Friendly Halloween activities for preschoolers

By The Adventures of Edmund and Bouncer · October 14, 2026

Start with a story you can watch together

In The Friendly Halloween Helpers, Edmund and Bouncer make a happy pumpkin, help a paper ghost flutter and explore Halloween together. The story includes choosing a well-lit porch and waiting for a grown-up to check treats.

Watch with your child, pause when they want to talk, and follow what catches their attention. The paper activities below are our suggested play ideas for home, rather than a step-by-step recreation of the episode. You can try one part and leave the rest for another day.

Drawing works just as well as cutting, so scissors are optional. Use materials suited to your child, keep pieces large, and put tools away before playing. You do not need a real pumpkin, candles, candy or a costume for this activity.

1. Make a happy paper pumpkin

Draw a big pumpkin outline together. Let your child choose a color and make a face with crayons. If they want separate paper features, a grown-up can prepare large shapes first. Offer a choice: round eyes or square eyes? A wide smile or a small one?

Count the eyes together, then notice the mouth. Point to the colors your child chose. There is no correct pumpkin face to copy; a lopsided grin can start a good story. Ask who the pumpkin might like to welcome.

For a simple color hunt, set the pumpkin beside a blue sheet. Ask your child to point to orange, then blue. If they prefer speaking, let them name a color; if they prefer pointing, point together. Count only the features you have actually drawn. Stop at a number that feels enjoyable rather than adding pieces to reach a target.

2. Help a friendly ghost flutter

Draw a friendly ghost on another large sheet. Add a face your child likes, then hold the paper and gently wave it. Take turns making slow and quick movements. You can count three gentle waves together, or simply watch the paper move.

Give each person a job: one holds the paper while the other describes what they notice. Swap roles. If a piece folds or drops, help each other try again. The shared job matters more than making the ghost look perfect.

3. Talk about being a Halloween helper

Return to the episode’s bright-porch moment at 2:41. Ask which porch the friends choose and why. Then talk about your own grown-up’s plan for any Halloween outing, including staying together and having treats checked before eating.

For a kindness game, take turns welcoming the paper pumpkin and ghost to your pretend doorstep. Ask, “How could we help our visitor?” Your child might offer a greeting, make room or invite a friend to join. Let their answer shape the story.

Keep it comfortable for your family

If ghosts are not appealing, keep the pumpkin and skip that part. If coloring is the favorite, stay with coloring. Offer a pause or finish whenever your child is ready. These are playful suggestions, with no timer, score or finished craft to achieve.

You can also revisit just the pumpkin scene at 0:33 or the paper-ghost scene at 1:25. Choose the pace that works for your child.