Friendly ghosts, spiders, and witches

Friendly ghosts, spiders, and witches

Activities for babies and toddlers

For the month of October, here is a theme filled with friendly characters that can be seen everywhere in the weeks leading up to Halloween.

ROUTINES AND TRANSITIONS

Snack bag
To make snack time extra fun, purchase small Halloween gift bags with ghosts, spiders, or witches on them. Deposit snacks in each bag. For example, you can fill them with crackers or dry cereal. Give each child one small gift bag and encourage them to discover their snack. The gift bags represent a great way to carry snacks outside.

Pillowcases and ghosts
You will need several white pillowcases for this activity. In your yard or at your local playground, use small rakes to build a large leaf pile. Invite little ones to fill the pillowcases with leaves. When they are done, press the leaves down in the pillowcases and use string to tie the open end of each pillowcase. Use permanent markers to draw eyes on the pillowcases to represent ghosts.

Poster for diaper changes
Purchase a very large Halloween gift bag that has a picture of a ghost, a spider, a witch, or a black cat on it. Cut the picture and display it on the wall, next to your changing table. Children will love to admire it during diaper changes.

SENSORY ACTIVITIES (taste and touch)

Magic witch potion
In a large pot or bowl, deposit a food item that children will enjoy manipulating. I suggest using Jell-O cubes. If you prefer, you may also choose to use a food item that is less messy such as dry cereal. Encourage babies and toddlers to stir the magic potion, pretending they are witches. If you choose to use Jell-O, you may want to remove children's clothing and have them wear only their diaper.

SENSORY ACTIVITIES (look)

Mirror and witch hats
At the dollar store, purchase several different witch hats. In front of a mirror, invite children to place the hats on their head. If you wish, paint the tip of their nose using a green makeup pencil. Take pictures of the children and display them in a small photo album. Children will love to look at the pictures over and over again. You may also parade around the daycare with your group, letting each child wear his/her favorite witch hat.

ARTS & CRAFTS

I am making a ghost
Cut the outline of a ghost out of white cardboard. Let children draw on this ghost shape. Cut a rectangle out of a white garbage bag. Make tiny slits along the bottom of the rectangle and use adhesive tape to stick it to the bottom of the ghost. Hang the ghost from the ceiling in your daycare.

MORAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Boo!
Sit on the floor with your group. Hide your face with your hands or a small blanket. After a few seconds, remove your hands (or the blanket) and say "boo!" You may also do this during diaper changes.

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

Colourful spiders in the reading corner
Print, cut out, and laminate several colourful spiders (see educatall club). Insert them between the pages of the books available in your reading corner. Encourage little ones to explore the books so they will discover the spiders. Each time a child finds a spider, name the corresponding color.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOTOR SKILLS

Spider webs
Use yarn, party banners, or toilet paper for this activity, depending on the ages of the children in your group. With constant supervision, let children unravel and explore the chosen material. Let children move around the daycare, weaving a web like little spiders. If you wish to wrap children up in "spider webs", use party banners or toilet paper.

My ghost is a white bed sheet

You will need a white bed sheet. Here are a few ways to have fun with it:

1. Hide under the bed sheet with your group. Pretend you are little ghosts and add a flashlight if you wish.
2. With your group, draw directly on the bed sheet.
3. Hang the bed sheet from the ceiling to represent a ghost.
4. Hang the bed sheet from your clothesline and invite children to run from one side to the other.

Chantal Millette
Early childhood educator

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