The Fall and Halloween season is fully underway, which means it’s time for fun Fall and Halloween crafts. If you are looking for something fun to do with your children this Fall season, here are a few fun and easy Halloween crafts for preschoolers that you can do together.
Spider Web Dream Catchers
Spider webs are a staple of Halloween decor, but large ones can be problematic to hang. Instead, you and your preschooler can make a spider web dream catcher to hang over their bed!
For this project, you need white pipe cleaners, which are available at most craft stores or big box stores like Walmart. A single pack should contain more than enough for this project.
Start by laying the pipe cleaners out on the table in a basic shape. You can choose the shape, whether you want to use an X, square, triangle, hexagon, or circle. Connect these pipe cleaners by twisting the ends together. Then, add more pipe cleaners to the design however you want. Crossing over the center of your starting shape gives the best look, but you can add more sticking off the shape around the edges. Real spider webs have unique patterns, so yours can be as intricate or simple as you want.
When finished, make sure there is a part of one pipe cleaner sticking off the top to hang it from. Use tape or a string to hang it over your little one’s bed throughout the holiday season.
Pipe Cleaner Spiders
(Unfortunately) No Halloween decor is complete without spiders, and you can make them easily out of pipe cleaners. You can do this project with three or four pipe cleaners for each spider. For a more complete project, add a matching puff ball of any size and some googly eyes of an appropriate size.
Start with a puff ball if you are using one. Place it in the middle of a pipe cleaner, then wrap the pipe cleaner around it once. When done, the pipe cleaner holds the puff while the ends point in opposite directions. Do the same with another pipe cleaner in an X pattern. Do this with one or two more pipe cleaners, depending on how many legs you want your spider to have.
When finished, bend the legs up in the middle and down at the end. Then spread them evenly to look more like spider legs.
Pumpkin Lanterns
While carving a pumpkin is fun, it is also very messy with a preschooler. For a cleaner option, make simple pumpkin lanterns. All you need is orange construction paper, a pair of scissors, black construction paper, a glue stick, and a battery-powered tea light for each pumpkin.
Start by cutting the black construction paper into shapes. These will be used to make a face. Arrange them in the center of the orange construction paper, then glue them down. Once dry, roll the orange construction paper so that the ends slightly overlap and it makes a big cylinder. Glue the ends together.
When finished, stand the lantern up on the table. Turn on the tea light and put it inside the lantern to see it glow. If you seal the bottom of the lantern, you can hang it with the tea light in it wherever you choose.
Puffball Bats
Your doorways could look a lot spookier with a few puffball bats! All you need are a few large puff balls, black construction paper, tacky glue, and googly eyes if you want them.
Cut the black construction paper into wing shapes that are as simple or complex as you want. A simple triangle works well for this. Use the tacky glue to stick the wings to each puff ball. When it dries, you can also add features like ears, faces, and eyes. However, a simple puff ball with wings can work.
When everything is dry, you can hang them. Hang tabs that stick well to puffballs are a great way to place bats strategically around your home without visible strings.
Stick Figure Skeletons
Another quick and simple option for creative decorations that your preschooler can make is stick figure skeletons. These are among the simplest crafts to make and are great for telling stories and putting them around your house.
To do this project, you need several popsicle sticks, glue, cardboard or paper for the head, and paint or crayons. White crayons are exceptionally good for this since the grainy finish of crayons on wood will make it look well-aged and detailed.
Start by cutting circles out of cardboard or paper, and decorating them as faces. Then, glue together a stick figure body out of popsicle sticks. If your preschoolers like to add little details, try to add ribs by using little pieces of popsicle sticks, paper cutouts, or even pipe cleaners. Color the body white and add the head. Let everything dry thoroughly.
Now you have skeletons that can go great with playtime, story time, or as decorations around the house! You can even make one every year for Skeleton (not elf) on a Shelf for Halloween!
Choosing The Right Crafts for Your Preschoolers
While these Halloween-inspired fall crafts are simple and fun, every preschooler is different. Some kids will be ahead in fine motor skills, while others excel at pretend play and storytelling. Fortunately, there are plenty of crafts to choose from that support a wide range of developmental skills and strengths. Take a second to examine what your preschooler’s strengths are, and you’ll quickly find which crafts align better with their skills and wants.
Enroll In A Quality Coconut Creek Preschool & VPK Program
Every preschooler can benefit from professional help with developmental skills. That’s where preschool options come in. The right program can have a measured impact on your preschooler’s development, which is why so much work goes into developing the right programs and environment.
At Providence Children’s Academy, we work with experts to create a place that is not only strong in skills development and education, but also fun for kids to spend their days in. Our Coconut Creek preschool and VPK programs are designed to help everyone excel in early childhood development.
Contact Providence Children’s Academy at 954-570-6914 to learn more about how we can help your preschooler on the development path!