Are you looking for something for the kids to be excited about besides candy this Halloween? Kids love to be included in themes, especially around the holidays. When parents and therapists think in themes, it’s easy to plan activities and keep kiddos busy. Here are a few ideas for creating some Halloween-themed crafts on the Play Mat.

Spooky Night Light: When I was growing up my mom had a festive tradition - a night light for every holiday. She always placed it in our bathroom, and it was our beacon of light for those unplanned potty trips in the middle of the night. You can create a similar Halloween tradition with this wooden night light from Michaels. This craft is inexpensive, easy to store and perfect to use year after year. Have your children decorate the wood pumpkin with sharpie markers or paint and turn on the light - it already includes a battery and switch. Spooktacular!

DIY Decorations: Children like to be included when decorating for the holidays. Give them a specific area that they can own and decorate, such as the front door, bedroom or play room. Let them write down a few decoration themes, place them in a ‘Treat Pail’ (details below) and then choose! We chose spiders as our theme, but you can do zombies, spider webs, pumpkins, skulls, monsters, eyeballs, bats or ghosts – oh my! 

Ingredients:

Foam spiders

Pipe cleaners (chenille stems)

Wiggle eyes

Rhinestone stickers

Googly eyes

Glue

Treat Pails: A candy jar is a perfect spot for you kiddo(s) to store treats. First, help your little one design their own treat pail. Then, have them go through their candy and select specific treats that they have access to once a day. You can also use the pail to deliver a Boo-Gram. A Boo-Gram is a mysterious note and tiny gift left on a neighbor or friend's doorstep. It’s a great ‘trick’ for this trick-or-treat atmosphere!

Ingredients:

Orange or black pails

Crafting (washi) tape

Foam bat stickers

Adhesive ribbon

Candy or gift

Boo-gram Gifts: Having children make a gift, especially during a time where kids expect to receive treats, is a gracious theme! Host a festive kid-friendly gifting party for Halloween. An easy craft at the party is wrapping boxed snacks like raisins, nuts and trail mix. Changing a drab raisin box into a Halloween-themed present (e.g., an eye-catching monster or candy skulled gift) can really get kids into the holiday spirit. Send out some Boo-grams this year to make your friend's days bootiful!

Ingredients:

Box of raisins

Tissue paper or Halloween wrapping paper

Tape

Pom poms

Foam eye stickers

Adhesive ribbon

What are some October themes your family engages in? Do you have a Halloween tradition or favorite craft to share? #ezpzfun #Halloween #playmat