Halloween Sensory Activities for Toddlers: That Are So Fun, It’s Scary!

This will be my little ones first real Halloween (last year he was still soooo tiny- time flies), so I am excited to share some Halloween Sensory Activities.

October is here, and we all know what that means! It’s officially time to bring out the spooky decorations, costumes, and of course—Halloween-themed sensory play!

If you’ve been looking for easy, fun, and engaging ways to get your toddler excited for the spooky season, then Halloween sensory activities for toddlers are a perfect choice. From spooky sensory bins to Halloween sensory bottles, there’s a whole world of creepy-crawly crafts waiting to spark their curiosity.

Why Halloween Sensory Play is a Must-Try for Your Toddler

1. Spooky Halloween Sensory Bins for Toddlers

Sensory bins are an absolute classic for toddler play, and you can take them up a notch with a spooky twist. Plus, the options are endless. You can go creepy or cute, depending on what your toddler likes (or what you can handle!). Mine loves dinosaurs so it has dinosaurs lol.

What You’ll Need:

• Plastic bin or tray
• Orange rice (you can dye it with food coloring), or black beans, or simply leaves
• Fake spiders, plastic eyeballs, and mini skeletons, Halloween figurines
• Cotton cobwebs (you can pull apart to make a web effect)
• Small containers or scoops for sorting and transferring
• A dash of Halloween-themed items (pumpkins, bats, etc.)

How to Set it Up:

1. Start by dying your rice orange for a Halloween base. Pour the rice into a large plastic bin or tray.
2. Scatter the fake spiders, eyeballs, and mini skeletons across the rice.
3. Add cotton cobwebs to give the bin a spooky feel. You can also stretch them across the edges of the bin to make it look extra creepy.
4. Throw in small scoops, containers, or cups, so your toddler can “rescue” or “trap” the spiders and eyeballs.

Pinterest Inspiration:

Your toddler will love digging through the rice, finding hidden treasures, and practicing their fine motor skills as they scoop, pour, and sort the items. The contrast between the soft rice and the firm, plastic toys adds extra sensory fun.

Want more ideas for sensory bins? Check out our post on:

• Bug Sensory Bins – That are easy and fun.
• Farm-Themed Sensory Bins
• Rain Sensory Bins

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2. DIY Halloween Sensory Bottles

If you’ve got a toddler who likes to shake things up (pun intended), then Halloween sensory bottles are a great alternative to messy bins. Sensory bottles allow toddlers to observe without scattering items everywhere—a win for parents who don’t feel like sweeping up fake spiders all day.

What You’ll Need:

• Empty clear plastic bottles (water or soda bottles work great)
• Water or baby oil
• Glitter (orange, black, and purple)
• Small Halloween trinkets (spiders, eyeballs, bats)
• Food coloring (optional)
• Superglue (to seal the lid, trust me)

How to Make Them:

1. Fill the bottle 3/4 of the way with water or baby oil. If you want a thicker, slower-moving effect, use baby oil.
2. Add your glitter and small Halloween trinkets. Feel free to mix different types to keep it interesting.
3. Add a few drops of food coloring to the water to give it an eerie look—purple or green are great for a spooky vibe.
4. Seal the lid tightly with superglue so your toddler doesn’t end up opening it and spilling the contents everywhere.

Pinterest Inspiration

And voila! You r toddler now has their own portable Halloween-themed sensory toy to shake, roll, and tilt around. They’ll be mesmerized by the glitter and objects floating around, and you’ll enjoy the easy cleanup!

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3. Witch’s Potion Mixing Station

Let’s face it—every toddler loves the idea of mixing potions and stirring up a magical brew. This witch’s potion activity gives them that Halloween excitement while allowing them to work on their hand-eye coordination and creative thinking.

What You’ll Need:

• Plastic cauldrons or bowls
• Colored water (use food coloring for green, purple, or black)
• Fake bugs, frogs, and other creepy-crawly toys
• A variety of scoops, ladles, and spoons
• Optional: Baking soda and vinegar for a fizzy effect

How to Set it Up:

1. Fill the cauldrons or bowls with colored water.
2. Set out the creepy-crawly toys and fake bugs next to the cauldrons.
3. Provide different tools like scoops, ladles, or even measuring cups for your toddler to “mix their potions.”

For an extra surprise, add a bit of baking soda to the cauldrons and let your toddler pour in some vinegar—instant bubbly witch’s brew! They’ll have a blast watching it fizz, and you’ll be the cool parent who just performed some “magic.”

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4. Halloween-Themed Sensory Dough

Homemade sensory dough is always a hit with toddlers, and Halloween is a great excuse to make some themed dough in creepy colors like orange, green, and purple. Add a few spooky extras, and you’ve got a tactile activity that will keep your toddler occupied for ages.

What You’ll Need:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 cup water
• Food coloring (orange, green, black)
• Halloween cookie cutters (pumpkins, bats, ghosts)
• Glitter, plastic spiders, and other small Halloween-themed toys

How to Make the Dough:

1. Combine the flour, salt, and water in a bowl and knead it until you get the right consistency.
2. Divide the dough into sections and mix in different food coloring to create your Halloween palette.
3. Add glitter or plastic spiders to the dough for a more tactile experience.
4. Give your toddler the Halloween cookie cutters and let them cut out spooky shapes!

It’s an easy way to add a hands-on element to Halloween sensory play while helping them build those fine motor skills.

Pinterest Inspiration for Halloween Dough

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5. Ghostly Sensory Walk

If your toddler is more of a mover, try setting up a ghostly sensory walk. This activity is perfect for getting them to engage with their surroundings while feeling different textures under their feet.

What You’ll Need:

• White bed sheet or cloth
• Cotton balls, soft cotton wool, and packing peanuts
• Plastic ghosts or bats

How to Set it Up:

1. Lay the white sheet out flat in an open space.
2. Scatter cotton balls, cotton wool, and packing peanuts on top to give it that “ghostly” feel.
3. Add plastic ghosts or bats around for extra fun.

Encourage your toddler to walk, crawl, or even roll over the sensory walk. They’ll enjoy the different textures under their feet and hands while staying active.

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6. Halloween Ghost Sticks 👻🎋

Got some leftover chopsticks from last night’s takeout? Perfect! Turn them into spooky Halloween Ghost Sticks for your toddler’s sensory play. It’s simple, quick, and budget-friendly.

What you’ll need:

• Leftover chopsticks (or any sticks)
• White tissue or paper
• Cotton Balls
• Googly eyes (or just a marker for drawing eyes)
• Glue or tape

How to Make Them:

1. Make hand sized cotton ball.
2. Stick the cotton ball to the top of the Choptick. Than wrap it in white tissue or paper, securing it with glue or tape to form the ghost’s ” head and body.”
3. Stick on the googly eyes (or draw them if you’re feeling artsy). You can also add a little smile or frown for extra ghostly character!
4. Let your toddler wave them around like spooky mini puppets or hide them in a sensory bin for some fun surprise ghostly pop-ups.

These ghost sticks are great for imaginative play or as a simple DIY sensory item to add to your Halloween-themed activities.

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7. Spider Web Sensory Bag

If you want a mess-free Halloween sensory activity, this is a great option. Sensory bags are also perfect for younger toddlers who are still exploring textures but need something a little safer.

What You’ll Need:

• Ziploc bag
• Hair gel (or clear shampoo)
• Plastic spiders or other Halloween-themed trinkets
• Duct tape (to seal the bag)

How to Set it Up:

1. Fill the Ziploc bag with hair gel and a few plastic spiders.
2. Seal the bag and reinforce it with duct tape to avoid leaks.
3. Let your toddler squish, poke, and press the bag to move the spiders around.

This gives them the sensation of interacting with the “web” and “spiders” without the mess.

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8. Zombie Handprint Art

This spooky craft idea brings sensory play into the world of art, and what’s more fun than creating creepy zombie handprints?

What You’ll Need:

• Non-toxic green paint
• Paper or cardstock
• Googly eyes

How to Set it Up:

1. Help your toddler dip their hands in green paint and press them onto a piece of paper to create the “zombie handprint.”
2. Once it’s dry, add googly eyes and draw a creepy mouth.

It’s a fun way for your toddler to combine sensory exploration with creativity!

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9. Haunted Ice Cube Hunt

For a chilly sensory experience, you can freeze some spooky toys in ice cubes and let your toddler “rescue” them from their frozen tombs.

What You’ll Need:

• Plastic Halloween-themed toys (mini pumpkins, spiders, ghosts)
• Ice cube trays
• Water

How to Set it Up:

1. Freeze Halloween-themed toys in ice cubes.
2. Give your toddler a bin of warm water and let them “rescue” the toys by melting the ice.

It’s a great way to explore temperature and water play while keeping the Halloween spirit alive.