October is filled with opportunities for hands-on learning! Colorful leaves, pumpkins, spiders, ghosts, and other seasonal themes make it easy to create engaging activities for toddlers and preschoolers.
As a longtime home daycare provider, I know how helpful it is to have simple activities planned ahead of time. That’s why I put together this October preschool activity calendar with 31 fall and Halloween crafts, sensory activities, science experiments, math games, and creative play ideas.
There is one activity for every day of October, but you don’t have to complete them in order—or finish every activity. Choose the ideas that work best for your children, schedule, and available supplies.
October Preschool Activity Calendar
Save the October activity calendar below so you have an entire month of playful learning ideas at your fingertips. These activities are perfect for preschool classrooms, home daycare programs, homeschooling, or enjoying at home with your child.
The calendar includes a mixture of:
- Fall and Halloween crafts
- Sensory bins and sensory play
- Simple preschool science experiments
- Counting and early math activities
- Fine motor activities
- Nature-based learning
- Pretend play and movement activities
Always supervise young children closely and adjust the materials to match their ages and abilities.
31 Fall and Halloween Activities for Preschoolers
1. Fall Leaves Sensory Soup
Add colorful leaves to a container of water for a simple Fall Leaves Sensory Soup from And Next Comes L. Children can scoop, pour, stir, and explore the different colors and textures.
2. Pumpkin Washing Station
This Pumpkin Washing Station is an easy fall sensory activity that encourages scrubbing, pouring, and imaginative play. Add small pumpkins, water, brushes, and towels for an engaging preschool activity.
3. Pinecone Pumpkins
Turn collected pinecones into adorable Pinecone Pumpkins with this creative nature craft from Crayon Box Chronicles.
4. Easy Fall No-Cook Playdough
Make a batch of Fall No-Cook Playdough from Wildflower Ramblings. Add fall-themed cookie cutters, leaves, acorns, or small pumpkins for open-ended play.
5. Fall Handprint Tree Craft
Use a child’s handprint to create this colorful Negative Space Fall Handprint Tree from Fun-A-Day. It makes a fun fall keepsake while giving preschoolers an opportunity to explore paint and color.
6. Five Little Pumpkins Fine Motor Activity
Bring a favorite Halloween rhyme to life with this Five Little Pumpkins Fine Motor Activity from Still Playing School.
7. Candy Corn Science Experiment
Explore what happens when candy corn is placed in different liquids with this simple Candy Corn Science Experiment from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails.
8. Fall Leaves Math Tray
Practice sorting, counting, and comparing with a hands-on Fall Leaves Math Tray from And Next Comes L.
9. Fall Leaf Identification
Collect leaves during a nature walk and use these Fall Leaf Identification Cards from Wildflower Ramblings to compare their shapes, colors, and other features.
10. Fall Tree Art
Preschoolers can experiment with glue, sand, and recycled materials while making this creative Fall Tree Art Project from Happily Ever Mom.
11. Pumpkin Patch Small World
Create a miniature Pumpkin Patch Small World for storytelling and pretend play. Children can move the pumpkins, arrange the scenery, and create their own pumpkin patch adventures.
12. Potato Jack-O’-Lantern Prints
Turn an ordinary potato into a pumpkin-shaped stamp with this easy Potato Jack-O’-Lantern Printing Activity. Preschoolers can add their own jack-o’-lantern faces to make every print unique.
13. Halloween Find-a-Face Activity
Practice visual tracking and attention to detail with this printable Halloween Find-a-Face Game from Lalymom.
14. Pumpkin Spice Clean Mud
This Pumpkin Spice Clean Mud from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails adds a seasonal twist to messy sensory play.
15. Stamped Acorn Craft
Use a recycled paper roll as a painting tool to make this simple Stamped Acorn Craft from Still Playing School.
16. Potato Print Spider Craft
Create a collection of silly spiders with this Potato Print Spider Craft from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails.
17. Pumpkin Spice Playdough
This Pumpkin Spice Playdough is a fun addition to an October sensory or playdough center.
18. Ghost Volcano Science Experiment
Combine Halloween fun with simple science by making these fizzy Ghost Volcanoes from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails.
19. Sparkly Spider Craft
Children can paint, decorate, and add their own creative details to this Sparkly Spider Craft from Happily Ever Mom.
20. Halloween Puppets and Puppet Theater
Make Halloween Puppets and a Homemade Puppet Theater from Crayon Box Chronicles. After creating the puppets, invite children to invent and perform their own Halloween stories.
21. Hanging Ghost Craft
Reuse household materials to create this playful Hanging Ghost Craft from Sugar Aunts.
22. Spider and Spaghetti Sensory Bin
Combine cooked spaghetti and toy spiders to make a delightfully squishy Halloween Sensory Bin from Pre-K Pages.
23. Candy Corn Light Table Play
Explore Halloween colors and patterns with this Candy Corn Light Table Activity from And Next Comes L.
24. Pinecone Bats
Transform pinecones into cute Pinecone Bats with this easy Halloween nature craft from Fireflies & Mudpies.
25. Glowing Spider Webs
Turn down the lights and explore these fun Glow-in-the-Dark Spider Webs from Still Playing School.
26. Frankenstein Footprint Art
Create a silly Halloween keepsake with this Frankenstein Footprint Art from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails.
27. Halloween Obstacle Course
Get preschoolers moving with an Indoor Halloween Obstacle Course from Lalymom. Include actions such as crawling like a spider, flying like a bat, or jumping over pretend pumpkins.
28. Counting Ghosts Halloween Math
Practice counting and one-to-one correspondence with this hands-on Counting Ghosts Halloween Math Activity.
29. Jack-O’-Lantern Nightlight Jars
Make glowing Jack-O’-Lantern Nightlight Jars with this festive Halloween craft from Fireflies & Mudpies. Use battery-operated lights when enjoying the finished jars with young children.
30. Halloween Storytelling Silhouettes
Encourage imaginative storytelling with these DIY Halloween Storytelling Silhouettes from Happily Ever Mom.
31. Halloween I Spy Game
Finish the month with a simple Halloween I Spy Game from Sugar Aunts. Children can search for Halloween objects while practicing observation and visual discrimination skills.
What Preschoolers Learn From These October Activities
Seasonal activities are fun, but they also give toddlers and preschoolers meaningful opportunities to practice important early learning skills.
As children paint, scoop, count, build, and experiment, they can develop:
- Fine motor strength and coordination
- Counting and number recognition
- Observation and prediction skills
- Color and shape recognition
- Sensory vocabulary
- Creativity and imaginative thinking
- Early problem-solving skills
- Confidence using new tools and materials
These activities can be adapted for a single child, a preschool classroom, or a mixed-age home daycare group.
More Fall and Halloween Activities for Preschoolers
Keep the seasonal fun going with these additional ideas from Where Imagination Grows:
- Fall Sensory Bin Ideas for Preschoolers
- Apple Volcano Science Experiment
- Fall Leaf Painting and Preservation
- Halloween Songs and Rhymes for Preschoolers
- Mason Jar Fall Tree Luminaries
- Halloween Picture Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Planning ahead for November? Visit our November Activity Calendar for another month of seasonal crafts and hands-on learning ideas.
Which October preschool activity will your children want to try first?
Looking for more crafts and activities? Check out our index for 100+ kids activities! Find activities by theme, materials, skills, age, and much more!