There’s no denying that Halloween is an incredibly fun holiday for just about every age group. But after partying like an adult for so long, it can be hard to know what there is to do with toddlers for Halloween. You might be wondering what’s appropriate for your little one and how to make Halloween fun for a toddler.
Not to worry! This article will help jog your memory, get your Halloween creative juices flowing, and provide you with resources to make sure you and your toddler have a fun-filled celebration. It also includes advice for things like trick-or-treating with a toddler and what to do if your little one is scared of Halloween. Okay, let’s get started!
Halloween Activities for Toddlers
Even though carving pumpkins should be left to the adults, there are still a ton of things toddlers can do to get into the spirit of Halloween. From enjoying Mummy Muffin Pizzas to marching in a Halloween Costume Parade, there are so many things to do with a toddler for Halloween at home and in your local community.
Halloween Treats to Make with Toddlers
When it comes to Halloween treats, it’s very easy to overeat the trick-or-treat candies (both for adults and children!). But that’s, of course, not a given, and a super fun thing to do with toddlers for Halloween is make (and eat) Halloween-themed treats. And they don’t HAVE to be sugar bombs…
Halloween Cookie and Cupcake Decoration
Kids often love getting into the spirit of just about any holiday by helping to create homemade treats. So, it’s no wonder it’s one of the best Halloween activities for toddlers. Depending on your comfort level, your little one can help you at every step of the baking process or join you for decorating fun.
You can make your own fantastic decorations or easily get Halloween sprinkles that come with small ghosts, pumpkins, and eyeballs.
Mummy Muffin Pizzas
One of the easiest Halloween treats to make with toddlers has to be making Mummy (English) Muffin Pizzas. Super simple: just put marinara sauce on open-faced English muffins, add pieces of smoked ham if you like, then place strips of mozzarella on top (try to mimic a mummy’s wraps). To make it even better, add two slices of black olives as eyes peeking out from the wraps.
Pretzel Spider Web
One of the coolest Halloween treats to make with toddlers is a spider web made of pretzels and chocolate syrup. Create a web by placing thin pretzel sticks on a circular plate. Make sure they all radiate from the center with spaces between each one (resembling a pizza).
Then drizzle chocolate sauce (like Hershey’s) on the pretzels, making circles that get bigger moving from the center. To make it even more fun, place a plastic spider ring on the web and a few raisins as the spider’s unfortunate prey.
Halloween Arts and Crafts for Toddlers
Creating arts and crafts are some of the best things to do with a toddler for Halloween. We all know little ones shouldn’t be actually carving pumpkins, but that doesn’t mean they can’t create awesome decorations for Halloween to get into the fun. Here are some super simple and fun Halloween crafts for toddlers:
Fluffy Ghost
Make a fluffy ghost!
Materials: 1 piece of black paper, white pencil or crayon, liquid glue, loose cotton, black construction paper
Process:
- Have the adult draw a simple outline of a ghost in white pencil or crayon on the black piece of paper.
- Help your toddler cover the interior of the ghost with liquid glue, then cover all of the space with cotton.
- When dry, have your child glue on pre-cut shapes (ovals) made from black construction paper for the eyes and mouth.
Paper Plate Jack-o-Lantern
This craft is something even the most reluctant toddler can enjoy.
Materials: White paper plate, orange tempera paint, black and green construction paper, glue
Process:
- Have your toddler paint the entire plate orange, then let it dry.
- When dry, have your little one glue on the pre-cut shapes made of construction paper for the eyes, nose, mouth, and stem. Of course, you or the toddler can paint the eyes, nose, et cetera with black paint or a pen instead, as in the video below.
Fun Alternative: Use googly eyes instead of black construction paper.
Paint a Pumpkin
Materials: Small pumpkin or gourd, tempera paint
Process: While grownups are carving jack-o-lanterns, let your little one get into the fun by painting his own. Remember, it doesn’t have to resemble an actual face, so let them have fun with as many colors as they’d like.
Paper Bag Jack-o-Lantern
Materials: Brown paper bag, twist-tie or pipe cleaner, newspaper or paper towels, tempera paint (orange, black, and green), black construction paper, glue
Process:
- Fill a brown paper bag halfway with newspaper or paper towels.
- Tie off the bag with a twist-tie or pipe cleaner.
- Compress the empty section of the bag into the shape of a pumpkin stem.
- Have your toddler paint the bag orange like a pumpkin and the stem green. (Or, of course, some other colors. Having fun is much more important than getting it “right.”)
- To put on the eyes, nose, and mouth, you can have your toddler paint them on or glue pre-cut shapes made from black construction paper.
Halloween Coloring Worksheets
Materials: Crayons, printouts from the internet
Process: It’s easy to find printable coloring worksheets of jack-o-lanterns or happy witches and cats online. Print enough for everyone in the family to color. When they’re done, post them around your home to decorate for the holiday.
Coloring is one of the easiest activities to do with toddlers for Halloween.
Things to Do With a Toddler for Halloween
Part of the fun of Halloween is getting out into the community, but it doesn’t just have to be for trick-or-treating. Many places host events and programs that are ideal things to do with a toddler for Halloween.
Halloween Costume Parade
Great examples of community Halloween Parades take place in big cities like San Diego’s Boulevard BOO and small towns like Petoskey, Michigan’s Halloween Children’s Parade, and Downtown Trick-or-Treating, to mention a few.
If you can’t find a Halloween parade in your area, why not consider starting your own?
Visit the Library for Halloween with a Toddler
Head to the library. Libraries can be some of the best places to find awesome events perfect for toddlers at Halloween. You’re likely to find Halloween-themed read-aloud arts and crafts. And, of course, librarians will help you find Halloween books for your little one.
Visit the Zoo for Halloween With a Toddler
The zoo might not be the first thing you think of when considering what to do with your child for Halloween. But many zoos, at least across the US, host some sort of Boo at the Zoo, combining animal exhibits with the Halloween spirit.
Many zoos have a “more merry than scary” approach, making them a good place to visit with toddlers for Halloween. Examples of zoos that usually host this event in the US are the National Zoo in DC, Bronx Zoo in NYC, Chattanooga Zoo, Idaho Falls Zoo, El Paso Zoo, and, of course, many more.
On the other hand, amusement parks often have the opposite approach and can be downright scary even for older children (and adults, LOL!)
What to Read with Your Toddler for Halloween
A perfect way to celebrate Halloween with little ones is to sit down to read a Halloween-themed book.
Your little one will love reading books like Five Little Pumpkins by Natalie Marshal, It’s Pumpkin Day Mouse by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond, Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, and Spooky Pookie by Sandra Boyton. Clifford’s Halloween is also a great book that can help toddlers prepare for trick-or-treating.
What to Watch With Your Toddler for Halloween
When it’s time to wind down, consider putting on a Halloween-themed TV show or mini-movie to watch together. There are so many options to choose from, like It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, Curious George: Halloween Boo Fest, Room on the Broom, and Super Monsters Save Halloween.
Some of the best shows for toddlers have Halloween episodes, like Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peppa Pig, and Doc McStuffins. Netflix’s Super Monsters is based on a preschool for monsters, making just about any episode the perfect show to watch for Halloween.
What to Do if My Child is Scared of Halloween
It’s totally normal for a little one to be afraid of Halloween. With witches and skeletons around, it’s understandable. To lessen the fear, there are several things you can do to make Halloween fun for a toddler and less spooky:
- Be an active listener – If your child shows signs of fear, don’t dismiss it. Listen to them and connect by reassuring them that these feelings are okay. Try to help your child overcome these fears by explaining and showing the difference between reality and pretend.
- Choose the right decorations – Go for the happy little witch, jack-o-lantern, and ghost rather than mummies and zombies.
- Get into the spirit early – Get your little one excited about the big day by dressing up in costumes several times before the end of the month.
- Read Halloween-themed books like Five Little Pumpkins by Natalie Marshal and Clifford’s Halloween by Norman Bridwell.
- Role Play– Practice what it will be like to go trick-or-treating.
Recommended Products for Halloween Fun
Here are some fantastic products from Amazon that can enhance your Halloween celebrations with your toddler:
- Melissa & Doug Countdown to Halloween Wooden Calendar: This fun and interactive calendar helps your toddler count down the days to Halloween. Each day, they can move a magnetic piece, revealing fun surprises and building anticipation for the big day.
- VTech Gallop & Rock Learning Pony: Perfect for indoor Halloween fun, this interactive pony teaches numbers, colors, and animals. It’s great for keeping your toddler entertained and engaged during the spooky season.
- Hape Kids Wooden Toy Ukulele: Encourage your toddler’s musical creativity with this colorful and fun ukulele. It’s perfect for Halloween sing-alongs and entertaining little ones while you prepare for festivities.
- Crayola Washable Kids’ Paint Set: Let your toddler’s creativity shine with this washable paint set. Ideal for Halloween arts and crafts, the set includes vibrant colors that are easy to clean up, making it perfect for little artists.
- Play-Doh Halloween Bag: This Play-Doh set includes various Halloween-themed molds and colors. It’s perfect for creating spooky shapes and keeping your toddler entertained with sensory play.
As you can see, it’s easy to fill the entire month of October with fun things to do with a toddler for Halloween. Your little one will love creating treats and decorations at home and then heading out for community celebrations. With so many possible Halloween activities for toddlers, you’ll both be looking forward to the holiday year after year. By incorporating the right products like a swaddle to ensure comfort and security, you can make this Halloween a memorable and enjoyable experience for your toddler.