Spray Painting Ghosts – A Fun Outdoor Halloween Activity for Toddlers

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It’s still hot where we live, but I am more than ready for fall, give me all the pumpkins, ghosts, and cozy crafts!

To make the most of this warmer weather before spooky season kicks in, we had some fun with an easy outdoor spray painting activity. It’s a little messy, super fun, and toddler-approved.

What You’ll Need:

• Cardstock
• Spray bottles (We love these ones)
• Washable paints (We always use this set)
• Painter’s tape
• Scissors
• Sharpie or markers for finishing details

How to Spray Paint Ghosts

1. Prep your paint
Mix your washable paint with water in the spray bottles. I recommend a 1:3 paint-to-water ratio. You want the paint thin enough to spray easily but still vibrant on paper.

2. Cut out your shapes
We went with ghost cutouts, but you could do pumpkins, leaves, or anything Halloween-themed! Use cardstock or thicker paper to make sturdy stencils.

3. Tape the shapes
Place a fresh sheet of cardstock on a flat surface and tape your cutouts down with painter’s tape (tape on the back so you don’t see the tape at all). These shapes will stay white while your toddler sprays around them.

4. Head outside and spray!
Lay the cardstock on the ground (this helps minimize paint dripping) and let your toddler spray to their heart’s content. The colors will swirl and blend—it doesn’t have to be perfect. This part is all about the fun.

Bonus: Spray bottles are amazing for building fine motor skills and hand strength, especially in toddlers. It’s a playful way to sneak in some physical development while they create!

5. Let it dry and reveal
Once it’s dry, peel off the taped shapes and reveal your ghostly outlines! Your little one can outline them with Sharpie, add faces, bows, or whatever spooky extras they want.

Toddler-Approved and Repeatable

My toddler loved this so much that I’ll definitely be setting up multiple sheets next time to keep the fun going. I’m already thinking of trying this again to make DIY Christmas cards, so stay tuned for that!

This is the kind of activity that feels festive and creative without requiring a ton of prep or perfection. Just pure fall fun.

Love Halloween Crafts?

If you’re loving this, check out our 13 Halloween Activities for Toddlers—you’ll find sensory play, spooky crafts, and simple ideas to keep your little ones busy all season long.

And don’t forget to grab the free Toddler Activity eBook for 52 low-effort, screen-free ideas designed to keep your toddlers engaged (without needing a full Pinterest board of supplies).

You’re doing an amazing job, mama.
xx Ciara