Our Harlow Young Carer Club got up to some spooktacular activities this Halloween and we thought it would be rude not to share!
We used a “Trick or Treat” box, which is a brilliant sensory game that can easily be adapted for any occasion. Our club lead created a hole in a large shoebox, wrapped it in decorated paper so the contents couldn’t be seen, then cut a slit big enough for small hands to reach inside.
The box was filled with items of different textures – squishy, fluffy, hard and smooth. Each child took turns to rummage inside, trying to guess what they’d found and whether it was a trick or a treat! You can add a few sweets into the mix too 🍬.
Next up, the group made no-knead bread rolls – a great tactile activity with the added bonus of enjoying something delicious they’d made themselves.
Here’s the easy recipe you can try at home:
330ml warm water
2 tbsp olive oil
7g dried fast action yeast
1 tsp runny honey
425g strong bread flour
1/2 tsp fine table salt
1. In a jug, mix together the yeast, water, honey and olive oil and leave to sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Pour the yeasty water mix over the flour and use a fork to stir until halfway combined. Sprinkle over the salt and mix in the rest of the way until a shaggy dough forms.
3. Cover the bowl with cling film and leave in a warm place for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, wet your hand and grab the edges all the way around, stretching the dough up and over. Cover with cling film for another 30 minutes.
4. Repeat the stretch and fold twice more, with a 30 minute rise in between. After the final fold, gently tip the bread dough onto a well floured surface. Use a knife or a dough scraper to separate into 6 equal sized rolls.
5. Gently shape the dough into a roll shape and place onto a lined baking sheet. When all 6 rolls are done, cover loosely with cling film and leave for 30 minutes – 1 hour to rise.
6. When the rolls have proved, preheat the oven to 200ºc fan/220ºc. Bake the rolls for 15-20 minutes until lightly browned on top and when you tap the bottom of the rolls it sounds hollow.
7. Leave to cool before slicing and fill with your favourite fillings.
Our club leads plan activities that encourage young carers to be creative, try new things and most importantly – to have fun and enjoy a break from their caring responsibilities at home.
We run Young Carer Clubs across Essex, offering children and young people a safe space to relax, connect and take part in enriching experiences like this one.
👉 Find out how you can support your local club here: Help Essex Young Carers | Action for Family Carers
