Outside · Harrison
Leaf walk “I spy”
On a quiet street near school or home, look for red leaves, crunchy piles, squirrels, and pumpkin decorations. Check them off as you go.
Builds visual scanning and noticing details.
Try at home today
Pick one · no printer neededFine motor
No carve pumpkin
Decorate with stickers, markers, or washi tape instead of carving. Great when wet pumpkin insides are too much.
Hand strength and finger control without the mess.
Kitchen
Roast pumpkin seeds
Rinse, pat dry, toss with oil, and roast. Kids can scoop, stir, and shake the pan with help.
Two handed work, waiting, and tasting together.
Halloween option
Candy from the porch
If door to door feels like too much, hand out candy at home. Same holiday, calmer sensory load.
Meaningful participation without overload.
Heavy work
Help around the house
Carry grocery bags, push a laundry basket, stir batter, or wipe the table before homework.
Body input that can help kids settle and focus.
Warm ups
Movement for any gradePrintable
Fall yoga cards
Short poses with a fall theme. Use before homework or after school.
View PDFPrintable
Halloween walks
Silly walks and movement paths kids can copy at home.
View PDFPrintable
Bone dance and Frankenstein yoga
Copy the skeleton moves or stretch like Frankenstein.
View PDFBy grade
Printables from your OTHarrison school calendar
District datesPlan practice around early dismissals, conferences, and breaks. Half days and vacation weeks still count.
Oct 12 · Columbus Day · no school
Nov 3 · Superintendent’s Conference Day · no school
Nov 11 · Veterans Day · no school
Nov 25 · K to 12 early dismissal
Nov 26 to 27 · Thanksgiving recess
Dec 10 to 11 · K to 5 parent teacher conferences
Dec 24 to 31 · Holiday recess
Open full Harrison calendar
Download 2026 to 2027 one page PDF
Home motor ideas
Anytime · any grade · pick oneThese are everyday ways to build the body skills behind handwriting. Use them when you have a few minutes at home. They work year round, not only in October.
Big body
Gross motor
Strong legs, core, and balance come first. Try hopscotch, catch, bike or scooter, jump rope, hula hoop, playground climbing, swinging, dancing, or a family sport.
Big muscles support posture and control at a desk.
Arms and shoulders
Shoulder girdle strength
Wheelbarrow walks, crab or bear walks, work on the belly propped on elbows, tape a worksheet to the wall, write on a binder incline, erase a board, push a laundry basket, sweep, or do wall push ups.
Stable shoulders help the hand stay steady when writing.
Hands
Fine motor
Hide coins in PlayDoh and dig them out. Mystery bag (guess by feel). Stack blocks or Legos. Tweezers, clothespins, bead or Cheerio necklaces, coins in a bank, bubble wrap pops, stamps, or a simple tool set with screws and bolts.
Finger strength and precision for grasp and control.
Both sides
Two hands together
String beads, lace cards, fold laundry or paper, deal cards, cut shapes, tie shoes, catch and throw, or hand over hand tug games.
Kids need both hands for scissors, paper, and many school tools.
Eyes and hands
Visual motor
Puzzles, mazes, connect the dots, I Spy, Memory, pattern games, copying shapes in sand or shaving cream, MagnaDoodle, or cutting coupons and snowflakes.
Eye hand coordination for letters, lines, and copying from a board.
Family night
Games that practice skills
Operation, Connect 4, Jenga, Don’t Break the Ice, Ants in the Pants, Hi Ho Cherry O, Pick Up Sticks, Twister, Bingo, Chutes and Ladders, Memory, or a simple card game like Go Fish.
Turn taking, finger control, and attention without a worksheet.
Trusted links
General ideas for families from occupational therapy sources. These are not a substitute for your child’s plan.
AOTA: Halloween alternatives beyond trick or treat
The OT Toolbox: Halloween OT activity ideas