15 Cute & Easy Halloween Crafts for Preschoolers they will love

If you’ve ever found yourself 10 minutes into a “simple” Halloween craft with a glue stick in one hand and a crying preschooler in the other — you’re not alone.

The truth is, most Halloween crafts for Preschoolers out there look great on Pinterest but require too many steps, too much prep, and way too much cleanup — especially for busy parents and early childhood educators.

That’s why we’ve rounded up a list of easy, age-appropriate Halloween crafts for preschoolers that are actually fun to make and won’t turn your kitchen or classroom into a haunted disaster zone. These activities are designed specifically for preschoolers aged 3 to 5, helping them build fine motor skills, express creativity, and enjoy the magic of Halloween in a calm, screen-free way.

And the best part?
Most of these crafts use basic supplies you already have at home or in the classroom — no late-night craft store runs required.

So whether you’re a parent looking for a quiet afternoon activity or a preschool teacher planning your classroom centers, you’ll find Halloween crafts for preschoolers ideas here that are fun, doable, and developmentally on point.

Why Halloween Crafts for Preschoolers Are Great

Halloween crafts for preschoolers aren’t just adorable keepsakes — they’re a playful and powerful tool for early childhood development. When preschoolers cut, glue, color, and build, they’re doing much more than making a spooky decoration. They’re learning.

Here’s why Halloween crafts for preschoolers are one of the best seasonal activities for kids ages 3–5:

1- Boost Fine Motor Skills

Crafts naturally support the development of small hand muscles through cutting, gluing, tearing, painting, and sticker play. These motions help preschoolers build the strength and coordination they’ll need for future skills like writing, buttoning coats, and tying shoes.

Even simple actions like placing dot stickers or folding paper provide big developmental benefits.

2- Encourage Creativity & Self-Expression

At this age, children are learning to express themselves in new ways — and Halloween crafts for preschoolers are the perfect outlet. Whether they’re decorating a pumpkin or designing their own silly monster, crafts let them explore color, texture, choice, and storytelling.

This helps kids feel confident, imaginative, and proud of their creations — even if the glue ends up everywhere.

3- Teach Focus, Sequencing & Following Directions

Crafting helps preschoolers learn how to complete multi-step tasks, from “first we color” to “now we glue.” It supports focus, patience, and working memory — all while giving them a tangible end result they can feel good about.

And because the steps are fun and visual, even short attention spans stay engaged.

4- Create Screen-Free, Memorable Holiday Moments

Sometimes the best childhood memories are made with paper, glue, and a little imagination. These crafts offer an easy way to celebrate Halloween without screens or sugar overload, giving kids a sense of ownership and celebration — without overstimulation.

They’re also perfect for bonding — whether it’s at the kitchen table or around a classroom activity station.

15 Easy Halloween Crafts for Preschoolers

When it comes to crafting with preschoolers, the best projects are the ones that are simple to set up, fun to make, and don’t require a trip to the craft store. Below is a curated list of Halloween crafts for preschoolers, perfect for parents, teachers, or anyone planning a low-stress, high-fun October activity.

Each one uses basic materials, supports fine motor development, and gives kids a creative outlet they’ll be proud of. Let’s dive in!

1- Scrap Paper Candy Corn – Thriving Home

What it is: A colorful, tear-and-glue collage that mimics the candy corn’s layered look.
Materials: White paper, orange/yellow scrap paper, glue stick
Why kids love it: Tearing paper feels satisfyingly messy in a good way — and there’s no wrong way to layer it!

2- Easy Pumpkin Craft – Thriving Home

What it is: A simple orange circle decorated with shapes to look like a jack-o’-lantern.
Materials: Construction paper, scissors, glue
Why kids love it: They get to design their own funny or spooky pumpkin face.

3- Puffy Ghost – Thriving Home

What it is: A soft ghost made from cotton balls glued onto paper.
Materials: Cotton balls, black paper, googly eyes, glue
Why kids love it: They enjoy the fluffy texture and silly ghost faces.

4- Halloween Bingo – Thriving Home

What it is: A themed game that doubles as a craft if kids decorate their own cards.
Materials: Printable bingo sheets, markers, Halloween-themed stickers or tokens
Why kids love it: It turns crafting into a game — perfect for classroom parties or playdates.

5- Monster Cups – The Simple Parent

What it is: Plastic cups transformed into goofy monsters with faces and pipe cleaner arms.
Materials: Plastic cups, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, stickers, glue
Why kids love it: They can mix and match monster parts and even use them for pretend play.

Looking for more age-based craft inspiration? Discover fun, skill-building Halloween crafts for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners—all in one place.
Explore the Ultimate Halloween Crafts for Kids Guide

6- Handprint Spiders – Thriving Home

What it is: Kids trace and cut out their handprints to create a spider shape.
Materials: Construction paper, googly eyes, glue
Why kids love it: Tracing their own hands feels personal — and seeing it turn into a spider is like magic.

7- Styrofoam Cup Spiders – One Little Project

What it is: Inverted cups with legs and faces to create cute little spiders.
Materials: Styrofoam or paper cups, black paint, pipe cleaners, googly eyes
Why kids love it: The end result is a 3D craft they can play with after.

8- Pipe Cleaner Spider – Thriving Home

What it is: A super simple spider made entirely from pipe cleaners and eyes.
Materials: Pipe cleaners, googly eyes
Why kids love it: Fast, bendable, and fun to pose or hang around the room.

9- Masking Tape Mummy – Thriving Home

What it is: A mummy created by layering masking tape over a cutout figure.
Materials: Paper, masking tape, scissors, glue
Why kids love it: Ripping tape is fun — and it looks awesome layered like mummy wrap.

10- Q-Tip Skeletons – Thriving Home

What it is: Skeleton shapes made from cut Q-tips on black paper.
Materials: Q-tips, glue, black paper, white crayon
Why kids love it: Great for fine motor skills and fun to “build” bone by bone.

11- Fabric Scrap Candy Corn – Thriving Home

What it is: A candy corn collage using textured fabric scraps instead of paper.
Materials: Orange, yellow, and white fabric pieces, glue, cardstock
Why kids love it: The different textures make it a sensory experience, and no “perfect” placement is needed.

12- Transparent Pumpkins – Here Comes the Girls

What it is: A pumpkin shape filled with tissue paper pieces on contact paper to hang in the window.
Materials: Contact paper, orange/yellow tissue, black paper, scissors
Why kids love it: The final “stained glass” effect is magical, especially when the sun shines through.

13- Spider Lollipops – Thriving Home

What it is: Turning a lollipop into a spider with pipe cleaner legs and googly eyes.
Materials: Lollipops, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, glue dots or tape
Why kids love it: It’s a craft and a treat — instant hit!

14- Paper Plate Pumpkin – Thriving Home

What it is: A classic pumpkin made by painting or coloring a paper plate, then adding a face.
Materials: Paper plate, orange paint or crayons, construction paper, glue
Why kids love it: They love turning a regular plate into something festive — plus, it’s fun to decorate!

15- Paper Plate Spiders – I Heart Crafty Things

What it is: A black paper plate with legs and eyes to create a big goofy spider.
Materials: Paper plate, black paint, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, glue
Why kids love it: The spider gets BIG and fun — perfect to hang from the ceiling!

You don’t need fancy supplies or hours of prep to give preschoolers a Halloween to remember. These crafts are fun, developmentally supportive, and — most importantly — achievable for real-life parents and teachers.

Whether you’re planning a classroom activity, filling up your October calendar at home, or just looking for a screen-free afternoon project, these Halloween crafts for preschoolers ideas are sure to bring out big creativity from little hands.

Want even more ready-to-go activities?
Grab our Halloween Printable Activity Bundle — over 170+ pages of screen-free fun.

Halloween Printables That Pair Perfectly with Crafts

Crafts and printables are a match made in Halloween heaven — especially when you want to mix hands-on fun with mess-free moments. These preschool-friendly printables are a great way to extend the activity, reinforce motor skills, or give kids a calming follow-up to more tactile projects.

Here are a few of our favorite Halloween printables to pair with your craft table:

1- Halloween Dot Markers Activity Book

Why it works: Dot marker pages are a low-mess creative outlet that build hand control and focus. Great to offer after paint-heavy crafts or as a quieter center.

Discover more about Why Kids and Toddlers Love Halloween Dot Markers Printables.

2- Halloween Cutting Practice Worksheets

Why it works: These printable pages give kids extra practice with scissors — perfect before or after a spider or pumpkin craft that includes cutting shapes.

Know more about Why Kids Love Halloween Cutting Practice Worksheets.

3- Halloween Cut & Paste Worksheets

Why it works: Let kids glue together their own monsters, jack-o’-lanterns, or candy patterns. It reinforces sequencing and fine motor skills in a way that complements many of the crafts listed above.

here is Why Preschoolers Love Halloween Cut and Paste Worksheets.

4- Halloween Coloring Pages for Toddlers

Why it works: Sometimes all you need is a good coloring sheet! These toddler-friendly designs are perfect for calm-down time or classroom morning work.

Read more about our selection of Cute Halloween Coloring Page.

Want them all in one easy-to-print download? You’ll get all 6 resources — plus exclusive bonuses — in one instant printable kit. Grab the Halloween Activity Pages Bundle and Save 56%.

Classroom Tips for Teachers & Homeschoolers

Whether you’re planning a Halloween party day or just trying to survive the week before fall break, these tips will help you keep things organized, calm, and fun in any preschool setting:

• Use Craft Stations or Rotations: Set up multiple tables or floor spots with different crafts. This keeps kids moving and engaged while minimizing crowding and chaos.

• Prep Ahead for Smooth Transitions: Pre-cut shapes, pre-glue tricky steps, and set out sample versions so kids have a visual to follow. This saves time and reduces frustration.

• Build in Breaks with Printables: Use dot markers, coloring sheets, or cut-and-paste printables between messy crafts. These calmer activities give everyone a breather without losing momentum.

• Simplify Clean-Up: Stick to glue sticks, washable crayons, and trays. Use paper plates or plastic tablecloths to keep surfaces clean — then toss and reset with ease.

Make Halloween Creative, Not Complicated

Halloween should be fun — not overwhelming. These easy Halloween crafts for preschoolers let you celebrate the season with less mess and more meaning, whether you’re at home with one little artist or managing a classroom full of spooky excitement.

They’re playful, purposeful, and developmentally rich… without the stress.

Looking for even more no-prep, screen-free Halloween ideas? Download our Halloween Activity Pages Bundle and Save 56%. It’s packed with 170+ pages of Halloween fun, ready to print and enjoy whenever you need it.

FAQ – from Parents & Teachers

What’s the best age for these Halloween crafts?

These halloween crafts for preschoolers are ideal for children aged 3 to 5, but many can be adapted for slightly younger toddlers or older kindergartners with minor modifications.

What if my child can’t use scissors yet?

Try starting with glue-only crafts or tear-and-stick activities like scrap paper collages. You can also pre-cut shapes and let them handle the decorating!

Are these Halloween crafts for Preschoolers classroom-friendly?

Absolutely. Many of them require minimal prep and can be done in groups or centers. Plus, they’re designed to work with common classroom materials.

How do printables fit into the mix?

Printables are perfect for calming kids down between messy crafts or extending the activity. Many support the same fine motor and sequencing skills — just with less cleanup.