20+ Fun and Educational Halloween Activities for Preschool

Halloween activities for preschool bring together learning and fun in the most magical way. This festive season is the perfect time to help little learners explore letters, numbers, and creativity through playful crafts, engaging games, and hands-on projects. Whether you are a teacher preparing classroom centers or a parent planning at-home fun, these activities will make every moment exciting and educational. From counting candy corn and tracing pumpkins to creating silly monsters and spooky stories, each idea turns Halloween into a joyful opportunity to learn, imagine, and celebrate.

20+ Halloween activities for preschool

Turn the spooky season into storytime magic. These literacy-rich ideas use letters, sounds, and simple prompts to help children build vocabulary, sequencing, and confidence while keeping all the Halloween fun alive.

ELA Halloween activities

1. Spooky story stones

This creative activity encourages imagination and storytelling. By creating and arranging Halloween-themed stones, children can build narrative skills, practice sequencing, and expand their vocabulary in a hands-on, tactile way. It’s a wonderful tool for both independent and group story creation.

Materials needed:

• Smooth, flat stones
• Acrylic paint or paint pens (orange, black, white, green, purple)
• Paintbrushes
• Clear sealant (optional, for durability)

Instructions:

• Wash and dry the stones completely.
• Paint simple Halloween images on each stone such as a pumpkin, a ghost, a cat, a bat, a witch’s hat, or a spider web. Let them dry.
• Use the stones as prompts for storytelling. Ask your child to pick a stone and start a story (“Once upon a time, there was a friendly ghost…”).
• Have them pick another stone to continue the story, linking the images together to form a simple plot.

2. Alphabet ghost hunt

This active game gets children moving while practicing letter recognition. By searching for “ghosts” hidden around a room or yard, they learn to identify uppercase and lowercase letters in a playful, low-pressure environment.

Materials needed:

• White paper or cardstock
• A black marker
• Scissors
• Tape

Instructions:

• Cut out simple ghost shapes from the white paper.
• Write one letter of the alphabet on each ghost. You can start with just the letters in your child’s name or a selection of 5-10 letters.
• Hide the ghosts around the room.
• Have your child hunt for the ghosts. When they find one, they should name the letter (and optionally, the sound it makes).

Continue letter tracing with this Pumpkin Tracing Halloween Worksheet

3. Pumpkin sound match

This engaging literacy game helps preschoolers recognize beginning sounds while connecting them to familiar Halloween objects. It’s a simple yet effective way to build early phonics skills through play and discovery.

Materials needed:

• Orange paper or printable pumpkin templates
• Markers or crayons
• Scissors
• Pictures or small drawings of Halloween items (bat, ghost, spider, moon, cat, web, etc.)

Instructions:

• Cut out several pumpkin shapes from orange paper.
• Write one letter on each pumpkin, such as B, C, G, or S.
• Prepare small pictures or word cards that start with those letters (for example: bat, cat, ghost, spider).
• Spread the pumpkins and cards on a table and have your child match each picture to the pumpkin that shares its beginning sound.
• As they play, say the sound aloud together (“B says /b/ like bat!”) to reinforce phonemic awareness.

4. Monster name art

This activity combines name recognition with creativity, helping preschoolers learn the letters that make up their name. By transforming each letter into a unique monster, they engage with the shapes of the letters in a memorable and personal way.

Materials needed:

• A large sheet of paper
• A thick marker
• Crayons, markers, googly eyes, and other craft supplies

Instructions:

• Write the child’s name in large, bubble-style letters on the paper.
• Invite the child to turn each letter into a monster.
• They can add googly eyes, draw sharp teeth, add horns, or give a letter fuzzy pipe cleaner arms.
• As they decorate, point to each letter and say its name.

5. Pumpkin patch sight words

Take learning sight words outdoors or create an indoor pumpkin patch! This activity helps children practice recognizing high-frequency words by sight in an engaging, thematic way that feels more like a game than a lesson.

Materials needed:

• Orange construction paper
• Green pipe cleaners or construction paper
• A black marker
• A basket or bucket

Instructions:

• Cut out several pumpkin shapes from the orange paper.
• Write one sight word (e.g., the, is, see, a, I) on each pumpkin.
• Twist a small green pipe cleaner to create a vine and stem for each pumpkin.
• Scatter the pumpkins on the floor to create a “pumpkin patch.”
• Call out a sight word and have your child find the correct pumpkin and place it in their basket.

Extend reading practice via the Halloween Pumpkin Alphabet Tracing Sheet

Math Halloween activities

6. Spider web counting

This simple, hands-on activity is perfect for practicing one-to-one correspondence and number recognition. Placing the correct number of spiders on the web helps solidify a child’s understanding of quantity.

Materials needed:

• Paper plate
• Hole punch
• Yarn
• Plastic spider rings or spider mini erasers
• A die or number cards

Instructions:

• Punch holes around the edge of the paper plate.
• Weave the yarn through the holes to create a spider web design.
• Have the child roll a die or draw a number card.
• They must then count out that many plastic spiders and carefully place them on the web.

Or try another counting option with this Halloween Counting Up To 10 Worksheet

7. Candy corn measurement

Who knew candy could be a math tool? Using candy corn as a non-standard unit of measurement introduces children to concepts of length and height in a fun, tangible, and tasty way.

Materials needed:

• Candy corn
• Various Halloween-themed objects (e.g., a small pumpkin, a book about ghosts, a witch’s hat)
• Paper and a pencil to record findings (optional)

Instructions:

• Select an object to measure.
• Ask the child to guess how many candy corns long or tall the object is.
• Have them place candy corns end-to-end alongside the object.
• Count the candy corns together to find the measurement. For example, “The pumpkin is 8 candy corns tall!”

8. Pumpkin seed sort & count

After carving a jack-o’-lantern, save the seeds for this fantastic sensory math activity. Sorting and counting the seeds helps children develop skills in classification, counting, and fine motor control.

Materials needed:

• Pumpkin seeds (rinsed and dried)
• Bowls or an ice cube tray
• Tweezers (optional, for a fine motor challenge)
• Food coloring and vinegar (optional, to dye the seeds)

Instructions:

• (Optional) Dye the seeds different colors by shaking them in a bag with vinegar and food coloring, then let them dry.
• Ask the child to sort the seeds. They can sort by size (big vs. small) or by color if you’ve dyed them.
• Once sorted, have them count the seeds in each group.
• Ask questions like, “Which bowl has the most seeds?” or “Which has the fewest?”

9. Ghost shape matching

A ghostly twist on a classic shape-matching game! This activity is great for reinforcing shape recognition. Children learn to identify and name common geometric shapes in a fun, holiday-themed context.

Materials needed:

• White and black construction paper
• A black marker
• Scissors
• Glue

Instructions:

• Cut out several ghost shapes from the white paper.
• On each ghost, draw a different shape (circle, square, triangle, rectangle, star, oval).
• Cut out corresponding shapes from the black paper.
• Lay out the ghosts and the black shapes.
• Have your child match each black shape to the ghost with the same shape outline, gluing it in place.

10. Roll and draw a monster

This fun and creative game combines drawing with dice rolling. Each roll determines which part of the monster to draw, such as the body, arms, legs, face, horns, or fun extras. It’s a perfect activity to spark imagination, practice counting, and develop fine motor skills while enjoying lots of laughter with silly monster creations.

Materials needed:

• A die
• Blank paper
• Pencils, markers, or crayons

Instructions:

• Get ready: Give each child a sheet of paper and drawing tools.
• Roll for the body: Roll the die and draw the monster body that matches the number shown.
• Roll again for arms: Use your next roll to decide which set of arms to add.
• Keep going for legs, face, and horns: Each new roll adds a different part of your monster.
• Roll one last time for extras: Add fun accessories like glasses, wings, or hair to complete your creature.
• Final touch: Color your monster and come up with a funny name for it!

Strengthen number skills using this Counting Practice: Halloween-Themed Worksheet

Halloween games for preschoolers

11. Pumpkin ring toss

This classic carnival game is easily adapted for Halloween and helps develop gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination. It encourages children to aim and throw, learning to adjust their force and trajectory with each toss.

Materials needed:

• Several small pumpkins with long stems
• Rings (glow necklaces, paper plate rings, or rope rings)

Instructions:

• Arrange the pumpkins on the floor a few feet apart.
• Establish a line for the children to stand behind.
• Give each child a few rings and let them take turns trying to toss the rings over the pumpkin stems.
• Celebrate every attempt, not just the successful tosses!

12. Halloween pattern match

A pattern-recognition game using Halloween icons (pumpkins, ghosts, bats). Children match and continue the sequences to build logic and visual recognition.

Materials needed:

• Halloween-themed picture cards or cutouts
• Blank cards for filling in missing pieces

Instructions:

• Lay out a sequence (e.g. pumpkin → ghost → bat → pumpkin → ghost → ___).
• Ask the child what comes next.
• Let them place the correct icon to complete the pattern.
• Invite them to create their own pattern sequences.

See more Halloween graphing & pattern worksheets here: Halloween Graphing & Pattern Worksheets

13. Ghost bowling

Set up a bowling alley in your hallway with this adorable Halloween twist. This game is fantastic for practicing cause and effect, aiming, and coordination, all while knocking down a row of friendly ghosts.

Materials needed:

• 6 – 10 empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls
• A black marker
• A small pumpkin or a lightweight ball

Instructions:

• Use the black marker to draw two eyes and a mouth on each toilet paper roll to turn them into ghosts.
• Set up the ghost “pins” in a triangle formation at the end of a hallway or open space.
• Have the children take turns rolling the small pumpkin to knock over as many ghosts as they can.
• Help them count how many they knocked down after each turn.

14. Halloween Maze Challenge

Help children build problem-solving and spatial skills by navigating a ghost through a spooky maze to reach a pumpkin or haunted house.

Materials needed:

• Printable maze sheet
• Pencil or crayon

Instructions:

• Give the child a Halloween maze (start to finish).
• Ask them to trace the path without crossing lines.
• Encourage thinking out loud: “Should I go left or right?”
• Challenge them with alternate routes or timed runs.

Try this printable maze: Halloween Maze Worksheet

15. Pin the spider on the web

A spooky version of the classic party game “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.” This activity helps with spatial awareness and listening skills, as children must rely on memory and verbal cues to place their spider.

Materials needed:

• A large piece of poster board or paper
• A black marker
• Black paper for the spider cutout
• A blindfold or scarf
• Tape

Instructions:

• Draw a large spider web on the poster board and tape it to a wall at the child’s eye level. Mark the center of the web with an “X.”
• Cut a large spider shape out of the black paper and put a piece of rolled tape on the back.
• Blindfold the child, spin them around gently, and have them try to stick the spider as close to the center of the web as possible.

Halloween craft activities

16. Paper plate spiders

This classic preschool craft is perfect for Halloween. It helps develop fine motor skills through painting, hole-punching, and threading, and results in a spooky decoration that children can be proud of.

Materials needed:

• Paper plate
• Black paint and paintbrush
• Hole punch
• 4 black pipe cleaners
• Googly eyes
• Glue

Instructions:

• Paint the bottom of the paper plate black and let it dry. This will be the spider’s body.
• Punch four holes on the left side of the plate and four holes on the right side.
• Cut each of the four pipe cleaners in half to make eight legs.
• Help your child thread one pipe cleaner piece through each hole and bend them to look like spider legs.
• Glue googly eyes onto the front of the plate to complete your spider.

17. Puffy paint ghosts

A wonderfully sensory art experience! Mixing shaving cream and glue creates a unique, puffy texture that kids love to touch. It’s a fun way to create a ghost that seems to pop right off the page.

Materials needed:

• White school glue
• Shaving cream (not gel)
• A bowl and spoon for mixing
• Black construction paper
• Googly eyes or small black paper circles

Instructions:

• In the bowl, mix equal parts white glue and shaving cream until it forms fluffy peaks.
• Spoon the puffy paint mixture onto the black construction paper in a ghost-like shape.
• While the paint is still wet, press on googly eyes or paper circles for the ghost’s eyes and mouth.
• Let it dry completely (this may take a day). The paint will remain puffy and textured.

18. Halloween Tracing Lines

A fine-motor and prewriting activity: children trace dotted lines connecting Halloween icons (e.g. ghost to pumpkin) to strengthen control.

Materials needed:

• Printable tracing worksheet
• Pencil or crayon

Instructions:

• Print a dotted-path worksheet connecting Halloween images.
• Ask the child to carefully trace each path.
• Encourage slow, steady movement within the dots.
• After tracing, let them draw their own connections.

19. Jack-o’-lantern suncatcher

This craft creates a beautiful “stained-glass” effect when hung in a window. It’s a mess-free way for young children to create a jack-o’-lantern and is excellent for developing fine motor skills as they place the small tissue paper squares.

Materials needed:

• Clear contact paper
• Orange and yellow tissue paper, cut into small squares
• Black construction paper
• Scissors
• Tape

Instructions:

• Cut a large pumpkin shape out of the black construction paper, then cut out the inside, leaving only a thick black outline.
• Cut two pieces of contact paper, slightly larger than your pumpkin outline.
• Peel the backing off one piece of contact paper and tape it to the table, sticky side up. Place the black pumpkin outline onto it.
• Let your child fill the inside of the pumpkin with the orange and yellow tissue paper squares.
• Peel the backing off the second piece of contact paper and carefully place it on top to seal the craft. Trim the excess contact paper.

20. Cotton swab skeletons

A fun, slightly educational craft that helps children learn about bones in a very simple way. Manipulating and gluing the small cotton swabs is a great fine motor workout for little hands.

Materials needed:

• Black construction paper
• White school glue
• Cotton swabs
• White paper or a white crayon
• Scissors

Instructions:

• Cut a skull shape from white paper and glue it to the top of the black paper, or draw a skull with a white crayon.
• Use a full cotton swab for the spine and glue it below the skull.
• Cut other cotton swabs in half or different lengths to create the ribs, arms, and legs.
• Have your child glue the “bones” onto the paper to assemble their skeleton.

21. Spooky monster rocks

This activity transforms ordinary rocks into a collection of colorful, silly, or spooky monsters. It encourages creativity and imagination, and the finished rocks can be used as story starters, decorations, or friendly monster pets.

Materials needed:

• Smooth, clean rocks of various sizes
• Acrylic paint and paintbrushes
• Googly eyes
• Permanent markers
• Clear sealant (optional)

Instructions:

• Wash and thoroughly dry the rocks.
• Have your child paint each rock a solid color to create a base for their monster. Let them dry.
• Once dry, use other paint colors or markers to add details like spots, stripes, mouths with sharp teeth, or silly smiles.
• Glue on one, two, or even five googly eyes to bring the monster to life.
• (Optional) Once everything is dry, an adult can spray the rocks with a clear sealant to protect the design.

Final thoughts

Halloween is the perfect time to make learning fun and meaningful through hands-on play. These Halloween activities for preschool help children strengthen letter recognition, counting, and fine-motor skills while enjoying creative, festive moments. If you’re looking for ready-to-print materials to support your classroom or at-home lessons, explore the engaging Preschool Halloween worksheets available at WorksheetZone.