Five Sensory-Friendly Spooky Season Activities
- BloomBHC
- Oct 26
- 4 min read
Halloween - and holidays in general - can be overwhelming for those with autism. Being confronted with a barrage of new experiences can overload the senses and increase anxiety. Sometimes the more “traditional” holiday activities are too much to handle, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t alternatives to make things special and fun while keeping your child’s needs in mind.
We’ve compiled a list of five spooky-season activities that are perfect for a sensory-sensitive child. Any or all of these are a spooktacular way to make sure your child has a fun, new experience in a way that still feels good to them.
What You Need:
2 Boxes of Jell-O in holiday colors (think orange, purple or green!)
A plastic container
Utensils (Spoons, tongs, plastic tweezers)
Plastic Halloween trinkets (spider rings, vampire teeth, bouncy ball eyes, etc.)
What To Do:
Start by making your Jell-O according to the instructions on the box (should be done the night before the activity is planned)
While the Jell-o is still in liquid form, scatter the plastic Halloween trinkets throughout
Once it’s ready to go, sit it out on a covered surface with all the utensils
Let the fun commence!
There are many ways kids can participate in this activity. For those willing to get messy, they can dig in with their bare hands. If they are not so into the feeling of Jell-O on their hands, they can use tongs or tweezers to dig out the toys and transport them straight to a bowl of clean water to remove the residue before playing with them. Let them play in it their own way or create a more structured activity.
What You Need:
Balloons
Flour
A Funnel
Permanent Markers
A Plastic Bottle
Optional Decorative Items (Yarn, Ribbon, Etc.)
What To Do:
Insert your funnel into a clean, dry plastic bottle.
Carefully pour about one cup of flour into the plastic bottle then remove the funnel.
Stretch the opening of the balloon over the top of the bottle and tip it over to transfer flour into the balloon.
Once you’re done, carefully remove the balloon and gently let the rest of the air out of it, then tie it closed.
Now it’s time to decorate! Turn the stress balls into a fun Halloween character - orange balloons for pumpkins, white for ghosts, green for frankenstein - the possibilities are endless! Get creative by adding ribbon, yard or other fun items to them.
Enjoy!
Creating a themed balloon stress ball is fun while practicing important skills - plus they can be used later for sensory needs or as a calm down method.
What You Need:
Paper Lunch Bags
Colored Paper
Scissors
Glue or Tape
Markers or crayons
Optional decorative items (googly eyes, ribbon, sequins, etc.)
What To Do:
Talk with your child about what kind of characters they’d like to make and how they’d like them to look.
Work with your child to cut paper out to the correct size and gather any supplies they need for their puppet.
Turn the paper bag upside down so the opening is at the bottom, and the folded part will be able to be moved once they put their hand inside.
Once it’s positioned correctly, encourage your child to decorate their puppet however they want, standing by to assist with cutting and glueing as needed.
Once they have finished one or more puppets, put them into action! Encourage your child to perform a puppet show for you or use them to play out social stories to prepare for Halloween activities.
What You Need:
White Cardstock
Black paper
Cotton Balls
Glue
Optional Yarn
What To Do:
Start by cutting a ghost shape out of your white cardstock.
From there, your child will glue white cotton balls onto it.
Once it’s covered, cut eyes and a mouth from the black paper to create a face that will be glued on top of the cotton balls.
Let them dry and enjoy!
Optional: Poke a hole at the top and string yarn through it.
This is a very simple, calming activity that can be completed with common household items. They are an easy craft that can be displayed on the fridge, given to a loved one or hung from your doorways for homemade spooky decor.
Personalized Trick or Treating
What You Need:
Volunteers that your child is familiar with and comfortable around.
Candy, snacks, stickers or small toys your child enjoys.
What To Do:
Invite members of your family to come over for a personalized trick or treating experience.
Station each one behind a door in your home with a treat for your child.
Allow your child to dress up in their Halloween costume or fun pajamas and provide them with a bag.
Let them go door to door at home, knocking and receiving their items.
Let them sort through their goodies and enjoy!
This activity can be a great way to participate in a traditional Halloween activity in a much more relaxed and comfortable scenario. It takes place in a safe, familiar environment and concludes with a variety of treats that are personalized to your child’s interests and/or needs. It’s also a great practice run for those who might be considering giving door-to-door trick-or-treating a go this season!
Learn ABA Strategies for Holidays with Bloom Behavioral Healthcare
If the thought of upcoming holidays has become more overwhelming than exciting, don’t worry - you’re not alone. Many people stress about how these overstimulating experiences can impact their autistic child, knowing it will cause them anxiety, sensory overload and potential behavioral problems. The good news is that there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the holiday season - it just may take a few tweaks! There’s no rule that says that Halloween or any other holiday has to be celebrated one specific way - you can create your own holiday traditions that are fun, memorable and best of all - comfortable for your family.
ABA therapy can help make holidays - and daily life - easier to get through by recognizing patterns, triggers and unique needs. Through individualized goals, we work with your family to create a more structured atmosphere that builds skills while celebrating every move forward. Over time, your child will bloom as they master new skills and build confidence and autonomy. If you’re interested in learning more about ABA therapy with Bloom Behavioral Healthcare LLC, please contact us today!
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