Here's a Halloween art project to do with your toddler or preschooler. It's very easy and it looks great around the house.
Here's what you need:

-8.5" x 11" black construction paper

-white tempera or kids' washable paint

-a plastic bin

-4 marbles

-scissors

-stapler

Your child can help with cutting and gluing, depending on her skill level.

Here's what to do:

Using a sheet of black construction paper, cut out the shape of a spider web. An easy way to do this is to cut out a large circle, then put a dot in the N, S, E, and W positions. Put one more dot between each of these dots so that you end up with eight equally spaced marks along the border. Now cut sagging loops between each of the marks and you have the basic shape of a spider web

Now, place your construction paper cut-out in the bin. Put a small line of white tempera paint at various places within the bin.

Place the 4 marbles in the bin.

Allow your child to tilt the bin in different directions. This will cause the marbles to roll through the paint and make white lines across the black construction paper. Now you have a spider web with white silky lines.

Allow the spider web to dry for at least 30 minutes.

For a spider, simply cut a small circle out of the black construction paper. Cut the legs out and staple or glue them on. For eyes, glue on white circles with a black dot not exactly in the middle. The off center pupil gives the spider a kid-friendly silly look. Glue or staple the spider to the spider web.

Repeat the steps for more spider webs to decorate the house!

Anthony Vecchioni runs http://spaghettiboxkids.com --a parenting site that offers specific strategies, tips and activities to enhance child learning. Read more About Anthony Vecchioni.