Now that October is officially here, it’s time for us parents to step up and provide a bit of Halloween magic for our little ones.
Whether you’re looking for spectacularly spooky or classic fall fun, here’s a roundup of the best Halloween activities and Halloween snacks for toddlers. (Oh, and of course, don’t forget to pick up a Halloween costume while you’re at it!)
Jump to:
- Non-candy treat: Halloween Playdough
- Get your glow on: Halloween glow sticks
- They’re spooky and they’re slinky: Mini pumpkin slinkies
- Sticky Halloween fun: Halloween sheet stickers
- Toddler-safe pumpkin carving: EZ pumpkin carving set
- Treats to die for: Great value Halloween graveyard brownie kit
- A festive read: The Legend of the Great Pumpkin
- No-boo crafts: Ghost magnet craft
- A tote for your treats: Pumpkin Halloween cloth bucket
- Time to get cozy: Jack-o-Lantern PJs
Non-Candy Halloween Treats for Toddlers
A lot of the buzz around Halloween is because of the loads of candy that kids collect. And while we’re team one-piece-won’t-hurt or at least-Mom-can-steal-a-piece-after-the-kids-go-to-bed, every family has to do what’s right for them.
So if sugar is not your family’s thing, there are lots of candy alternatives for Halloween that will delight kids and last longer than a bite-sized candy bar. If you’re looking for allergy safe trick-or-treat ideas or just want to avoid sugared-up kids, there are some of my favorite candy alternatives for Halloween.
Best Halloween PlayDoh
Play-Doh Minis
Kids love play-doh almost as much as they love sugar, so you’re sure to delight some little ones when you give them these play-doh minis. The one-ounce containers are small enough to be a novelty, but have enough play-doh that kids can get creative. You can buy these minis in normal play-doh colors (which are a good budget-conscious option), or seek out the Play-Doh’s treat-without-the-sweet pack, which comes in Halloween-themed colors like black, orange, yellow, purple and green. If you show up to trunk-or-treat with these, you’ll be a favorite among kids and adults.
Best Halloween Glow Stick
Spooky Glow Sticks
These glow sticks will excite kids, but they’ll also make parents happy, since they make it easy to keep track of kids in the dark. These FlashingBlinkyLights Bats & Spiders Halloween Glow Sticks come with—you guessed it—bat or spider prints, so they’re the perfect level of spookiness for even young kids. The glow sticks are designed to be very secure, but if they happen to break, rest assured that the material inside is non-toxic, and can be washed right off the skin with soap and water.
The Best Spooky Slinky
Mini Pumpkin Slinkies
Slinkies are classic childhood toys that are entertaining even for adults. These mini slinkies are the perfect pumpkin-themed introduction to the toy. The slinkies are only 1.2 inches in diameter, so they’re best reserved for the over-three crowd, to reduce the risk of choking. Your preschool or school-aged children will love watching the pumpkin face stretch and rebound. This slinky can be a great fidget toy for wiggly little ones. Plus, we won’t tell anyone if you find yourself playing with the slinky too.
Stickers to Keep Little Hands Busy
Halloween Stickers
Looking for a crafty Halloween option? Check out these cutesy stickers, which put a friendly, cartoonish spin on Halloween characters like the vampire, ghost and witch. The stickers come in sheets of ten or more, so they’re perfect for handing out at trick or treat, or for letting your kids decorate their pumpkins and other Halloween goodies. The pack has more than 1200 stickers total, so even the most enthusiastic little goblins won’t run out.
Kid-Friendly Halloween Essentials
Having trick-or-treat items at the ready is great, but we all know Halloween celebrations start well before little witches and ghosts start prowling the streets.
If you’re looking for kid-friendly Halloween crafts for toddlers or Halloween activities for kids to stretch the celebrations all month long, we’ve got you covered.
Toddler-Friendly "Carving"
EZ Pumpkin Carving Set
When you’re a kid, pumpkin carving seems like a fun. When you’re an adult, you might have a hard time seeing past the sharp knives and big mess. No worries—this pumpkin carving set lets you have the fanciest jack-o-lanterns on the block, while keeping all your fingers intact. The set provides inserts that have fun designs like an owl or haunted house. You simply clean your pumpkin out (giving your kids the satisfaction of feeling the squishy insides), then cut a circle in your pumpkin. Pop the insert in and enjoy artistic designs without all the fiddly work.
Treats to Die For
Graveyard Oreo Kit
We're a huge fan of Halloween fun that combines the best of all worlds: a craft that toddlers can make on their own, baking made easy, and a delicious desert when all is said and done. My kids LOVE this kit and I love that it's under 10 bucks and includes everything we need for some Halloween fun, candy, icing, and cookies all-in-one.
A Charlie Brown Classic
The Legend of the Great Pumpkin Peanuts Book
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. This Halloween book is a classic and even if your child doesn't quite understand the magic of Charlie Brown just yet, they will still love the fun words, silly dog, and colorful characters that abound. Plus, it's just good, clean, Halloween fun.
Ghoulish Crafts
Ghost Kid Magnetic Craft Kit
Looking for a no-fuss Halloween craft? These little ghost decorations are just the treat. The kit comes with decorations to make 12 magnetic ghosts. The details like eyes, bows and trick-or-treat bags have a peel-and-stick backing, so there’s no glue required to put the ghosts together, making this a good craft for younger kids. Once your ghosts are decorated, fix the magnetic strap and display them on your fridge for an extra dose of Halloween spirit.
A Tote for Treats
Halloween Treat Bucket
Whether they’re doing trunk-or-treat at school, or headed out around the neighborhood, your child will need a Halloween bucket to hold all their goodies. This small bucket is perfect for little kids. It measures roughly 3 inches by 6 inches by 6 inches. That means it will fill quickly, and your little one will be thrilled to see it full to the brim. Best of all, this bucket can do double duty, since the five different designs are all cute enough to be displayed around the house when not in use.
The Perfect Treat to Snuggle Up To
Jack-o-Lantern PJs
Keep the fun alive before or after the costumes come out with these jack-o-lantern pajamas. Your tot can wear these to bed, or as a comfortable and cozy base layer under their costumes. The classic orange jack-o-lantern pattern is perfect for little boys or girls, and with sizes available through the toddler range you can make your kids match. The only downside is that these aren’t available for adults.
When you click on some of our links, you support our community. To learn more click here.
