This cotton ball ghost craft for toddlers and preschoolers is wonderfully tactile and great for developing fine motor skills.
If you’re looking for an easy Halloween craft for toddlers to do, you can’t beat this cotton ball ghost craft. Little ones will love the process of stretching cotton balls and gluing them on to black paper.
The toddlers and preschoolers in my daycare have made a number of really easy ghost crafts over the years, but this one has always been my favourite.
Making these ghosts is such a simple process, but the hooligans enjoyed every step of it. It’s a lovely tactile craft that allows young children to explore and create with interesting materials.
There was drawing, gluing and exploring soft, squishy cotton balls and hard, shiny buttons. My kids always love playing with buttons. And pulling apart the cotton balls was a wonderful experience as well.
Let me show you all the fun we had making our ghosts.
To make our cotton ball ghost craft, you’ll need:
- cotton balls
- construction paper
- black buttons
- chalk
- glue
- paintbrush
How the toddlers made this ghost craft:
First, the Hooligans used chalk to draw “ghosts” on black construction paper.
All they really need to draw is an outline of a ghost.
The older children drew eyes, noses and mouths on their ghosts, but it’s not necessary as the kids will end up gluing cotton balls over them.
Next, the kids covered their entire ghost drawings with glue. The easiest way to do this is to pour the glue into a cup and have them brush the glue all over the surface of their ghost.
Next, we pulled and stretched our cotton balls and stuck them in the glue. The hooligans loved this step.
Cotton balls provide such a wonderful sensory experience. I know some people can’t stand the way they feel, but I’ve never had a child who’s been bothered by the texture of a cotton ball.
In fact, they quite love the way they feel, and they really enjoy stretching them and pulling them a part.
The thinner wispier you can get your cotton, the better.
Lastly, they added a couple of black button eyes to their ghosts.
BOO!
Aren’t these cotton ball ghosts just the cutest little ghosts you’ve ever seen?
What a wonderful Halloween craft for young children.
More ghost crafts for toddlers and preschoolers
Get the 3-5 Playful Preschool e-Book!
25+preschool activities by 25 bloggers, 10 printables, plus links to 50 additional crafts and activities all for $8.99!
Follow the Hooligans on Facebook
Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
toddlingintomadness
October 25, 2011 at 5:45 pmWhat a brilliant activity – we did something similar for sheep in the spring but love the idea for ghost now.
Marie Willingham
October 27, 2011 at 3:45 pmI love that you did this outside in coats and hats!
happyhooligans
October 27, 2011 at 4:10 pmOh, I so wish it wouldn’t get any colder than this. In another couple of months the deck will be covered in snow. 🙁 There won’t be much crafting going on out there then. lol
amber
October 8, 2012 at 11:05 amthese turned out really cute and we love that it is easy too !
Rosie Hurtado
October 9, 2013 at 1:55 pmThank you for the cute idea! My preschoolers and toddlers loved their cotton ghosts!! We added little pumpkins to little hands!! Adorable!!!
happyhooligans
October 9, 2013 at 3:19 pmYay! You’re welcome, Rosie! Good thinking with the pumpkins!
Carrie Green
October 1, 2018 at 5:41 amI can’t wait to do this with my toddler. Thanks for sharing.