Updated March 2, 2024
Are you looking for easy October toddler activities?
October is our favorite fall month.
The days are getting cooler, the leaves are changing color, and there are many opportunities for learning and exploring during the fall season.
Choosing October activities for toddlers can be a fun, but sometimes challenging experience.
Today, we are sharing 31 October toddler activities that we have done with our kids over the years.
Many of the activities are free or use items you probably already have on hand.
October is the perfect time to get your toddler outdoors and introduce them to the beautiful world around them.
Some of the activities, like going to a fair, apple picking, or a pumpkin patch can be more expensive (especially if you have a large family!)
My suggestion, if the cost is an issue, is to choose one “pricier” fall activity and call or email them and ask about discounted days or tickets.
We have found that most fall events have discounted tickets or discounted days.
Our state fair has free admission if you bring a canned good on Fridays during the fair.
You can check with your local grocery store.
Often they have free tickets or passes to fall events in their area.
There are very often farms and pumpkin patches where toddlers are free or that are free to just walk around and look at things.
Many of the fall events around us offer free or discounted admission on certain days during the fall season.
It never hurts to ask!
What your child will remember is the experience of doing these activities with you, they won’t remember the cost.
Some of my best childhood memories were things we did that were completely free but were done together as a family.
Keep in mind the days can still be warm, but it can get quite chilly in the afternoons, so dress your toddler in layers or bring an extra jacket or sweatshirt.
October Toddler Activities
1. Fall leaf stamping art project
This October toddler craft is an excellent fine motor activity, and art activity, and allows your toddler to explore colors and seasons.
Our young kids have always loved painting stamping art so I try to make sure to include it in our seasonal activities.
Washable paint, paper, and plastic leaves bring this activity together in minutes!
Photo: Maternity Comfort Solutions
2. Visit a local pumpkin patch and pick out a pumpkin
Visiting a pumpkin patch is an awesome way to spend a weekend afternoon in October.
There is always so much to see and do. Your toddler will love all the sights, and sounds!
Many pumpkin patches also sell fall seasonal foods like pumpkin pie, apple cider donuts, and apple cider.
The pumpkin patch is the perfect time to treat your toddler to a few bites of pumpkin pie or a piece of apple cider donut.
Toddlers also look forward to going to a pumpkin patch because they know they will be getting a pumpkin.
You may find some pumpkin patches in your area that also have corn mazes designed for small children which can be so much fun to do together as a family!
Photo: Maternity Comfort Solutions
3. Toddler pumpkin seed art painting
The main supplies here are pumpkin seeds and paint!
Pumpkin seed fall finger painting is an excellent process art activity for your two-year-old.
It makes for a fun sensory activity too.
Our kids love finger painting….everything.
Heads up on toddlers and fingerprinting, stay close by while they are painting or you may find they have fingerpainted your walls.
Yes, we know that from personal experience.
But even with that, I still whip out the finger paints anytime I can for them.
If it is a nice October day pumpkin seed art painting can be done outside!
Photo: Maternity Comfort Solutions
4. Make Pumpkin Slime
I make two kinds of pumpkin slime. One is orange slime and I turn it into silly putty when they tire of slime. The other is orange slime with pumpkin seeds.
Slime is so easy to make. Playing with slime can entertain an active toddler for hours.
When they get bored with slime you can knead it for another 5-10 minutes and it becomes silly putty.
You can make this pumpkin slime scented by adding a little pumpkin spice to the slime when you are making it.
Photo: Maternity Comfort Solutions
5. Brown Bear Toddler Activity
Our kids LOVED this book.
I love this easy toddler art project for the end of October.
It is when we start to talk about animals preparing for winter where we live.
You can turn the book into an entire theme about colors. This is a simple set-up project for the color brown.
You can find the book on Amazon:
Brown Bear Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Photo: Maternity Comfort Solutions
6. Toddler Fall Leaf Lacing Activity
We love these fall-lacing cards.
They are perfect for a back-to-school or harvest theme activity.
They are free. You don’t even have to give your email!
Lacing is a great option for toddlers, as it’s simple, fun, and helps teach fine motor skills!
7. Shredded Paper with Leaves sensory bin:
Shredded paper with leaves and popsicle sticks.
I got the shredded paper at the Dollar Store.
You can find it in the party goods section.
They have a variety of colors.
I love to use shredded paper in sensory bins.
It is reusable and recyclable.
Photo: Maternity Comfort Solutions
8. Take your toddler on a fall nature walk and scavenger hunt
When considering fall activities for toddlers, a simple and free event is to go on a nature walk.
Bring a bag along with you so your toddler can collect leaves for arts and crafts projects.
Bring your camera or phone to take lots of pictures of changing leaves or animals you might see getting ready for winter.
Look for squirrels scurrying about searching for acorns.
Be sure to talk about the things they see and hear.
Point out the bright blue sky and listen to the leaves crunching underneath your feet.
Let your toddler collect leaves, rocks, sticks, and acorns.
Fall is a great time to teach about colors. Point out the different colored leaves.
Explain the changing seasons and how the animals are preparing for winter.
Go on a fall scavenger hunt!
Grab your free Fall Scavenger Hunt for Toddlers! (No email required)
9. Go outside, rake leaves, and make a scarecrow.
Getting outside and raking leaves is an excellent exercise for you and your toddler.
Making a scarecrow is a fun family bonding activity.
10. Make a fun Fall or Halloween breakfast.
We love to make fun holiday-themed breakfasts and lunches.
They seem to be the two best meals of the day for my picky-eating toddler.
In the fall we like to do pumpkin pancakes for breakfast.
Our kids love when we do!
So simple to make.
You can use a boxed pancake mix or make your own from scratch.
Pour a small amount of the mixed batter into a separate bowl to make the green stems.
In your main bowl of pancake mix add a couple of drops of orange food coloring.
Gel food coloring works best.
Mix.
Add a couple of drops of green food coloring to the small amount of batter you set aside and mix that.
Cook pancakes as you normally would.
I cook them on a griddle on my gas grill usually.
The picture below was a Halloween breakfast which is why there is candy corn.
Photo: Maternity Comfort Solutions
11. Make Halloween Cookies.
Let your toddler help make these easy Halloween sprinkle shortbread cookies.
They are soft and melt in your mouth.
Your toddler will love being in the kitchen and helping you bake.
Photo: Maternity Comfort Solutions
12. Free Halloween Toddler Lacing Cards
Here is another set of free printable lacing cards.
Lacing cards are a fun and engaging fine motor activity for your two-year-old.
There are six different cards in this set. Perfect for keeping your toddler busy during Halloween week.
13. Make Spider Web Slime
Spider-web slime is one of our kid’s favorite Halloween activities.
This slime is easy to make and all you need are some dollar-store Halloween spiders and it is complete.
Before I give this slime to my kids we read books about spiders.
I’ll list a few of our favorites below.
Photo: Maternity Comfort Solutions
14. Halloween Playdough Invitation to Play
Easy to make orange and black playdough with plastic dollar store Halloween spiders.
Halloween sensory activities for toddlers do not need to be hard to make or expensive
This is a simple Halloween invitation to play using spiders from the spider’s from the spider web slime.
Photo: Maternity Comfort Solutions
15. Play Halloween Bingo
Go grab a FREE set of printable Halloween Bingo Cards that your toddler or preschooler will love playing during Halloween week!
There are 3 different cards in this set and instructions are included in the pdf.
We like to use candy corn for the markers.
16. Halloween Sensory Bin
A dollar store Halloween sensory bin? You bet!
The sensory bin filler is cooked and dyed spaghetti “worms”.
I added plastic bats, snakes, rats, and toads to make a silly witches brew sensory bin.
If you don’t like using food as a sensory bin filler orange and black yarn work great too!
Photo: Maternity Comfort Solutions
17. Make Halloween Mac N Cheese For Lunch
Yummy homemade Halloween Macaroni and Cheese!
This toddler lunch is spooky-licious.
One of our toddler’s favorite Halloween meals.
You can make this recipe in about 20 minutes on the stop-top.
Photo: Maternity Comfort Solutions
Photo: Maternity Comfort Solutions
18. Black and orange rice sensory bin
Black and orange-colored rice for Halloween sensory play.
Colored rice is one of our favorite sensory bin fillers.
It is simple and cost-effective to make.
We added some orange leaves, orange craft sticks, and orange-dyed pasta to the rice.
Photo: Maternity Comfort Solutions
19. Halloween Counting Clip Cards
Fun and free printable Halloween counting clip cards.
Your toddler will love these counting cards.
Photo: Maternity Comfort Solutions
20. Go, Apple Picking.
October is a great month to go apple picking.
Apple picking is not only a great way to get outdoors and enjoy the autumn weather, but it’s also a great way to teach your toddler about where food comes from.
Most apple orchards will allow you to bring your toddler along, and many even have special features like hayrides, playgrounds, and petting zoos.
Photo: Maternity Comfort solutions
21. Trick or treating
Take your toddler trick or treating on Halloween.
If your local city, town, or church has trunk or treating that is especially fun for little ones.
Let your toddler pick out their costume and have fun!
22. Going on hayrides
October is the perfect month to take your toddler on a hayride! Hayrides are a great way to introduce your little one to the fall season and all the fun that comes with it.
Plus, it’s a great way to get some fresh air and spend time outdoors together.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning your hayride:
First, make sure to dress your toddler in comfortable clothing that they can move around in.
Hayrides can be a bit bumpy so bring a blanket they can sit on.
Second, be sure to bring along some snacks and drinks for the ride.
This will help keep your toddler’s energy levels up so they can enjoy the ride.
Finally, create an itinerary for the ride ahead of time so you know what to expect.
This will help you avoid any surprises and ensure that everyone has a great time.
23. Visiting a corn maze
October is a great time to visit a corn maze with your toddler.
Corn mazes are usually open during the day and into the evening, so you can easily find one that fits your schedule.
Many corn mazes also offer other activities, such as hayrides and pumpkin picking.
This makes them a great option for toddler activities.
When visiting a corn maze, be sure to dress your toddler in comfortable clothing and shoes.
It’s also a good idea to bring along a stroller or carrier, as the maze can be large and there may be uneven ground.
With a little planning, visiting a corn maze can be a fun and educational experience for both you and your toddler.
If you go to a pumpkin patch they will often have a corn maze too.
We usually try to do both activities on the same day.
The earlier in the day, you go the less crowded the corn maze will be.
24. Carving pumpkins
October is a month full of fall fun, and carving pumpkins is a great activity to do with toddlers.
Pumpkins are easy to carve – simply cut a hole in the top, scoop out the insides, and then use a knife or pumpkin carving tool to create a design
Don’t forget to roast the pumpkin seeds.
Your toddler will love helping to remove the seeds from the pumpkin and then watching as they roast in the oven.
One of our grown kid’s favorite fall memory is roasting the pumpkin seeds from the pumpkin they carved with their grandparents every year.
25. Decorating for Halloween
A fun October activity is decorating the inside and outside of your house for Halloween.
You don’t have to make it super spooky.
We decorate with pumpkins, and spiderwebs, and usually do a bat wall or hang paper bats around our fireplace.
Keep it light-hearted and fun!
Photo: Maternity Comfort solutions
26. Make Homemade Soup Together
There is nothing quite like a warm bowl of soup on a chilly and rainy October afternoon or evening.
Get your toddler in the kitchen with you and make some homemade soup.
A steamy cup of chicken noodles or creamy tomato soup and grilled cheese will please almost any toddler!
27. Reading autumn-themed books
Fall is the perfect time to curl up with your little one and read together.
We change out books for the seasons and always have a book basket with our seasonal and holiday favorites by the couch.
28. Making Toilet Paper Roll Monsters
This is a fun and silly Halloween activity your toddler will love!
All you need are some empty toiet paper rolls, paint, googly eyes, and some pipe cleaners and your toddler can create scary or silly monsters.
Photo: Maternity Comfort Solutions
29. Learning about different cultures and traditions during the autumn season.
October is a month full of vibrant colors, cool temperatures, and fun holidays.
It’s also a great time to learn about different cultures and traditions.
One autumn activity for 2-year-olds is making Fall decorations.
Hang up some streamers in orange, red, and yellow, and cut out paper leaves to tape to the windows.
You can also carve pumpkins together and paint them in different colors.
October is also a good time to teach kids about different traditions from around the world.
For example, in Mexico, people celebrate the Day of the Dead with activities like decorating skulls and making sugar skulls.
In China, people celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival by eating moon cakes and lighting lanterns.
And in the United States, people celebrate Halloween by dressing up in costumes and going trick-or-treating.
There are so many fun things to do in October, and it’s also a great opportunity to learn about other cultures.
30. Making a bonfire and roast marshmallows
Another fun autumn-themed toddler activity is making a small bonfire in your backyard and roasting marshmallows.
You’ll need to supervise your toddler carefully, but they’ll love being able to help roast the marshmallows.
Just make sure to have some graham crackers and chocolate on hand for making s’mores.
31. Making leaf rubbings
All you need to get started is a few leaves from your yard, some crayons, and a piece of paper.
Once you have your materials gathered, simply place the paper over the leaf and rub the crayon back and forth until the image of the leaf appears on the paper.
Leaf rubbings are a great way to help your toddler learn about different types of leaves, and they make for beautiful fall-themed artwork.
Best of all, they’re easy to make and can be done anywhere.
Photo: Maternity Comfort Solutions
Tips for making sensory play more enjoyable for your toddler:
- Play music -Toddlers love to listen to music and sing!
- Encourage movement – get up and dance with your toddler, be silly, and you’ll both feel better!
- Discuss the sensory activity with them, let them describe what they feel, see, and hear.
- Allow them plenty of time
- If the weather allows, go outside with the sensory bin.
- Laugh, sing, and smile.
- Take nature walks and collect items like leaves, feathers, flowers, and rocks to use in more sensory play.
What can I do with my toddler in autumn?
As the leaves begin to change color and the air grows cooler, autumn is an ideal time to get outside with your toddler and explore the sights and sounds of the season.
One simple activity is to collect leaves of different shapes and sizes and use them to create collages or pictures.
You can also help your toddler explore the senses by going on a nature walk and looking for things that are soft, bumpy, smooth, or colorful.
If you have a backyard, you can also use this time to teach your toddler about gardening by planting some fall flowers or vegetables.
And of course, no autumn activity would be complete without a trip to a pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin for carving.
What can I do with my toddler on Halloween?
Halloween is a special time for kids of all ages, but it can be especially exciting for toddlers.
If you’re wondering what to do with your little one on this spooky holiday, here are a few ideas to get you started.
One fun activity is to visit a pumpkin patch and pick out a pumpkin together.
You can then help your toddler carve or paint the pumpkin, and use it as a decoration for your home.
Another fun idea is to make Halloween-themed crafts together, such as ghosts made from sheets of white paper or spooky bats cut out of black construction paper.
You can also turn your backyard into a mini haunted house, complete with spooky decorations and Halloween music playing in the background.
And of course, no Halloween would be complete without dressing up in costumes and going trick-or-treating around the neighborhood.
Just be sure to keep an eye on your toddler so they don’t eat any candy before you’ve had a chance to check it first!
We hope you find inspiration in these October toddler activities!
Keeping your active 2-year-old busy doesn’t have to break the bank.
Let your toddler explore and create.
Read books to them every day.
If you haven’t started a seasonal book basket yet, the fall is the perfect time to start!
