Halloween is such a magical time for kids to let their imaginations run wild!
They can dress up as anything their hearts desire, and it’s the perfect opportunity to blend that fun with a little bit of learning. This spooky holiday can help boost your child’s speech development while they enjoy all the excitement. It’s a win-win! Here are some activities you can incorporate into this festive time of year. Here are the top 5 Halloween activities for Speech Therapy to incorporate into this festive time of year.
1. Pumpkin Carving
Carving pumpkins with your child is such a fun way to boost their language skills! You can guide them through simple or more complex steps, helping them learn how to follow instructions. Plus, it’s a fantastic opportunity to explore feelings by making different faces on the pumpkins—think sad, scared, happy, or even silly!
If your little one is younger, no worries! You can skip the carving and use stickers or paint to decorate. Ask them about their creations and let their imagination shine. For kids with speech delays or those who learn differently, commenting on what they’re doing can help them pick up new language skills. Remember, modeling language is a wonderful way to support their development. Enjoy this creative time together!
2. Halloween Theme Books
Getting into the Halloween spirit can be so much fun, especially with some spooky books to enjoy! Head over to your local library or bookstore to find some interactive reads that will engage your little ones. Look for books with flaps to lift or ones that let your child make silly sounds—it’s a great way to boost their Halloween vocabulary!
Here are some of our favorites: “The Little Blue Truck’s Halloween” by Alice Schertle, “Spooky Pookie” by Sandra Boynton, and “Halloween is Coming” by Cal Everett, which introduces great Halloween words. “Inside a House That is Haunted” by Alyssa Capucilli even has a catchy Halloween song to sing along with, helping kids learn the story’s sequence. Plus, “Ghost Afraid of the Dark” by Sara Conway is a sweet tale about facing fears.
For older kids, don’t miss out on Aaron Reynolds’ fun titles like “Creepy Crayon,” “Creepy Carrots,” and “Creepy Pair of Underwear.” We also love “Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson and “I Need My Monster” by Amanda Noll. Grab some snacks, cuddle up, and enjoy these spooktacular stories together!
3. Costume/Imaginary Play
Part of the fun of Halloween is picking out a costume, and they don’t have to wait until trick-or-treating time. Let your little one pick out a costume of their choosing and allow them to walk around the house. Help them develop a character, make silly sounds, or ask them what colors they are wearing or what they should do in character. This will help your child develop appropriate vocabulary within the correct context and allow them to experience pretend play.
4. Candy Questions
Did you know you can use candy as a tool for speech? You can give your child a few pieces of candy to place on a table and allow them to section out the candy from color, shape, or size. You can also explore different types of candy from flavor and texture. Then have your child try to explain to you what they taste. Is it salty? Is it sweet? Is it sour? This is a similar approach to what is utilized in feeding therapy, so this is a great introduction to a feeding “game” that can be carried out with new foods all year round.
5. Activitiy Sheets
For the little ones who love to draw and solve puzzles, activity sheets are always fun. Check out these Batty about Speech activity sheets or you can print out these FREE Halloween activity sheets below and play along with your little one.
Remember, it’s all about progress, not perfection! Learning should be a fun adventure. If you’d like some tips on supporting your child’s speech and feeding journey at home, feel free to check out our Contact page. We would love to help you, so schedule a consultation with one of our friendly professionals today!
Happy Halloween!