A multi-sensory Halloween
Halloween is a great time for fine motor fun with a sensory twist. This year I used a variety of items you might have around the house (or can pick up at a discount store) to create fun activities that encourage kids to explore their senses.
Research shows that the more senses involved in learning, the easier it is for children (and adults) to retain new information. Of course, getting kids involved in learning is always easier when it’s disguised as play.
Here are a few of my favorites:
Jack-o-lantern plastic eggs- I like to put plastic spiders inside and have kids sort them by color. Small textured pumpkins are fun for the little ones to find as well! For kids with more developed fine motor skills- have them put items back into the eggs and close them up.
Googly eyes in Playdoh- strengthen little fingers by having them push the eyes into a Playdoh “snake”, then roll it up and have them dig through to find them all. (PRO TIP- count the eyes before you bury them so you know when they’ve all been found.)
Playdoh letters- use Playdoh to form letters then use fingertips to push it flat (starting top down and left to right for correct formation). Then have kids add googly eyes, plastic spiders or other small manipulatives to decorate their monster letter.
Cotton ball ghosts- cut the bottom and sides off a paper plate to make a ghostly shape. Poke a hole at the top and lace yarn or string through so you can hang the completed ghost. Gently pull cotton balls apart to make them large and flat. Glue them to the entire plate (PRO TIP- liquid glue is messy, but works SO much better than glue sticks for this project). Cut eyes out of black construction paper or use large googly eyes
Painting pumpkins- be creative but let your kids do the work! Everyone wants a “Pinterest worthy” to show off on social media, but your kids will be SO proud to display work that they did on their own plus you build their self confidence and creativity by not “fixing” their art.
Paper pumpkins- Trace the outline of a pumpkin and tear construction paper (tissue paper works better for hands with less strength) to decorate the pumpkin and the stem. (Glue stick works best for this, just be sure to cover small areas as you go. The glue will dry before kids are able to cover the entire area).
Carving pumpkins- obviously this needs to be done primarily by an adult, but let your child use a large spoon to scrape the insides into a bowl and then separate the seeds. Wash them and place them on a cookie sheet sprinkle with salt and bake for a delicious treat!
Use your imagination! There are so many variations to multi-sensory play for your children to enjoy!!
