Spooky Crafts for the Family

We always love finding new ways to help parents engage with their children in playful ways. Early Childhood Specialist Katy Andrews, with PCHAS' Growing Together Program has chosen three fall-themed crafts to provide parents and children a great way to integrate play, life skills and sensory development during the festive season. Throughout the month of October, Katy has utilized the Growing Together Facebook page as a way to highlight each of these crafts through videos and live stream by showing families how to put them together.

First up, the famous sensory bin. Our specialist used Halloween-themed objects for this playful sensory bin that the whole family can put together. We would even encourage parents to bring their child along for the shopping trip to purchase the items as another way to engage them. The sensory bin allows children to not only play with different textures, but learn about shapes, colors and what can be eaten versus what can’t be eaten depending on what items are chosen.

Next, the mess-free jack-o-lantern. Instead of having to deal with the messiness that comes from carving out a pumpkin, families can create one (or two or three) out of a paper plate! This craft is another simple and easy way to have fun at home. The project promotes life skills such as asking for permission, using good words and following directions. It also uses a tee-tree light instead of an actual flame which is a great way to teach your children about fire safety.

Last, the Frozen Hand. This is particularly entertaining for children even though it may include an unintentional lesson on patience. Parents can use many of the same things that were purchased for the sensory bin to place in the latex glove. Parents can talk to their children about how the objects will change after being frozen. Using items such as pom-poms that transform from being soft and fluffy to hard and rigid can help children explore their sensory development. You can always have fun integrating food coloring as well.  

We hope that these crafts will give families more opportunities to engage with another and enjoy one another during this season.