Here’s a Halloween-themed hands-on activity that’s perfect for curious little ones who love sensory play! This build a spider playdough tray combines fine motor practice with open-ended creativity and just the right amount of spooky fun. Kids can create their own silly, spooky, or totally wild spiders using black playdough, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and more. Find more Halloween activities for children here.
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Why I love this Halloween spider playdough tray
I love seasonal activities that encourage imagination, sensory exploration and fine motor skills, and this activity ticks every box! My kids love playdough too so I have lots of different ideas for using it. Mine would sit for ages with playdough when they were between 2 and 7 years.
Kids from toddlers to early primary age (and sometimes even older!) love building their own creatures out of playdough, and this spider-themed tray makes a brilliant Halloween invitation to create.
This activity is simple to set up, uses inexpensive materials, and gives children the freedom to explore and invent their own designs. Perfect for a cozy October afternoon or to add to your Halloween-themed learning.
However this activity isn’t just for Halloween, you could build a spider with playdough all year around. Perhaps whilst learning about insects and bugs or as part of a nursery rhyme theme (Incy Wincy Spider).
Supplies you’ll need for this spider playdough activity
You don’t need anything fancy to set up this spider tray. You’ll just need a few simple craft supplies and a bit of playdough:
- * Black playdough (you can buy this or make of your own)
- * Pipe cleaners in Halloween colours (black, orange, green, purple)
- * Googly eyes in assorted sizes
- * Black and white paper straws, cut into small pieces
- A tray, muffin tin, or divided container to organize the materials. I love this * wooden round tray with compartments.
If you use homemade black playdough, consider adding a bit of black or even silver glitter or how about a drop of peppermint extract for an extra sensory twist.
How to set up your spider playdough tray
Start by preparing the tray – Use a divided tray, muffin tin, or shallow bin to keep everything organised. Place the black playdough in one section, and divide the other materials into separate compartments. This makes it easy for kids to see what’s available and choose what they want to use.
Snip pipe cleaners into 2–3 inch pieces, the perfect size for spider legs. You could also twist two colours together to make fun striped legs, or leave a few longer ones for extra variety.
Cut black and white straws into ½-inch segments. These make brilliant “legs,” fangs, or body decorations, and they’re easy for little hands to poke into the dough.
Set out a mix of different-sized googly eyes so kids can make spiders with one eye, two eyes, or even eight!
How kids can play with the spider tray
Invite children to roll the black playdough into a ball to form the spider’s body. Then they can:
- Press in 8 legs made from pipe cleaners or straw pieces
- Stick on googly eyes (as many as they like!)
- Use straw pieces as extra decorations, fangs, or funky legs
- Try different colour combinations for a silly or spooky effect
- Twist pipe cleaners together for striped or textured legs
There’s no right or wrong way to build a spider. Just lots of open-ended Halloween fun!
More Halloween playdough ideas
Here is another play dough activity for Halloween – Playdough pumpkin activity.
We love these Halloween playdough mats
Or this one isn’t playdough but you might like this giant spider craft.
Benefits of this Halloween sensory activity
Fine motor development – Rolling playdough, pressing in legs, and handling small eyes all build hand strength and coordination.
Creativity and imagination – Kids can invent silly, spooky or stylish spiders, and no two need to look the same.
Color recognition and patterning – Mixing and matching pipe cleaner colours encourages visual thinking and design.
Sensory exploration – The different textures of playdough, straws, and pipe cleaners engage multiple senses.
Open-ended learning – This tray encourages independent exploration and play, perfect for keeping little hands busy.
Find a full guide to all my bug activities for preschool here.
More Halloween activities for kids
There are loads more fun things to do with kids around Halloween. Here are some more ideas for you.
Get your free Halloween colouring pages here.
We love this Spooky Swamp Sensory Bin for Halloween
Find Easy Halloween crafts for toddlers here.
Find more Halloween sensory play ideas here.
You’ll love this Halloween sensory bin for toddlers.
Create a Ghost Leaf Garland with this fun craft.