8 Best Halloween Games for Special Needs 2023

Halloween season is almost here. It’s a perfect time for fun and creativity. So what’s a better way to celebrate than by playing exciting games? Halloween games for special needs children improve their problem-solving, creativity and communication skills safely. They are even a fun way to celebrate this haunted season and enhance their self-confidence. 

But try to pick games that your special needs kid loves to participate in and enjoy. We have come up with some great Halloween games that are joyful, accessible and sensory-friendly for kids with special needs.

What Are Some Examples of Halloween Games for Special Needs? 

Below are the best Halloween games for special needs children:

1.  Pumpkin Carving

Halloween Pumpkin Carving is a great tactile and simple game to create your jack-o-lanterns with your loved ones. 

You Will Need:

• 1 pumpkin 
• 1 spoon
• 1 stencil or pencil
• 1 marker
• 1 carving knife
• 1 Candle

Play Steps:

• Select a pumpkin large enough and make sure it has a flat base.
• Cut the top and remove the pulp and seeds.
• Ask kids to use a marker and use a stencil/pencil to trace the design.
• Use a carving knife carefully to create the desired design.
• Put a candle inside the pumpkin and place the lid back on it.

2. Decorating a Jar for a Night-Light

It is one of the excellent Halloween games for special needs. This night-light game involves decorating a jar, which can be both practical and fun. It will set the mood during ghostly game nights.

You Will Need:

• 1 jar (of any size)
• Halloween-themed stickers or paint
• Glow-in-the-dark elements like battery-operated tea light

Play Steps:

• Ask children to pick a jar and clean it properly.
• Use stickers or paint for decoration.
• Add a tiny light inside.

3. Apple Bobbing

Apple bobbing is a classic Halloween game (also called bobbing for apples or apple ducking) most common at Halloween parties. It is great for everyone, including those with special needs. This fun game involves participants catching apples in a water tub with their mouths.

You Will Need:

• 1 large towel/plastic sheet
• 1 large bucket
• Apples

Play Steps:

• Fill the bucket to 3/4th of its capacity using cold water.
• Now, put a towel or sheet under the bucket.
• Place 4 to 6 apples in water.
• Ask each participant to take a turn and catch as many apples as possible.
• Make sure their hands are behind their backs.
• The participant who catches more apples wins.

4.  Halloween Themed Sensory Bin

Halloween-themed Sensory bin is an excellent educational game for kids to discover diverse shades, sounds, textures and shapes associated with this spooky Holiday. A sensory bin is a container loaded with diverse things that stimulate the senses of smell, sight, taste, sight and touch.

You Will Need:

• 1 Big plastic tub.
• Black beans, sand or rice.
• Halloween decoration items (like piper cleaner, beads, feathers, etc.)
• Tongs, funnels, spoons, tongs, cups, bowls and tweezers.
• 1 sensory bin.

Play Steps:

• Fill the tub with black beans, sand or rice as the base.
• Now, add Halloween decoration items for an additional spooky touch.
• Ask participants to use tweezers, funnels, cups, spoons or bowls for pouring, scooping, counting or sorting stuff in the sensory bin. It will enhance their creativity and imagination while playing with the sensory bin.

5.  Halloween Scavenger Hunt 

A Halloween scavenger hunt game is one of the fun Halloween games for special needs to play both outdoors and indoors, depending on the weather and your preference.

You Will Need:

• Ready-made template online or your challenges/clues.

Play Steps:

• Make a list of Halloween items.
• Ask children to find the hidden items around your yard or home before the time limit.
• Give treats or prizes to winners.

6. Pumpkin Bowling 

A Halloween pumpkin bowling game is a great game to enhance hand-eye coordination, motor skills and spatial awareness of special needs children. 

You Will Need: 

• Few tiny pumpkins
• A flat surface
• Some empty soda bottles

Play Steps:

• Fill a soda bottle with water.
• Arrange them in a triangle shape.
• Sculpt pumpkin stems and use them as bowling balls.
• To make these balls and pumpkins appear more festive, decorate them using paint, stickers or markers.
• Each participant gets two trials to knock down as many bottles as possible.
• The participant with the high score wins.

7. Candy Corn Bingo

The Halloween candy corn bingo game is a simple and fun activity for the Halloween party. It is a great way to improve sorting, language and matching skills.

You Will Need: 

• 1 printer
• Few candy corns
• Bingo cards
• Some scissors

Play Steps:

• Take a printout of bingo cards and cut them.
• Provide each participant with a card and some candy corn.
• Pick one player and ask him/her to draw a card for other participants.
• The participants will see the matching word or image on their cards and mask it with candy corn.
• The first player who covers 5 squares in a column, row or diagonal is the winner.
• To claim the victory, the first play shouts candy corn or bingo.

8. Monster Mash

Halloween Monster Mash is an excellent spooky game for Halloween parties that improves self-expression, social skills, and body awareness. The main motto is to create the scariest monster by mixing body parts from different creatures.

You Will Need: 

• Newspapers, magazines or drawings
• Halloween costumes and Halloween props
• Music system
• Glue

Play Steps:

• Cut out diverse body parts from drawings, newspapers or magazines.
• Ask each participant to choose one part and stick it together on the paper.
• The player that appears the scariest monster is the winner.
• Play some Halloween music and ask each kid to wear costumes and use props.
• Finally, encourage them to dance like a monster.

Happy Halloween 2023!

I hope you loved our post on Halloween games for special needs. Do not forget to share and comment on it.