

Twist black pipe cleaners into spider legs and poke them through the sides of the tube. Your little one can bend and shape the legs however they want.

These charming spiders work perfectly as Halloween decorations or fun toys for imaginative play after crafting time.

9 Paper Pumpkin Craft

Orange paper circles transform into adorable pumpkin faces that toddlers absolutely love creating. This simple craft uses materials you likely have at home.

Grab construction paper or cardstock in orange and green colors. Cut out pumpkin shapes or download a free printable template to make it even easier.

Let your little one draw big googly eyes and silly smiles on their paper pumpkin. They can add green stems and leaves to complete their masterpiece.

This mess-free activity keeps tiny hands busy while building their creativity and fine motor skills.

10 Paper Spider Garland

Colorful paper spiders transform your home into a festive Halloween wonderland that’s perfectly toddler-friendly. This garland features bright orange pumpkin spiders and friendly monster faces instead of scary black crawlers.

Grab some egg cartons, paint, and googly eyes to get started. Your little ones can help paint each spider cup while you handle the hot glue gun for safety.

String them together with soft yarn to create a cheerful garland. The fuzzy texture makes these spiders feel cuddly rather than creepy, perfect for sensitive toddlers who might find traditional Halloween decorations too frightening.

11 Painted Candy Rocks

Orange, yellow, and white paint transforms ordinary rocks into adorable candy corn treats. Your toddler gets all the fun of candy without the sugar rush!

Grab some triangle-shaped rocks from your yard or local park. Start with an orange base coat and let it dry completely.

Add yellow paint to the middle section, then finish with white on top. Each layer needs time to dry before adding the next color.

Spray with clear sealer once everything dries to make your candy rocks last through lots of toddler handling and play.

12 Apple Pumpkin Stamps

Transform ordinary apples into adorable pumpkin stamps that create perfect Halloween decorations with your little one.

Cut an apple in half and paint it bright orange. Add a small green dot at the top for the pumpkin stem using your finger or a small brush.

Press the painted apple onto paper to make instant pumpkin prints. Your toddler will love stamping rows of cute pumpkins across the page.

Lay down newspaper first to catch any paint drips. This craft stays relatively clean while delivering maximum Halloween fun!

13 Paper Skeleton Craft

White paper cutouts transform into spooky skeleton friends that dance and wiggle with every little movement. This craft brings Halloween magic right to your kitchen table.

You’ll need basic supplies like white paper, scissors, and glue. Print a simple skeleton template online, then let your toddler help arrange the bones.

Adult supervision works best for the cutting part. Your little one can focus on the fun stuff like gluing pieces together and making their skeleton "move."

These paper skeletons look amazing hanging in windows or taped to walls for instant Halloween decorations.

14 Ghost Wind Chimes

White painted cans transform into spooky friends that dance in the breeze. Your toddler will love watching these ghostly figures sway and create gentle sounds.

Grab three empty cans and let your little one help paint them white. Once dry, add googly eyes to bring each ghost to life.

Use a hammer and screwdriver to punch holes, then thread white chenille stems through to connect them. The soft clinking sounds provide wonderful sensory stimulation.

This craft takes under an hour and costs almost nothing using recycled materials you likely have at home.

15 Unicorn Pumpkin Craft

White pumpkins transform into magical unicorns with just a few simple craft supplies. Your toddler will love creating their own fantasy creature that’s perfect for Halloween decorating.

Start with white pumpkins as your base and let your little one choose the unicorn’s personality. Add colorful paper horns, flowing ribbon manes, and cute paper sunglasses for extra flair.

This craft combines two favorite things – pumpkins and unicorns – into one absolutely unique creation. Your toddler gets to make all the creative decisions about colors and accessories.

The finished unicorn pumpkins make stunning decorations that stand out from typical Halloween displays while still feeling festive and fun.

16 Paper Bat Silhouettes

Black bat shapes dancing across yellow moons create the perfect spooky-but-not-scary Halloween decoration for little ones.

Your toddler dips their fingers in white paint and presses handprints onto black cardstock to make bat wings. Simple finger dabs create the bat’s body.

Cut out yellow circles from cardstock for full moons. Tape the bat silhouettes over the bright yellow backgrounds.

These charming decorations look amazing taped to windows or walls, giving your home just the right amount of Halloween magic without frightening young children.

17 Paper Plate Witch

Transform a simple paper plate into a spooky witch that looks straight out of a fairy tale! This craft brings magical fun to your Halloween decorating.

Start with a green paper plate as your witch’s face. Add wonky googly eyes for that perfectly silly, slightly scary look toddlers love.

Create wild, curly hair using crumpled orange tissue paper. Glue it around the top of the plate for a dramatic mop of witch locks.

Cut a black paper triangle for the pointy hat and glue it on top. Your little witch is ready to cast some Halloween spells!

18 Magnetic Pumpkin Craft

Your snap lids transform into adorable pumpkin magnets that stick to your fridge! This craft combines toddlers’ love for magnets with Halloween fun.

Paint those leftover snap lids with orange acrylic paint and let your little one help with the brushstrokes. The imperfect painting adds character to each pumpkin.

Once dry, glue on googly eyes and cut small green felt pieces for stems. Your toddler can choose where each eye goes for silly expressions.

Attach strong magnets to the back, and voilà! You have personalized pumpkin magnets that toddlers can move around the refrigerator all season long.

19 Mason Jar Lights

Orange and purple lights glow mysteriously inside ordinary mason jars, creating the perfect spooky Halloween atmosphere for your home.

Grab an empty mason jar from your kitchen and let your toddler help stuff colorful tissue paper inside. Orange, purple, and black work best for that Halloween vibe.

Drop in a battery-powered tealight or string of fairy lights to make the jar glow. Your little one will love watching their creation light up the room.

Place these magical luminaries on windowsills, porches, or around the house for instant Halloween decorations that feel both mysterious and cozy.

20 Plastic Container Pumpkin

Transform your empty laundry pod containers into adorable Halloween pumpkins with this super simple craft. The orange plastic already gives you the perfect pumpkin color!

Wash the container thoroughly before letting your toddler start crafting. Paint the lid bright green with some glitter for the pumpkin top.

Twist green pipe cleaners around your finger to create curly vine stems. Your little one can help attach these to make the pumpkin look extra realistic and fun.

21 Yarn Pumpkin Craft

Your toddler will love wrapping orange yarn around a paper plate pumpkin while building important motor skills. This craft turns simple materials into an adorable Halloween decoration.

Cut a pumpkin shape from a paper plate yourself, then let your little one paint it bright orange. The painting step adds extra fun and creativity to your craft time.

Hand over the yarn and watch your toddler wrap it around the pumpkin like a playful kitten. Add black felt pieces for eyes and mouth to complete this charming Halloween friend.

22 Halloween Sensory Bottles

Colorful liquid swirls with floating googly eyes create mesmerizing mini snow globes that captivate toddlers for minutes at a time.

These spooky sensory bottles work like magic when you need a quick distraction. Fill clear water bottles with colored water, glitter, and Halloween embellishments.

Googly eyes create the perfect eerie effect as they float and bounce around. You can also add plastic spiders, orange rubber bands, or tiny pumpkin decorations.

Simply shake the bottle and watch your toddler become completely absorbed in the swirling, spooky contents inside.

23 Paper Plate Webs

White paper plates transform into spooky spider homes with just a few markers and your toddler’s creativity.

Start by practicing the cobweb pattern on regular paper first. Help your little one draw lines from the center outward, then connect them with curved lines.

Once they feel confident, grab those markers and let them create their masterpiece directly on the paper plate. The steady hand practice builds their fine motor skills while having fun.

Add a tiny plastic spider or draw one with markers to complete the creepy-crawly scene!

24 Paper Candy Corn

Bright orange, yellow, and white paper transforms into adorable candy corn characters that toddlers love making. This simple craft brings the classic Halloween treat to life without any sugar rush.

Grab colored cardstock, pipe cleaners, and basic craft supplies to get started. The downloadable template makes cutting easy for little hands with supervision.

Test-fit all pieces before gluing anything together. This prevents frustrating do-overs and keeps your toddler engaged throughout the project.

Twist pipe cleaners into fun arms and let kids add silly faces with markers for extra personality.

25 Cotton Ball Ghost

Fluffy cotton balls transform into the sweetest ghost you’ve ever seen! This craft beats store-bought decorations every time.

Your toddler can make this completely on their own with just a little watching from you. The simple design means no frustration or tears.

Grab some cotton balls and black cardstock from your craft box. Black yarn adds extra spookiness, but it’s totally your choice.

The included template makes cutting and placing super easy for little hands.

26 Coffee Filter Monsters

Colorful monsters appear like magic when you dip coffee filters in water after coloring them with washable markers.

Your toddler colors the coffee filter with different marker colors. When you spray or dip it in water, the colors blend and spread to create spooky monster faces.

Lay down plenty of newspapers first because this craft gets wonderfully messy. The wet filters need time to dry completely.

Once dry, add googly eyes or draw silly faces to bring your monsters to life.

27 Pumpkin Spin Art

Colorful paint swirls create magical pumpkin masterpieces that toddlers absolutely adore making. This messy, exciting craft turns ordinary painting into a thrilling spinning adventure.

Print a pumpkin template that fits inside your salad spinner. Place the template in the spinner, squeeze different paint colors on top, then let your toddler spin away.

The faster they spin, the more vibrant patterns appear. Your little artist watches paint dance and blend into beautiful, unique designs they’ll want to display proudly.