Kids love Halloween so it’s a great time to get creative and provide some activities to match the holiday! This year we are relying on our imagination so that we can tailor the activities to the individual kids and disciplines.
The way we did this is we searched for free images and printed out various Halloween images and taped them up around the clinic. Some examples are:
Jack-o-Lantern
- Blow up an orange balloon and color a face on it. Use this ‘jack-o-lantern’ for practicing catching and throwing or batting it along with a hand or racket. You can do this on level ground, on a balance board or BOSU, in a modified single leg stance (one leg elevated on another surface), or in whatever way challenges the child you are working with. Even try over a peanut or bolster!
- Bowling especially if you have an orange ball. You can set up ‘ghosts’ for them to knock over. This can be done over a peanut, by squatting, in sitting, in tall kneeling
- Make a jack-o-lantern craft. Practice cutting or coloring or tracing. We have done lots of coloring on the BOSU or balance board or in modified single leg stance. Pre cut the pieces and make them part of an obstacle course where you build a part of your pumpkin each time around
- Pumpkin smash – tape a picture of a pumpkin on the ground and have kids jump onto it
- Use a straw and blow orange pompoms across a table
Ghosts
- Fly like ghosts on a floor scooter. This can be in sitting or on the belly. You can even roll pumpkins (a balloon or ball or weighted ball) while you are on your belly. If they are working on a standing scooter same idea!
- Ghost craft (see Jack-o-Lantern)
- Standing balance and weight shifting can be floating ghosts!
- Ghost smash (see Jack-o-Lantern)
- Use a straw and blow cotton balls across a table
Monsters
- Do Monster Walks: Zombies have straight leg lifts while walking, Monsters walk in a squat, or you can do side stepping with a resistance band around the thighs.
- Use monster feet to work on balance and coordination
- Build a monster by collecting pieces during an obstacle course or other activity and attaching them to the face
- Monster craft (see Jack-o-Lantern)
- Monster smash (see Jack-o-Lantern)
Witches
- Use a broom or other kind of stick and fly across the room (great way to work on galluping)
- Stand on flat ground or other balance challenging surface and ‘stir’ the cauldron
- Scooter boards similar to ghosts but be a witch, you can also sit on the scooter board and pull a rope with your hands to help you fly through the sky
- Witch craft (see Jack-o-Lantern)
- With smash (see Jack-o-Lantern)
Black Cat
- Animal walks! Here are some options
- Animal craft (see Jack-o-Lantern)
- Yoga: especially Cat/Cow and Downward Dog
What ideas do you have?