HALLOWEEN SENSORY

By Kimberly Grandal ACC/EDU, ACM

Recommended Music

Bewitched Theme, Adam’s Family Theme, Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, Monster Mash, Twilight Zone Theme, etc. Make it more fun than scary.

Recommended supplies, props and techniques for the following senses:

Olfactory (smell): Utilize smells such as pumpkin spice, apple cider, chocolate, fresh baked pumpkin pie or pumpkin bread.

Kinesthetic (Movement): Toss an orange and/or black balloons, roll orange and/or black yarn or crepe paper, utilize orange maracas or egg shakers, have the resident grasp the handle of a plastic pumpkin (or place on wrist) and provide passive range of motion.

Tactile (Touch): There are all kinds of Halloween decorations and costumes that can be used for tactile stimulation such as pumpkins (in a variety of shapes, sizes and textures), broomstick, mask, wig, apples, straw items, plastic costumes, fuzzy/fluffy costumes, etc.

Visual (Sight): Pictures of kids trick or treating, pumpkins, costumes, Halloween decorations and props, etc.

Auditory (Sound): Kids’ laughter, not too scary music

Gustatory (Taste): Pumpkin ice cream, applesauce, orange Jell-O, orange sherbet, apple slices dipped in caramel sauce, chocolate ice cream or pudding, etc. Flavored lip balms are great for those who are on an NPO diet.

Check out these Autumn-themed coloring books, crafts and puzzles!
Autumn Coloring Book	Autumn Dot to Dot Book	Autumn Jigsaw Puzzle	Autumn Craft Foam Projects
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Sample Questions

Growing up, what was your favorite costume?
Did you make your own costumes? If yes, how?
What kinds of candy did you get when you went trick or treating?
Did you ever bob for apples?
Did you ever carve a pumpkin?
Where did you put your carved pumpkin?
What’s your favorite Halloween candy?

Click here to grab your free Halloween Puzzles and Activities

Sensory Stimulation: Tips and Techniques Staff Inservice - 50% OFF

This 60-90 minute introductory inservice is designed to assist the Recreation/Activity Director, or Staff Educator in providing an overview, as well as tips and techniques of sensory stimulation as it pertains to older adults and elders. The inservice comes with a handout, teacher's outline, certificate of attendance, inservice sign in sheet, flyer, interactive exercise, and inservice evaluation form. The educator may wish to split this into 2 sessions. Participants will be able to:

*identify residents who would benefit from sensory stimulation.
*identify the A.P.I.E. process and how it relates to sensory stimulation.
*discuss and utilize at least one facilitation technique for each sense.
*recognize resident responses to various forms of stimuli.
*complete a theme-related sensory planning guide.