Fun and Easy Halloween Activities For Preschool
Planning some fun Halloween activities for your little learners? Whether you’re going all out with a dress-up day or just adding a few spooky touches to your week, these simple, low-prep ideas will bring lots of laughs (and maybe a few friendly frights!) to your preschool or Kindy room.
Dress Up Day
Invite children to come dressed in their favourite Halloween costume. It’s such a fun way to build excitement and imagination! Costumes spark storytelling, role play, and plenty of giggles. Don’t forget to join in too — the kids love when teachers dress up.
Set the Spooky Scene
Create a Halloween vibe by playing some spooky (but not too scary!) background music. A bit of sound adds so much atmosphere. Try this one or even this one to set the scene as children arrive or during craft time.
Spooky Storytime
Read a few Halloween-themed stories that are silly, magical, or gently spooky — nothing too scary for little ears! It’s a great way to explore imagination and introduce new words. You can find ten of my favourite Halloween storybooks on my Halloween Read Alouds post.
Dance Party Fun
Put on some Halloween songs and get the children moving! Dancing helps release that excited Halloween energy. You can find five great Halloween tunes for young children on Halloween Dance Alongs post.
Best Witch Cackle Competition
Who can do the best witch’s cackle? This one’s always a hit! Take turns letting the children show off their spooky sounds — it’s funny, boosts confidence, and makes for some fantastic photos and videos.
Cauldron Art
Set up an easy Halloween art activity by giving each child a black paper cauldron to glue onto their page. Then, dip bottle tops into different coloured paints and stamp them above the cauldron to create “bubbles.” Add glitter, sequins, or stickers for a magical touch.
Halloween Feely Bowls
This one is an absolute classic — and perfect for building sensory confidence! Prepare a few bowls or boxes and fill each with “mystery” items for the children to feel while blindfolded. Here are some fun ideas to try or for more details read my blog post Halloween Feely Bowl Fun:
Eyeballs: Olives
Ears: Dried apricots
Fingers: Cheese sticks
Fingernails: Slivered almonds
Toes: Baby carrots
Brains: Cooked spaghetti
You can set this up as a group rotation or have children work in teams to guess each item. The more dramatic your descriptions, the more giggles you’ll get!
Would You Rather? – Halloween Edition
A great way to get children thinking and moving! Ask Halloween “Would You Rather?” questions and have them run to one side of the room for their answer.
Try a few like:
Would you rather be pinned on the clothesline or spun in the dryer?
Would you rather have bat wings or a witch’s hat?
Would you rather fly on a broom or ride in a pumpkin carriage?
Lots of laughter guaranteed!
Make a Witch’s Stew (Sensory & Science Fun)
This one’s a mix of sensory play and a little science! Takes a little bit of prep but your kiddies will be sure to love it. Give each child a small Halloween bucket and a “recipe” to follow. Scatter the ingredients around the room for them to collect.
Here’s a fun list to try:
2 eyeballs
1 spider (plastic toy)
2 frogs
1 rock
5 flowers
1 scorpion
5 ants
1 cockroach
2 leaves
3 shells
1 tsp gold glitter
3 cups vinegar
2 tsp baking soda
Once they’ve gathered their ingredients, let them mix everything together. The fizzing reaction will have them squealing with excitement! It’s the perfect mix of pretend play and a mini science experiment.
Halloween doesn’t have to be scary — it’s all about fun, imagination, and letting children explore through play. Keep it light, silly, and full of creativity, and you’ll have a classroom full of happy little ghosts and witches. What are you planning for Halloween this year? Feel free to leave a comment below.
