10 Fun Halloween Crafts For Seniors

Why should kids have all the fun on Halloween? Weve created a
list of 10 fun and easy Halloween crafts for seniors below.

Research shows that crafting fosters mindfulness, eases

depression, and may lessen your chance of cognitive decline,
according to a 2011 study published in the Journal of
Neuropsychiatry[1].
[1]

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/25/health/brain-crafting-benefits/

That makes it one of the best Halloween activities for seniors.

Of course the best reason of all to craft is that its fun and
something grandparents, parents, and grandkids can all enjoy
together.
The ideas mentioned here can be made with household items you
already have and include options suited for seniors with
Alzheimers disease or dementia.

Witchy Pinecone Owl

Heres the perfect excuse to take a
fall nature walk together. The
adorable faces on these witchy
owls get glued on pinecones.
Collect different shapes and sizes
to create a fun variety of
personalities. From there, simply
construct your hat from black felt
and blue ribbon, cut out eyes from
craft foam, and glue it all together.
See full instructions from All Free
Kids Crafts.
Photo: Jennifer and Kitty ONeil

Pumpkin Apple Stamps

Theres no need for stencils to
paint these pumpkins. Cast-off
apples from your family orchard
visit do the trick.
Cut your apples in half, dip in
orange craft paint, and press to
paper. Add a green stem at the
top and use black paint to make it
a jack-o-lantern if you wish.

See full instructions from Frugal

Mom Eh.

Photo: Elizabeth Lampman

Ghost Milk Jug Lanterns

Carving pumpkins is messy
and not easy for seniors
with arthritis or little kids.
These lanterns require
minimal cutting and no
scraping, just some rinsing
and drawing. Clean out old
milk gallon jugs, draw on
faces with black permanent
marker, and light with white
holiday lights.
See full instructions from Eighteen25.

Photo: Eighteen25.com

Sponge Painted Pumpkins

Another way to get around the
carving, scraping, and scooping
of making a jack-o-lantern is to
paint one.

A paper plate makes the perfect

canvas, while sponge paint
eliminates the need to go out
and buy brushes. Just cut a
regular dish sponge into pieces.
Photo: TheResourcefulMama.com

See the full instructions from The

Resourceful Mama.

Halloween Slime
Everyone knows kids love slime,
but its also a fun, tactile
experiences for seniors with
Alzheimers.

Whip up a safe, non-toxic batch

with school glue, liquid starch,
and liquid watercolors. For a
spooky effect, pass it around in a
witchs cauldron.
Photo: PleasantestThing.com

See full instructions from

Pleasantest Thing.

Yarn-Wrapped Mummy
Yarn is another great tactile tool
for seniors with Alzheimers or
dementia.
Theyll enjoy the simple act of
winding it around mummyshaped construction paper.
Glue on googly eyes for a silly
touch.

See full instructions from I

Heart Crafty Things.

Photo: IHeartCraftyThings.com

Pom Pom Spiders,

Pumpkins, and Ghosts
Heres another yarn-based
craft. Loop, wrap, and tie
different colors into your
starting shapes, then add
googly eyes and pipe
cleaners for a pumpkins
stem or spiders legs. If you
need something simpler, you
can buy pom poms already
made from a craft store.

See the full instructions from

Live Craft Eat.

Photo: LiveCraftEat.com

Toilet Roll Cats

Who would have guessed
that old toilet paper rolls
could prove so cute? Simply
fold and pinch the top to
create your kittys ears, then
paint black. (While the paint
dries, watch Its the Great
Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.)
Glue on eyes, create a tail
and whiskers with pipe
cleaners, and youre done.

See full instructions from

Kids Activities Blog.

Photo: LiveCraftEat.com

Popsicle Stick Frankenstein

Its alive! Create everyones
favorite monster with popsicle
sticks, paint, and glue.
Cardboard (you can use part of an
old cereal box) provides a
backingglue a magnet on so you
can stick it on your fridge.
See full instructions from Crafty
Morning.
Photo: CraftyMorning.com

Q-Tip Skeleton
This skeleton craft couldnt be
easier. Its ideal for young kids and
seniors with impaired cognition or
motor skills.
Arrange and glue Q-Tips on black
construction paper and add a skull
with white paper or a paint pen.
Sprinkle on glitter for a little
something extra.

See full instructions from All Free

Crafts.

Photo: AllFreeCrafts.com

Puffy Ghosts
All you need to make these cute
ghost mobiles are cotton balls,
construction paper, and yarn. If
you have safety concerns with
letting your parent or child use
scissors, then cut the ghostshaped backings out of white
cardstock in advance and replace
black paper with puff paint to
create faces.
Photo: ThrivingHomeBlog.com

See the full instructions from

Thriving Home.

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