7 Simple Halloween Crafts for Little Ones

Halloween is a great opportunity to get creative with your little one, from painting pumpkins to making friendly ghosts.

You don't need lots of special materials or complicated instructions to enjoy some seasonal fun together. These seven simple crafts give little ones the chance to explore colours, textures and their own creativity.

Let’s jump straight into Halloween crafts for little ones!

1. Paper Plate Pumpkins

Turn an ordinary paper plate into a bright orange pumpkin, complete with a spooky Jack-o’-lantern face.

Items needed:

• Paper plates

• Orange paint

• Paintbrushes

• Black paper

• Child-safe scissors

• Green paper

• Child-safe glue

Method:

1. Paint the paper plate orange

2. Together, cut out eyes, a nose and a mouth from black paper to create a Jack-o’-lantern face.

3. Help your little one glue the face onto the plate, along with a green paper stem.

4. Display their finished pumpkin!

2. Masking Tape Mummies

Create a spooky mummy on black paper using strips of masking tape, a white crayon and googly eyes.

Items needed:

• Black paper

• Masking tape

• White crayon

• Child-safe scissors

• Child-safe glue

• Eco-friendly googly eyes (or make eyes yourself on paper)

• String to hang up

Method:

1. Draw a mummy outline on black paper using a white crayon.

2. Tear or cut strips of masking tape in different lengths and stick them to the outline.

3. Overlap the tape strips to create a wrapped, bandaged effect.

4. Cut out the mummy, then glue on the eyes.

5. Once dry, make a small hole at the top and thread through some string to hang it up.

3. Apple Stamping

Use apples to print colourful Halloween shapes on paper and create your own pumpkin patch.

Items needed:

• An apple, cut in half by an adult

• Orange washable paint

• White paper

• A shallow plate or tray

• Green crayons or washable paint

Method:

1. Pour a little orange paint onto a shallow plate or tray.

2. An adult should cut the apple in half to create a flat stamping surface.

3. Show your little one how to dip the cut surface into the paint and press it onto the paper.

4. Repeat to create a pumpkin patch, then add green stalks once the prints are dry.

4. Cotton Wool Ghosts

Make soft, friendly ghosts!

Items needed:

• Black paper or card

• Cotton wool balls

• Child-safe glue

• Pencil

Method:

1. Draw a simple ghost outline on a sheet of paper or card.

2. Help your little one spread glue inside the shape.

3. Encourage them to add cotton wool until the ghost is covered.

5. Painted Leaf Characters

Turn fallen autumn leaves into Halloween characters by painting them to look like ghosts, pumpkins or friendly monsters.

Items needed:

• Clean, dry fallen leaves

• Washable, child-friendly paint

• Paintbrushes

Method:

1. Collect a few fallen leaves together, choosing different shapes and sizes.

2. Have your little one paint each leaf a different colour, white for a ghost, orange for a pumpkin or green for a monster.

3. Once the paint is dry, add faces and other details using paint.

4. Display your finished leaf characters together.

6. Halloween Tissue Paper Collages

Create a colourful Halloween picture by sticking small pieces of tissue paper onto a witch's hat!

Items needed:

• Black paper or card

• Scissors

• Colourful paper (tissue paper works best)

• Child-safe glue

• A paintbrush or glue spreader

Method:

1. Draw a large witch's hat on a sheet of paper or card and cut our the shape.

2. Tear tissue paper into small pieces.

3. Help your little one spread glue inside the outline and stick down the tissue paper, layering colours to fill the shape.

4. Leave the picture to dry before displaying it.

7. Magic Cobwebs

Create spooky artwork using a simple wax-resist technique, where hidden white lines appear as if by magic when painted over.

Items needed:

• White paper

• A white wax crayon

• Washable, child-friendly watercolour paints

• Paintbrushes

• Water and a pot for rinsing brushes

Method:

1. Use a white wax crayon to draw a cobweb (or other spooky shape!) on white paper. An adult can help younger children.

2. Have your little one paint over the paper using colours such as purple, black or orange.

3. Watch as the cobweb lines appear through the paint.

4. Leave the artwork to dry before displaying it.

Enjoying Halloween Through Creativity

Halloween crafts don't need to be complicated. Painting, sticking and exploring different textures give little ones opportunities to express themselves and practise new skills.

Remember, the finished craft doesn't need to look perfect — the fun is in making it together.

Safety note: Always supervise young children and use age-appropriate, non-toxic materials. Adults should handle adult scissors and knives and keep small items and craft materials away from children who may put them in their mouths.