5 Halloween Sensory Crafts

Autumn, what’s not to love? Cooler temperatures, beautiful colors, delicious seasonal food, and Halloween!

A child in an orange and black shirt holds up a Halloween pail filled with candy.

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.

Plastic bugs, spiders, fingers, and skeletons float in a plastic bin filled with orange Jell-O.

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.

Jack-o-latnerns made of pie dough sit on parchment paper with a cup of melted butter and cinnamon sugar.

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:

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!

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