This post has a collection of my favorite Halloween activities for toddlers
Halloween with a toddler is a whole new adventure! At two years old, little ones are full of curiosity, movement, and energy — which means they’re ready for activities that go beyond baby-safe play but still aren’t too spooky. When I first started leading my Mommy & Me Halloween classes, I quickly learned that toddlers love messy play, glowing potions, silly monsters, and activities they can proudly do “all by themselves.”
If your child is still in the mouthing stage, check out my baby-safe Halloween activities for 1-year-olds. But if your toddler is ready for more hands-on, active fun, here are my favorite Halloween activities designed especially for 2-year-olds and preschool beginners.
Halloween Sensory Play for Toddlers
1. Melted Pumpkin Oobleck
Mix cornstarch, water, and orange food coloring to create a gooey “melted pumpkin.” Add pumpkin spice for scent and use a pumpkin decorating kit to turn it into a full sensory bin.
2. Frozen Shaving Cream Bin
Freeze colored shaving cream in a tray overnight, then let toddlers scoop, squish, and watch it melt into colorful foam. Perfect for messy at-home fun!
3. Pumpkin Wash Station
Set up a tub with mini pumpkins, soapy water, and sponges. Toddlers love scrubbing the pumpkins clean, and it’s great for fine motor + practical life skills.
Play like this is the whole idea behind My First School Level 1 — a full year of one-year-old activities, already mapped out, so you’re not deciding what to do every morning.
Halloween Slime & Potion Play
4. Ghost Slime
Make a batch of white fluffy slime and add googly eyes for ghostly fun. Hide the eyes in the slime, stretch it, and then “rescue” the ghosts.
5. Witches’ Brew Experiment
Fill mini cauldrons with baking soda, then let toddlers pour vinegar (diluted with water) to watch it bubble and fizz like a spooky potion—a safe way to introduce science play.
6. Pumpkin Patch Sensory Bin 🎃
Fill a bin with green and orange pom-poms (or mini pumpkins), add scoops, and let toddlers “pick” pumpkins
7. Spooky Spider Sensory Bottle
Create a calming bottle by combining water, glitter, and toy spiders. Tip it upside down and watch the spiders “crawl.” Great for language development and calming down big toddler emotions.
Halloween Crafts for 2-Year-Olds
8. Spider Playdough
Use homemade black and white playdough to build spiders and webs. Add googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and toy spiders for inspiration.
9. Pumpkin Stamping
Dip mini pumpkins or cookie cutters in orange paint and stamp onto paper. A quick, low-prep craft that toddlers can proudly display.
10. Pumpkin Paper Plate Craft
Paint a paper plate orange, then cut and glue simple shapes (triangles and a “U”) to make a jack-o’-lantern face. Perfect for introducing shapes while crafting.
✂️ Want even more toddler-friendly Halloween crafts? I’ve put together a whole list of easy Halloween crafts for toddlers — perfect if you’re looking for low-prep, hands-on ideas.
Halloween Gross Motor Games (halloween activities for toddlers)
11. Spider Rescue Basket
Wrap yarn around a basket to create a “spider web” and hide toy spiders inside. Toddlers strengthen fine motor skills and problem-solving while rescuing the trapped spiders.
Final Thoughts
Halloween doesn’t have to be scary to be fun. With a little creativity, you can set up activities that let your toddler scoop, pour, create, and explore — all while practicing important developmental skills.
👉 Want more ready-to-go toddler activities you can use all year long? Check out my Fun Under 2 Guide, packed with sensory play, simple crafts, and hands-on ideas for busy toddlers.
