Happy Monday! With Halloween coming up this weekend I thought I would share some tips and fun themed activities to do with your little ones!
Halloween Tips
Halloween is a favorite for many children, why? Because of the candy of course! Halloween is also a great time to practice some of your developmental skills as well as practicing safety.
If you are dressing up your child, be mindful of the length of the costume especially for new walkers. If a costume is too long, it can pose as a tripping hazard for experienced walkers as well as new walkers who tend to not pick their feet up as high and are still figuring out their sense of balance and stability. If a costume is too long you can always pin it up or use fabric tape to help lift up the extra length of the fabric.
Additionally, be mindful of footwear. Yes, I know, some of these costumes are so cute and come with extra cute shoes to go with the outfit. However, if your child has never worn the shoes that come with the costume before, it might be a good idea to have them wear them throughout the week to get used to the shoes and also make sure they are able to safely and comfortably walk in them. If they are not comfortable in the Footwear with the costume, let them wear a pair of their own shoes that they are used to and comfortable walking in. Remember, when trick or treating, you are most likely going to be out an about for an hour or so. You want to make sure your child’s feet are comfortable so that they are safely walking and also, so you don’t have to carry them if their feet get sore or they keep tripping!
Be mindful of entry ways up to houses. Some sidewalks are cracked or uneven, and in the excitement and chaos of trying to get to the candy your child might not be as cautious as they normally are when walking which can lead to tripping. Additionally, with it most likely being dark out, they are unlikely to see any small steps or unevenness in the ground. Some houses might also have stairs leading up to their house/candy bowl. This is a great time to encourage your little one to try going up and down the stairs, hold their hand or handrail for support and remind them to go slow and watch where they are stepping.
Halloween Activities
Dress Up – dress them up in their costume for trick or treat and have them practice walking around the house and outside of your house to make sure they are able to safely walk in it. To make it fun, add in some “practice candy” and have them walk in their costume up to your front door!
Haunted House (Obstacle Course) – set up activities around the house to work on developmental skills and gross motor movements such as wrapping string around chairs and furniture and having them crawl under or step over it to work on balance and transitions. You can also set up pillows or “stepping stones” around the house and pretend the floor is lava and they have to only step on the pillows or stones to move around the house. Set up big pillows or mats around the house as “tombstones” that they have to crawl or walk over.
Monster Walk – have your child walk like a monster around the house with their arms out straight in front of them and either keeping their legs straight or marching. These movements will help with balance and coordination while walking. Additionally, have them crawl on the floor like a spider. They can also skip around the house to fly like a witch.
Pumpkin Tracking Timmy Time and Sitting – for infants or smaller babies, carve a pumpkin and put a flashlight inside the pumpkin (kids love lights). Place the child on their tummy and move the pumpkin front side to side to work on tracking and head/neck strength. You can also do this while they are in a sitting position to work on sitting balance and head/neck control. If you don’t have a pumpkin you can do this with a Halloween-themed book or story as well.
Comment below on what your children are dressing up as this year! Have a happy and safe Halloween!
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