Halloween is a perfect opportunity to engage children in fun, spooky, and educational activities that align with the EYFS framework. Below are a variety of Halloween activities for EYFS designed to encourage creativity, language development, and sensory exploration while celebrating the festive season.
Blossom’s Recommended Halloween Activities for Early Years:
1. Pumpkin Sensory Play
Provide children with small pumpkins or squash and let them explore the textures inside and outside. Scooping out seeds, touching the gooey insides, and feeling the smooth outer skin helps enhance sensory development.
You can even turn this into a counting game, asking children to count seeds as they scoop them out. This activity builds fine motor skills and introduces early maths concepts.
EYFS Areas of Development:
- Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills)
- Understanding the World (The Natural World)
- Mathematics (Number)
2. Halloween-Themed Story Time
Select Halloween-themed books like Room on the Broom or Funnybones to spark children’s imagination while improving their listening skills and vocabulary.
After reading, follow up with discussions or a creative craft related to the story, such as broomstick-making or skeleton crafts. This supports both literacy development and creativity.
EYFS Areas of Development:
- Literacy (Comprehension)
- Communication and Language (Listening, Attention and Understanding)
- Expressive Arts and Design (Creating with Materials)
3. Spooky Sensory Bins
Create a sensory bin filled with Halloween-themed items like plastic spiders, stretchy cobwebs, dried pasta for “bones,” or slimy jelly. Let children explore the textures, using descriptive language to explain what they feel.
You can also hide small items inside the bin and turn it into a treasure hunt. Sensory bins foster curiosity, build language skills, and enhance fine motor development.
EYFS Areas of Development:
- Communication and Language (Speaking)
- Understanding the World (The Natural World)
- Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills)
4. Monster Mash Dance Party
Play fun, Halloween-themed music and encourage children to dance, jump, and move like monsters. Not only is this activity fun and energy-boosting, but it also helps develop gross motor skills, coordination, and rhythm.
You can even teach children simple dance routines or play musical statues to make it more interactive.
EYFS Areas of DevelopmentLearning Goals:
- Physical Development (Gross Motor Skills)
- Expressive Arts and Design (Being Imaginative and Expressive)
- Personal, Social, and Emotional Development (Building Relationships)
5. Halloween Costume Parade
Organise a Halloween costume day where children can dress up as their favourite characters.
Host a mini parade, encouraging children to walk around, describe their costumes, and talk about their characters.
This activity promotes social skills and language development, while also allowing children to express their creativity.
EYFS Areas of Development:
- Personal, Social, and Emotional Development (Managing Self)
- Communication and Language (Speaking)
- Expressive Arts and Design (Being Imaginative and Expressive)
6. Witch’s Potion Science Experiment
Create a simple science experiment by mixing baking soda, vinegar, and food colouring to create a bubbling “witch’s potion.” Let the children take turns pouring and mixing the ingredients, watching as the mixture fizzes and bubbles up.
This introduces early scientific concepts such as cause and effect, while also fostering sensory engagement and excitement.
EYFS Areas of Development:
- Understanding the World (The Natural World)
- Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills)
- Mathematics (Number)
7. Ghost Handprints Craft
Help children create ghostly handprints by dipping their hands in white paint and pressing them onto black paper. Once the prints dry, they can decorate them with eyes and mouths to make friendly Halloween ghosts.
This craft supports creativity and fine motor skills while also introducing concepts of contrast and colour recognition.
EYFS Areas of Development:
- Expressive Arts and Design (Creating with Materials)
- Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills)
- Understanding the World (The Natural World)
8. Pumpkin Decorating
Rather than carving pumpkins, which can be tricky for young children, provide paint, stickers, and other craft materials to decorate mini pumpkins.
This activity allows children to use their imagination, developing fine motor skills as they handle small craft materials and paintbrushes. It’s also a safer alternative to traditional pumpkin carving.
EYFS Areas of Development:
- Expressive Arts and Design (Being Imaginative and Expressive)
- Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills)
- Personal, Social, and Emotional Development (Building Relationships, Managing Self)
Incorporating Halloween activities for EYFS into your curriculum is a great way to engage children in seasonal, fun-filled learning experiences that support key developmental goals.
From sensory play and creative crafts to story time and music, these activities foster language development, fine and gross motor skills, creativity, and understanding of the world in an enjoyable and festive way.
