Four-year-old children have good imaginations. Using common supplies like crayons or washable markers to create something can keep them busy for quite awhile. Give each of the children some construction paper and have them draw their own version of a haunted house. Hang the pictures around the classroom for some one-of-a-kind Halloween decorations.
Create masks using paper plates and let the children draw on the masks to decorate them. Make sure you cut out the eyes, nose and mouth of each before you give the plates to the children. Punch holes in the sides and tie a string around the back so the children can wear their masks home when they're finished.
Children can paint a pumpkin as an alternative to carving one. Painting lets the children express their creative side and do most of the work themselves. Instead of having them paint a face for the pumpkin, think up spooky Halloween ideas -- ghost, bats and witches -- for them to paint.
Use white paint and construction paper to make a picture with footprint ghosts. One-by-one, paint the bottom of their feet with white paint. Have each child step on colored construction paper. When the paint dries, turn the paper upside down so that the heel portion of the footprint is the top of the ghost's head. Make sure to write the child's name and age on the picture. It makes a good keepsake to send home to parents.
String art isn't just a fun project, it also helps little ones with their motor skills. All you need it some yarn, construction paper and glue to get started. Have the kids draw the outline of the picture in glue. For example, if the child chooses to make a pumpkin, she would use the glue bottle to make a circle with a small rectangle on top. Give her different lengths of string to stick in the glue. She will have a neat piece of Halloween artwork when it has dried.
Let the kids design their own pumpkins using construction paper, glue and safety scissors. Have them cut out shapes for the eyes, nose and mouth and glue the pieces to a pumpkin drawn on construction paper. Add details to the picture using glitter, stickers and yarn.
Children can make their own ghost decorations using tissues, cotton balls, string and a black marker. Wrap a tissue around a few cotton balls to create the ghost's head. Tie a piece of sting at the bottom of the cotton balls to secure everything in place. Draw the ghost's face with a black marker.
Give each of the children a small lunch bag and art supplies to decorate their own trick-or-treat bag. Set up a few stations around the classroom for them to go trick or treating when they are finished making their bags. At each station have a small poster with items a four-year-old should recognize. For example, at one station children might need to name the shapes they see, whereas at another station they must name the colors they see, or tell you what sounds various animals make. Give them a healthy treat to put in their bags after they've completed each station.