Fall is in full swing, and Halloween is just around the corner! We’re celebrating with some spooky (but not too scary!) sensory play ideas and fun at-home activities the whole family can enjoy. 

Sensory play helps children explore and learn through touch, sight, smell, sound, and movement. It encourages creativity, builds language, and supports emotional development—all while having fun! 

Spooky Sensory Play Ideas 

1. Witch’s Brew Potion Mixing 
Turn your kitchen into a potion lab! Fill a bowl or plastic cauldron with water, baking soda, vinegar, and a few drops of food coloring. Add glitter, toy spiders, or “eye of newt” (marbles or plastic eyeballs) and watch the bubbles fizz! 
Learning focus: Cause and effect, imagination, and fine motor skills. 

2. Pumpkin Guts Exploration 
Carve a pumpkin together and let your child scoop and explore the sticky, squishy insides. Count seeds, talk about textures, and save them for art or snack projects. 
Learning focus: Sensory exploration, counting, and descriptive language. 

3. Haunted Sensory Bin 
Fill a bin with black beans, plastic bats, small pumpkins, and glow sticks. Hide small toys inside for your child to dig and discover! 
Learning focus: Sensory discovery, sorting, and imaginative play. 

4. Monster Slime or “Ooze” 
Mix cornstarch and water (2:1 ratio) with green or purple food coloring for spooky slime. Add googly eyes for silly monster fun! 
Learning focus: Science exploration, sensory regulation, and creativity. 

Halloween Fun at Home 

• Shadow Play: Use a flashlight and paper cutouts (bats, ghosts, pumpkins) for a shadow show on the wall. 

• Family Costume Parade: Dress up, play music, and let your child describe how their costume feels—“soft,” “shiny,” “sparkly.” 

• Spooky Story Time: Dim the lights, grab a flashlight, and tell silly (not scary!) Halloween stories together. 

• Trick-or-Treat Practice: Set up doors around your home so children can practice saying “Trick or Treat!” before the big night. 

 Sensory-Friendly Celebration Tips 

• Bring familiar items or noise-cancelling headphones if events are loud or busy. 

• Choose costumes that are soft, breathable, and easy to move in. 

• Let children participate in their own way—decorating pumpkins, handing out candy, or enjoying a cozy movie night are great alternatives! 

From all of us at the Early Learning Coalition of the Northwest Florida, 
we wish your family a safe, happy, and delightfully spooky Halloween filled with laughter, creativity, and connection! 

 Play. Learn. Grow. Together.