5 Halloween Sensory Crafts
Autumn, what’s not to love? Cooler temperatures, beautiful colors, delicious seasonal food, and Halloween!
Halloween is the perfect opportunity to create sensory crafts with your kids. The options are endless: orange-dyed rice, cooked spaghetti, orange and black pom poms, or even Jell-O! Most of these sensory crafts can be adapted for any holiday or occasion by changing the colors, but I think it’s extra fun for Halloween.
1. Creepy Crawly Sensory Bin
Your child will love squishing their way through this Halloween sensory bin!
What you’ll need:
- Medium-sized plastic bin (so it can fit into your fridge)
- Large box of orange Jell-O
- Water
- All things creepy and crawly! Fake fingers, squishy plastic bugs, plastic Jack-O-Lanterns, and black cats
Instructions:
- Start by making your Jell-O according to the package directions. I recommend using the quick-set method.
- Place your Jell-O into the fridge until it is just about set, around one hour, if you have used the quick-set method.
- Begin adding all of your creepy, crawly items. I used plastic spiders, fake fingers, and skeletons! Place it back in the fridge for another 30 minutes to an hour or until it is completely set.
- Remove it from the fridge when your child is ready to play!
- Your kid will love using tweezers, spoons, and grabbers to dig and explore in the Jello!
Tip: Make a separate bin for each child in your family. The Jell-O will lose shape quickly as they start to play and explore.
2. Spooky Sensory Bag
This sensory bag is perfect for little hands to explore different textures and sounds. Better yet, it’s reusable.
What you’ll need:
- Two gallon-sized resealable bags
- Uncooked white rice
- White vinegar
- Orange food coloring
- Small Halloween-themed objects (plastic spiders, googly eyes, colorful pom-poms)
- Duct tape
Instructions:
- Fill one plastic bag about halfway with rice.
- In a small cup, mix a tablespoon of white vinegar with a few drops of orange food coloring.
- Add the mixture to the bag of rice and shake the bag until the rice is covered.
- Pour the colored rice into a clean plastic bag.
- Add your Halloween objects to the bag.
- Squeeze out any excess air and seal the bag tightly.
- Reinforce the seal with duct tape for extra security.
- Let the spooky sensory exploration begin!
3. Halloween Storytime
Gather around for spooky stories with a Halloween twist. To make storytime a sensory activity, have your child parallel play with their Spooky Sensory Bag. You may find that if your child struggles to sit still for a story, they’re more likely to listen when their hands are occupied.
What you’ll need:
- Halloween-themed books or stories (think ghosts, witches, monsters)
- Blankets and pillows for a cozy atmosphere
- Flashlight (optional, for extra spooky ambiance)
Instructions:
- Set up a comfortable reading nook.
- Choose a few Halloween stories that suit your audience.
- Dim the lights or use a flashlight for dramatic effect.
- Read the stories aloud with enthusiasm and spooky voices.
Tip: Turn on some ambient music to add to the spooky atmosphere!
4. Halloween Hand Pies
Baking is a sensory activity that uses all five senses, and one that adults and children love to do together. Grab our recipe for these Halloween Hand Pies for a delicious treat, not a trick.
5. Make it a Movie Night
Get the family together for a kid-friendly scary movie night. Again, you can make this sensory by having your child’s Spooky Sensory Bag nearby in case they need to take a break and have a distraction.
What you’ll need:
- A kid-friendly Halloween movie
- Blankets and pillows for a cozy atmosphere
- Snacks
Instructions:
- As a family, vote on the movie you’d like to watch.
- Set up a cozy spot in your TV space.
- Enjoy a festive snack, like the Halloween Hand Pies you just made!