Preschool Activity Calendar for October
If you’ve been searching for a preschool activity calendar for October, you’re in the right place. This 31-day list is packed with simple, seasonal ideas to help you celebrate fall with your little learners — no prep or special supplies needed.
Whether you’re building out your monthly preschool themes or need a few fresh ideas to liven up your homeschool routine, this calendar makes it easy to keep learning fun all October long.
Designed with flexibility in mind, you can follow the list in order, mix it up based on your weekly themes, or let your preschooler help choose what sounds exciting each day. Plus, since the printable version is undated, you can reuse it every fall. Just print, plan, and enjoy the season together.
How to Use This Activity Calendar
This preschool activity calendar is designed to be flexible, low-pressure, and easy to use — whether you’re teaching at home or in the classroom. You can follow the list in order, choose a handful of favorites each week, or let your preschooler help pick an activity each morning. There’s no right or wrong way to use it!
Each idea is simple and seasonal, with a mix of crafts, sensory play, gross motor fun, and learning activities. Most can be done with materials you already have on hand or can grab from your local dollar store.
To make planning even easier, I’ve included a blank October calendar you can fill in with your chosen activities. Hang it on the fridge, slide it into your homeschool binder, or use it during morning time to build excitement for the day ahead.
Just print, plan, and enjoy the season — one little activity at a time.
31 Days of October Activities for Preschoolers
Don’t feel like you have to follow these in order! Use this as a menu of ideas and pick what works for your week.
- Paint a mini pumpkin with washable paint.
- Read a fall-themed picture book.
- Go on a nature walk and collect colorful leaves.
- Make a paper plate pumpkin craft.
- Try a pumpkin seed sensory bin.
- Practice cutting skills with fall-themed strips.
- Explore sinking and floating with small gourds.
- Finger paint a fall tree with red, orange, and yellow.
- Sort candy by color or size.
- Build a tower using orange and black blocks.
- Read The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything.
- Complete a pumpkin color-by-number.
- Count and clip numbers with leaf-themed cards.
- Do a fall-themed playdough invitation.
- Create a scarecrow using construction paper.
- Sing “5 Little Pumpkins” with hand motions.
- Make a leaf crown using real or paper leaves.
- Use cotton balls to paint ghost shapes.
- Play a rhyming game with apple cards.
- Go on a shape hunt around the house or yard.
- Explore a Halloween-themed sensory bin.
- Practice tracing letters in a salt tray.
- Sort buttons by color on a fall-themed mat.
- Create a paper spider with pipe cleaner legs.
- Read Room on the Broom and act it out.
- Make pumpkin slime (or orange playdough).
- Match fall-themed picture cards.
- Use dot markers to decorate a candy corn outline.
- Do a fall gross motor movement game (jump like a squirrel!).
- Cut and paste jack-o’-lantern faces.
- Dress up and do a Halloween scavenger hunt indoors.
October Holidays and Special Days to Celebrate
Looking to add a little extra fun to your October plans? These preschool-friendly holidays and special days are perfect for sparking themed crafts, books, and simple learning moments.
Want to mark these on your calendar? Use the blank printable below to add special celebrations to your month!
| Date (2025) | Holiday/Special Day | Activity Idea |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 3 (Friday) | World Smile Day | Make smiley face cookies or draw happy faces |
| First Week | Fire Prevention Week | Practice “stop, drop, and roll” with stuffed animals |
| Oct 13 (Monday) | Indigenous Peoples’ Day | Read a book about Native American culture or go on a nature walk |
| Oct 14 | National Dessert Day | Bake a simple treat or play dessert-themed pretend kitchen |
| Oct 21 | Reptile Awareness Day | Learn about snakes or create a paper plate turtle |
| Oct 26 | National Pumpkin Day | Do a pumpkin craft or paint mini pumpkins |
| Oct 31 | Halloween | Dress up, read a Halloween story, or do a themed scavenger hunt |
You don’t have to celebrate every holiday — just choose what fits your family or classroom and have fun with it!
Free Printable October Activity Planner for Preschoolers
Ready to bring these ideas to life? I’ve created a free printable to help you plan a fun and stress-free month with your preschooler.
Here’s what’s inside:
- Page 1: A printable version of the 31 Days of October Activities list
- Page 2: A blank October calendar you can fill in with your own activity choices
There’s no prep and no pressure — just print it out and start wherever you are. You can follow the calendar exactly, mix and match ideas, or use it as a simple planning tool to organize your month.
Bonus tip: Let your preschooler help decorate the calendar with stickers or color in each square after you complete an activity. It’s a fun way to build excitement and keep them involved!
???? Click below to grab your free October activity planner and start making fall memories together.
October Learning Ideas for Preschoolers
Looking for even more ways to celebrate the season with your little learners? Here are some of our most popular fall-themed activities — perfect to pair with your October activity calendar or use on their own throughout the month:
- ???? Pumpkin Color by Number Worksheets – Practice number recognition and color words with no-prep printables
- ???? Pumpkin Seed Sensory Bin – Invite open-ended play with real seeds and fall textures
- ✂️ Fall Fine Motor Activity Pack – Strengthen scissor skills, tracing, and more with a seasonal twist
- ???? Halloween Crafts for Preschoolers – Easy, not-too-spooky projects perfect for little hands
Mix these ideas into your month or save them for when you need a quick, engaging activity that ties into your fall preschool themes!
This preschool activity calendar for October makes it easy to bring a little fall fun into your daily routine — whether you’re planning full lessons or just looking for quick, meaningful moments with your little one. With simple, low-prep ideas and a flexible format, you can use the full list, pick and choose your favorites, or create your own custom calendar to fit your week.
Don’t forget to grab the free printable below. It’s an easy way to stay organized and make the most of the season — no stress required. Just print, plan, and enjoy October with your preschooler, one day at a time.
FAQs: October Activity Calendar for Preschoolers
Absolutely! These activities are ideal for preschool classrooms, homeschool co-ops, or individualized learning at home.
Nope! It’s undated, so you can use it year after year — no updates needed and no worries about the calendar lining up perfectly.
This calendar is designed with preschoolers ages 3–5 in mind, but many activities can be adapted for toddlers or kindergarteners, too.
Not at all! The calendar is meant to be flexible. Feel free to swap activities, repeat favorites, or skip around based on your schedule and your child’s interests.
Tara is the brains behind Homeschool Preschool, where her journey from preschool and public school teacher to homeschooling mom of three fuels her passion for early childhood education. With a blend of expertise and firsthand experience, Tara’s writings offer practical tips and engaging resources to support families in creating meaningful learning adventures at home.
Thank you!
You are very welcome! Enjoy!