Having a holiday themed party in the preschool classroom can be an exciting time for all. These special days are not simply for fun, but can also be educational. Crafts, games, and other party activities can help the young child to learn and develop in multiple areas. From gross motor development to increasing social skills, it is possible to plan a classroom party event that helps to boost the students’ growth.
Halloween Parade
Begin the Halloween party by holiday a class parade. This activity will help the young child to develop gross motor skills, follow directions, and build social skills.
Ask the children to change into Halloween costumes, and then march around the school parade style. If an appropriate and safe outdoor area is available, take the parade outside. If there is no outdoor area to march around, have an indoor parade.
Start in the classroom, and have the children march by the other classes. Invite parents, other family, and friends to be parade spectators on the marching route. End the parade in the classroom, and prepare for the party to begin.
Halloween Party Art Activities
Art explorations can help to increase cognitive, emotional, physical, and even social development. Additionally, these activities will aid in aesthetic awareness and creative skill building. These Halloween themed art activities are perfect for a spooky party or as pre-party decoration making exercises.
- Halloween paper chain link: Use orange and black construction paper to create a paper link chain. Make sure to use tape to secure the paper links instead of staples. Ask the children to bend the paper into a circle, and then tape inside. Bend a second paper circle around the first, and secure as well. Repeat as desired. This art activity also helps to teach about shape, color, and pattern recognition. Try counting the circles links for a fun math game.
- Pumpkin faces: Cut out an orange circle and then invite the children to decorate a pumpkin face. Turn this into a collaborative project by making on large class pumpkin.
- Pumpkin painting: During the party have the children paint pumpkins. This can also be done using markers.
Halloween Party Games
Conduct class game activities during the Halloween party to increase social skills, help build problem solving abilities, and hone recall and recognition capacity. Make the games fun for all, and invite all of the students to participate. Some games may not appeal to all children. If a child (or children) appears too frightened or timid to try a particular game, think of ways to adapt the experience for a greater comfort level.
- Guess the spooky object: Place items such as gummy worms or fake eyeballs in a bag. Invite the children to reach and pull out one object. Without looking, the child must guess what the Halloween item is. This activity will help the young child to learn about texture and build critical thinking skills.
- Halloween memory: Create special Halloween themed memory cards with pictures of pumpkins, friendly ghosts, or candy. This game will boost memory and recall abilities.
- Halloween freeze tag: Turn traditional freeze tag into a Halloween inspired game by having the children freeze in a character pose. Ask each child to state what he or she will be for Halloween. When the child freezes he must strike a pose similar to his Halloween character. If the children are wearing costumes, make sure that safety is a priority. Long, dangling clothing, tales, or capes should not be worn. This game should be played outdoors or in a large gym space.
- Modified bobbing for apples: For health and safety reasons many schools have ruled out traditional bobbing for apples. This modified game involves the children picking up the apples from a dry container using elbows and arms. Each child can take a turn dipping his or her elbows into an apple bin. Ask the child to close his elbows around an apple to pick it up.
Fill the preschool classroom Halloween party with fun, educational activities and games. Start with a marching parade, and then move into party art. Finish the action packed day with an entertaining game. This will help to build a special day for children, parents, and teachers alike.
 |
