Halloween Fun
Halloween is slowly approaching, and the children are getting excited to engage in fun seasonal activities. As a physical educator, I’ve seen the aftermath of kids experiencing hyperactive behaviors. They engorge themselves with lots of candy and sugary drinks, which sends them on a sugar high. A great way to burn off that energy is by setting up an outdoor Halloween obstacle course filled with activities challenging them by experiencing different levels of movement. Creating an obstacle course can take as little as 5 minutes to set up, or if you would like to make it more elaborate, it may take up to an hour. It’s your choice. Below are some ideas that can be purchased or found at minimal cost to your pocket.
Spatial awareness is the relationship of your body to other objects or people around you. It involves understanding such concepts as direction, distance, and location, which help individuals learn certain tasks. It’s a complex skill that children learn and develop early in life.
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Before the participants begin moving through the obstacle course, teach them the meaning of several spatial awareness concepts (across, over , under, between, through, on top, up, down). At each of the stations, they will learn how their body moves in space using spatial awareness concepts. Enforce the word as they are moving through that obstacle. The spatial awareness words will be highlighted below.
Adaptations: If you use any mobility device, below, you will find some adaptations that can be used throughout the obstacle course. Set up the course on a large flat surface like a driveway or cement patio area.
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➔ Creaky Bridge
◆USE AN OLD BENCH OR A 2 BY 4, 8-foot long WOODEN BEAM ON BLOCKS
●Place the blocks under each end of the beam.
●Walk, run, jump, or crawl ACROSS it
Adaptations:
Place a 2×4 8-foot long board vertically and flat on the ground. If you have some lower body movement, adjust your device so you are able to move one foot in front of the other from one end of the board ACROSS to the other end.
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➔ Skeletons Bones
◆3-6 BRANCHES
●Place the branches (bones) width-wise after the bridge about 2 feet from each other.
●Jump, twirl, or hop on one foot OVER them.
Adaptations:
Collect 6-8 branches. Cut them down to less the distance from one inner wheel to the other on your wheelchair. Zig zag them horizontally and space them far enough on a flat surface so you can maneuver your device OVER each of them.
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➔ Pumpkin Patch
◆4-6 Real Pumpkins or Trick or Treat pumpkins can be used.
●Space them about 3 feet from one another in a straight line.
●RUN AROUND each HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN 2-3 TIMES.
●DID YOU GET DIZZY?
Adaptations:
Arrange 4-6 pumpkins in a straight line about 5 feet from each other. Move AROUND each pumpkin 2 times while navigating your mobility device.
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➔ Spider Webs
◆Spider Webs from any store – seasonal section OR yarn
◆Small Orange Cones – any store in the sporting goods section
●Hang or attach the spider webs or yarn to several cones and army crawl UNDER it.
●If the participants are 5 and older, place each cone on a chair with the spider web hanging over them. Crawl UNDER the web.
Adaptations: Stretch out the spider web to the length of the participant and his/her device. Ask two family members to hold it at a specific level so that it is challenging to the individual moving UNDER with your mobility device.
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➔ Bale Of Hay
◆Pick up at a local farm or farmer’s market or smaller decorative ones at your local Walmart.
●JUMP UP ON TOP Of IT AND THEN JUMP DOWN – The children can do this several times.
●You may also step UP ON TOP of the bale and then jump or step DOWN
Adaptations:
Toss bean bags ON TOP of the bale of hay from a distance. Keep moving back 1 foot with each successful throw.
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➔ Witch’s Broomstick
◆ LAUNDRY BASKETS can be picked up at the local dollar store.
●Remove brush from the broomstick. Place the broomstick inside the holes of two upside down laundry baskets.
●RUN AND LEAP OVER THE BROOMSTICK
Adaptations: – Use the broomstick as a baseball bat. Ask a family member to toss a small soft ball and practice striking it back to them. OR, attach a long string to a “wiffle” ball and tree branch. Strike the ball at chest level with the broom stick.
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➔ Noodle Tunnels
◆Grab several stakes (Home Depot) and pool noodles (Dollar Store – they should be cheaper at the end of the season)
●Place stakes inside each end of the noodles and stake them to the ground so the noodle resembles a rainbow.
●Crawl THROUGH several of them.
Adaptations: Ask each family member to hold 2 noodles. As they start shaking it (lifting and lowering the noodles at a slow pace), try to time it so you can move under them with your mobility device without the noodles touching you.
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➔ Weave Around Ghosts Made From Cones
◆Small orange cones (Walmart) and white sheets cut up into squares. Place each square sheet over each cone. You may decorate it with eyes if you wish. Scatter the ghosts around the playing area.
◆Move BETWEEN changing directions
Adaptations: Scatter the ghosts around the playing area 4-6 feet apart and begin weaving BETWEEN them.
➔ Don’t Forget
to decorate for the holidays and invite friends from the neighborhood over for a fun day.
Helpful Articles
- How to Make Halloween Fun During Covid-19 [10]
- 10 Halloween Safety Tips for Children with Special Needs [11]
- 5 Ways to Help Children with Sensory Challenges Participate in Halloween Festivities [12]
- Create your own Disguises for Halloween [13]
- Are You My Mummy? [14]
- No Carve Pumpkin Ideas [15]
- 7 Easy No-Carve Pumpkin Decorating Ideas [16]
- The Scary Truth about Halloween Candy [17]
- Alternative Sweets for Your Child During the Holidays [18]
- Can I Get Help with My Child’s Behavior? [19]
- Do It Yourself Calming Bottle [20]
- Fall Means Pumpkin GFCF Recipes to Enjoy this Cozy Autumn Season [21]
- Cooking With Kids: Spooktacular BOO BARK Breakfast Yogurt [22]
- Cooking With Kids: Roasted Pumpkin Seeds [23]
- Cooking with Kids: Black Bean Brownies [24]
This post originally appeared on our November/December 2022 Magazine [25]