Halloween is full of excitement for little ones – costumes, candy, and adventures after dark. With a few simple, kid-friendly activities, you can help your preschooler practice the safety skills they’ll use on Halloween night and throughout the year. These playful learning moments build confidence while helping children learn what to do in unfamiliar situations, busy neighborhoods, and new environments.
Stranger Things
This activity helps preschoolers understand what a “trusted grown‑up” is and teaches them how to respond safely if someone they don’t know approaches them. Practicing these skills ahead of Halloween gives your child simple, memorable tools for staying safe while trick‑or‑treating.
Talk with your preschooler about the grownups they can trust to keep them safe. It is also important to help them learn what to do when they meet someone they do not know. Teach them never to get into a car or go with someone they do not know, even if that person is asking for help. Practice with your child how to strongly say No! and move away from the stranger as fast as possible. Teach them to loudly yell for help!
Tell your child that they must always tell you if a stranger came up to them – even if the stranger warned them not to. Tell them they will never be in trouble. Let them know that you and other trusted grown-ups in their life will keep them safe. Check out more ways to build safety skills in four and five year olds here.
Neighborhood Helpers
Halloween night can feel busy and overwhelming for young children, so knowing who the “helpers” are in their community gives them a sense of security. This activity teaches preschoolers to recognize the safe, trusted people who support their neighborhood every day.
Your neighborhood is full of people who are helpers. Crossing guards, postal workers, librarians, and fire fighters are some of the helpers. When you walk in your neighborhood, look for helpers. When you see them, say hello. Talk to your child about the ways they help.
Visit the local library. Ask the children’s librarian to give you and your child a tour of the children’s section. Then, borrow a book to take home to read!
If there is a fire station in your neighborhood, see if they allow visits. Talk with your child about how the fire fighters keep your neighborhood safe from fires. They also help people who need medical attention. Many stations offer tours and talk to children about fire safety and emergency preparedness. Check out more ways to build safety skills in four and five year olds here.
Red Light / Green Light
Halloween often involves crossing streets, walking near driveways, and moving through busy areas. Playing “Red Light/Green Light” helps preschoolers practice stopping quickly, listening for directions, and understanding basic traffic safety.
Teach your child that when the light turns green, the cars can go. When the light turns red, the cars have to stop. Then play a game of “red light/green light” with your child.
Have them stand in front of you, facing away from you. Find an object that is some distance away from you like a tree or a fence. Tell them they are trying to get to that object and touch it. They need to follow your directions. When you say green light, this means “Go.” They can run toward the object. But when you say red light, they must stop. Say green light and let them run a distance, then shout, red light!
Give green and red light signals until they reach the object. Play this game often with your child. It helps them understand that when you say red light they need to stop. If you are ever in a situation where you need your child to stop running, you can use the red light words they understand. Discover more ways to build safety skills in three year olds here.
Stop, Look, Listen
Younger toddlers need extra guidance when it comes to crossing streets safely – especially on Halloween when there’s more foot traffic and excitement. Practicing “Stop, Look, Listen” helps your child build strong habits for staying safe near cars.
Your two year old is too young to cross a street alone. Show them how to stop, look, and listen each time you cross a street together. When you reach the street, stop with your child. Say,
- STOP to make sure your toddler understands.
Then look both ways down the street for cars or bicycles coming toward you. Say,
- LOOK and make sure your child is looking with you.
Finally, say,
- LISTEN and take a minute to listen for any traffic that you may not be able to see. Parked cars or bushes can block your view.
Use hand motions to help your child remember to stop, look, and listen.
- When you say STOP, hold your hand up in front of you.
- When you say LOOK, put your hand above your eyes as if to shade them.
- When you say LISTEN, hold your hand up to your ear.
Practice these hand motions at home. Teach your child to cross at crosswalks only, and find more safety tips for toddlers here.
… Don’t forget to practice good dental hygiene!
Sing and Brush
With all the Halloween treats, preschoolers need extra support building healthy brushing habits. This activity helps them learn to care for their teeth so they can enjoy candy in a way that keeps their smiles strong.
Your child should brush their teeth twice a day. Each time, they should brush for about two minutes. A good way to help them get into this habit is to sing a song while they are brushing. Choose a song that has a lot of verses. Start singing when they start brushing. They will know it is time to stop when the song is over. Talk to them about brushing every tooth, front and back.
At this age, it is a good idea for you to help them for the last minute of brushing. Make sure that all the areas of their teeth and gums are clean. Help them build a habit of taking their time and doing a great job. Helping your preschooler learn through play doesn’t have to be complicated, we believe small moments add up to big skills. For more simple, engaging, and developmentally friendly activities for children ages 0–5, click here and discover new ways to support learning at home.