40+ Halloween Boredom Busters for Toddlers and Preschoolers (Low-Prep + Inexpensive!)

Looking for Halloween fun for toddlers and preschoolers? These 40+ Halloween boredom busters are low-prep, budget-friendly, and perfect for spooky (but sweet) seasonal fun!

children in a circle in halloween costumes with blog post title over the image

Let’s be honest: Halloween with toddlers and preschoolers is less about the horror movies and more about how many things can we do with a mini pumpkin before someone cries.

If your child is too young for haunted houses and scary movies but full of sugar-fueled energy, this list is for you! These 40 Halloween boredom busters are simple, low-prep, and perfect for busy parents who want the festive fun without the chaos.

We’re talking easy indoor activities for chilly days, and outdoor ideas to soak up the fall weather. Everything on this list is budget-friendly, toddler-approved, and zero stress.

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40+ Halloween Boredom Busters for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Spooky season with little kids can still be even sweeter with these low-prep, budget-friendly ideas!

20+ Indoor Halloween Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Sticker Pumpkins – Skip the carving and let little ones decorate paper or mini pumpkins with Halloween stickers.
Ghost Toss Game – Draw ghost faces on white paper cups and toss soft balls to knock them down!
Pumpkin Sensory Bin – Fill a plastic bin with orange rice or pasta, add mini pumpkins, tongs, and scoops.
Mummy Wrapping Practice – Use toilet paper or streamers to “wrap” a stuffed animal or even mom and dad.
Spooky Storytime in a Fort – Build a blanket fort and read Halloween books by flashlight.
Paint a Pumpkin with Water – Let toddlers “paint” real pumpkins using water and paintbrushes (mess-free!).
Make a Halloween craft – With just a few simple items you probably already have around the house, you could create spooky spiders out of egg cartons or other easy Halloween crafts with paper, googly eyes etc.
Bat Counting Game – Cut out paper bats and have kids count them into bowls or buckets.
Halloween Freeze Dance – Play Monster Mash or Ghostbusters and pause for silly dance freezes.
Monster Playdough – Add googly eyes and pipe cleaners to playdough to create silly monsters.
Witch’s Brew Sensory Soup – Use water, spoons, and Halloween items (plastic bugs, eyeballs, pom poms) in a cauldron or pot.
Have a Movie Night – There are quite a few adorable G and PG rated Halloween movies that might be exactly what you and your little ghost need.
Color Sorting with Candy Corn – Practice fine motor skills by sorting colored pom poms or cereal into candy corn color patterns.
Paper Plate Masks – Create silly or spooky faces using paper plates, markers, and cut-outs.Boo! Pom Pom Drop – Drop pom poms into decorated Halloween containers (great for toddlers).
Pumpkin Bowling – Use a small pumpkin as the ball and toilet paper rolls as pins.
Spooky Snack Time – Make edible spiders with crackers, pretzels, and raisins, or no-bake mummy brownies.
Bat Cave Obstacle Course – Use pillows, tunnels, and blankets to create an indoor adventure path.
Halloween Flashlight Hunt – Hide Halloween items in a dark room and let them search with a flashlight.
Decorate a Trick-or-Treat Bag – Use paper bags, stickers, markers, or paint.
Sensory Ghost Balloons – Fill white balloons with different textures (rice, flour, water beads) and draw ghost faces.
Halloween Puzzle Race – See how many Halloween-themed puzzles or games they can finish in 10 minutes!
Halloween Busy Book – Print it at home and use it over and over again during spooky season to keep your littles busy while also learning letters, numbers and more!

20 Outdoor Halloween Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

October is such great weather for some outdoor fun, too.

Pumpkin Hunt in the Yard – Hide small pumpkins or gourds and let them go on a spooky scavenger hunt.
Sidewalk Chalk Pumpkins – Draw pumpkins and ghosts and practice coloring them in.
Ghost Races – Tie white balloons or pillowcases to string and race them across the lawn.
Pumpkin Rolling Contest – Roll mini pumpkins from a start line to the finish—bonus points for giggles.
Paint Pumpkins Outside – Let kids go wild painting real or plastic pumpkins with washable paint. My kids love using these washable tempera paint sticks to “paint” their own pumpkins. The sticks are easy for little hands to hold, and the paint can easily be washed off so they can paint the same pumpkins over and over and over and over.
Bat Tag – One child is the “bat” and has to gently tag the others (great for active play).
Halloween Nature Walk – Look for spooky shapes in nature: trees shaped like claws, webs, etc.
Broomstick Balance Game – Try balancing a small broom on the palm of your hand like a tightrope walker.
Witch Hat Ring Toss – Use cones or party hats and toss glow stick rings or homemade loops.
Backyard Trick-or-Treat Practice – Set up a few stations for your toddler to visit with their bag.
Spooky Bubble Play – Add a few drops of food coloring to bubble solution for Halloween-colored bubbles.
Mini Pumpkin Wash Station – Set up water, soap, and brushes for scrubbing dirty pumpkins outside.
Jack-o’-Lantern Toss – Toss beanbags into a pumpkin bucket (or bowl with a drawn-on face).
Halloween Parade with Costumes – Let kids march around the yard in costume.
Bat Wings Running Game – Make cardboard or paper bat wings and “fly” around the yard.
Witch Hat Hopscotch – Use hats or cones to mark spaces in a hopscotch-style game.
Glow Stick Dance Party – Crack some glow sticks and have a spooky evening dance party outside.
Spider Web Obstacle Course – Use yarn or ribbon across a fence or chairs for kids to crawl through.
Halloween Chalk Maze – Draw a sidewalk maze and let them follow it to a candy “treasure.”
Spooky Shadow Play – Use flashlights and toys to create Halloween shadows on fences or walls.

Don’t forget about the Halloween costumes! If you need some inspiration for this year, check out these posts, too:

Real Talk: Halloween Activities Can Be Sweet AND Simple

If the idea of carving a pumpkin with a toddler gives you hives, you’re not alone. Halloween fun doesn’t have to be elaborate. Little ones are thrilled with glow sticks, googly eyes, and getting to wear pajamas that look like skeletons.

So give yourself a break and choose one or two of these boredom busters when you need them. Whether it’s a rainy day, pre-nap crankiness, or the fifth time they’ve asked “Is it Halloween yet?”—you’ve got options!

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