Halloween is the perfect time to get crafty with preschoolers. They love hands-on activities, and with the right projects, you can keep them engaged while tapping into the fun, spooky vibe of the season. I’ve compiled 17 fun and easy Halloween crafts for preschool, including paper plate art projects, handprint ideas, and even some free printables. These activities are simple, mess-free, and perfect for both home and classroom settings!
1. Paper Plate Pumpkin
Use orange paint and a paper plate to create a simple pumpkin face. Let preschoolers add cut-out eyes, nose, and mouth to personalize it.
2. Handprint Ghosts
With white paint on their little hands, you can make adorable handprint ghosts. Just add googly eyes and a cute smile!
3. Black Cat Craft
Cut out shapes from black construction paper to make a black cat. Use paper plates for the face, and add pipe cleaners for whiskers.
4. Spider Web Yarn Art
Give kids black paper and some white yarn to create their very own spider webs. A simple crisscross pattern does the trick!
5. Pumpkin Stamping with Apples
Cut an apple in half, dip it in orange paint, and let the kids stamp their “pumpkins” onto paper. Add a green stem with paint or marker.
6. Paper Plate Spider
Turn a black paper plate into a spooky spider by adding pipe cleaner legs and big googly eyes. It’s easy, fun, and quick to make!
7. Candy Corn Handprints
Use yellow, orange, and white paint to create a handprint candy corn. This fun project turns tiny hands into Halloween treats!
8. Free Printable Halloween Masks
Print out some free Halloween mask templates for kids to color and decorate. Let them create witches, pumpkins, and monsters!
9. Hanging Bat Craft
Using a free bat printable or your own cut-out, preschoolers can make hanging bats with string. Hang them around the classroom for a spooky atmosphere.
10. Paper Plate Witch
Make a witch’s face using a paper plate, adding construction paper for the hat and hair. Let kids get creative with googly eyes and markers!
11. Cotton Ball Ghost
Glue cotton balls onto construction paper to create a fluffy ghost. Draw on some spooky eyes and a mouth for extra fun!
12. Toilet Paper Roll Monsters
Paint toilet paper rolls in bright colors, then add googly eyes, paper arms, and silly faces to create cute Halloween monsters.
13. Fall Leaf Ghost
Collect fall leaves, paint them white, and add little ghostly eyes and mouths. A simple, seasonal craft preschoolers will love.
14. Jack-o’-Lantern Face Craft
Let kids pick out pre-cut pumpkin shapes and create funny jack-o’-lantern faces using stickers or paper cutouts for the eyes, nose, and mouth.
15. Paper Skeleton
Draw or glue paper bones onto a black paper to make a fun skeleton craft. Preschoolers can even personalize it with hats or bows!
16. Pumpkin Patch Collage
Create a pumpkin patch by cutting out paper pumpkins and gluing them onto a large sheet of paper. Add green vines and leaves for a more realistic look.
17. Monster Handprint Art
Paint the kids’ hands in green, purple, or blue, and have them stamp their handprints. Once dry, they can add googly eyes and silly faces to make their own monsters!
Comprehensive Guide to Fun & Easy Halloween Crafts for Preschool
Crafting with preschoolers during Halloween is an exciting and engaging way to help them explore creativity while building their fine motor skills. At this age, they love to touch, paint, and make things with their hands, making Halloween the perfect opportunity to introduce fun, simple projects. With a focus on easy-to-find materials like paper plates, free printables, and handprints, these Halloween crafts not only keep little ones entertained but also allow them to take pride in what they’ve made.
Why Crafting is Great for Preschoolers
Crafts are a staple of early childhood education because they help preschoolers develop essential skills while having fun. At this stage, kids are working on their fine motor skills—things like holding a paintbrush, cutting with safety scissors, and gluing are all important for their physical development. But beyond that, crafting also fosters creativity, encourages imagination, and boosts confidence as they see their creations come to life.
Preschoolers also learn to follow simple instructions while maintaining a sense of independence. With Halloween crafts, they get to explore spooky themes in a way that’s not too scary, allowing them to feel comfortable while still enjoying the holiday fun.
Easy Halloween Art Projects for Preschool
Some of the easiest and most effective crafts use everyday materials like paper plates, construction paper, and toilet paper rolls. These items are cheap, readily available, and easy for little hands to work with. For instance, the Paper Plate Pumpkin craft is a great example. Preschoolers can paint the plate orange and then use cut-out paper shapes to make jack-o’-lantern faces. It’s simple, but they feel accomplished after personalizing their pumpkins.
Handprint Ghosts are another favorite for this age group. Preschoolers love dipping their hands in paint, and the result is an adorable, spooky ghost that parents will love to keep as a memento. Adding googly eyes to the ghost brings a bit of personality, making each child’s ghost unique.
Paper Plate Crafts and Free Printables
Paper plate art projects are fantastic for young kids because they’re versatile and inexpensive. The Paper Plate Spider is one of my go-to crafts. All it takes is a black plate, some pipe cleaners for legs, and googly eyes. It’s easy enough for preschoolers to manage on their own, but the result is a cute, spooky spider they’ll be proud of.
Free printables also make a teacher’s life easier, especially around busy holidays like Halloween. Using Printable Halloween Masks lets preschoolers color and decorate their own masks, turning them into fun characters like witches, pumpkins, or ghosts. Printables can be quickly incorporated into craft time without much preparation, and they give children the freedom to use their favorite colors.
Creating Seasonal Handprint and Footprint Crafts
Handprint crafts are a popular activity for preschoolers, and they’re especially adorable during Halloween. Candy Corn Handprints allow kids to use their hand as a stamp with yellow, orange, and white paint, creating a sweet decoration for the classroom or at home. These projects not only engage preschoolers but also create special keepsakes that parents can treasure.
The Black Cat Handprint is another fun craft that lets little ones turn their handprints into spooky Halloween cats. Once they make the prints, they can add whiskers, eyes, and a tail using construction paper or markers. It’s quick, easy, and mess-free—a win for parents and teachers alike.
Incorporating Fall-Themed Elements
It’s important to incorporate autumnal elements like leaves, pumpkins, and natural textures into Halloween crafts. This adds variety and helps kids appreciate the beauty of the fall season. Fall Leaf Ghosts are a simple craft where kids can paint fall leaves white, turning them into little ghost figures. This combines the Halloween theme with a bit of nature, making it perfect for preschoolers.
Pumpkin Patch Collages are another great way to bring the fall harvest indoors. Preschoolers can cut out paper pumpkins and paste them onto a large piece of paper, adding green vines and stems for a touch of realism. It’s a fun way to let them work with colors and shapes while exploring the idea of Halloween and the autumn season.
The Benefits of Halloween Crafts in Daycare
For daycare teachers, Halloween crafts are a fantastic way to create a festive atmosphere while keeping little ones entertained. Simple art projects like Toilet Paper Roll Monsters or Hanging Bat Crafts make great group activities, encouraging teamwork and interaction among children. These crafts can also serve as fun decorations, transforming the classroom into a spooky, but child-friendly, Halloween space.
Preschoolers love seeing their creations displayed around the room, and it gives them a sense of accomplishment. It’s also an excellent opportunity for daycare teachers to introduce seasonal vocabulary words like “pumpkin,” “ghost,” and “witch,” helping kids learn while they play.
FAQs
What are some easy Halloween crafts for preschoolers?
Easy Halloween crafts for preschoolers include paper plate pumpkins, handprint ghosts, and cotton ball ghosts. These projects use simple materials and are quick to make.
How can I make Halloween crafts fun for preschoolers?
Make Halloween crafts fun for preschoolers by using colorful, tactile materials like paint, googly eyes, and construction paper. Hands-on projects like handprint art and free printables are also great for engaging young kids.
Are there free printable Halloween crafts for preschool?
Yes, there are plenty of free printable Halloween crafts for preschoolers! Printables like Halloween masks and coloring pages are easy to find online and add an interactive element to craft time.