How to Create and Share a Scary Halloween Feel Box

Feel boxes can add plenty of excitement to a Halloween party or classroom. This open-ended kids’ activity calls for some imagination and acting ability to keep it entertaining. It works particularly well for children ages 6 to 12—old enough to picture what an object could be, yet young enough to question whether they’re truly touching something horrible. Ordinary household items can be repurposed for these feel boxes. We’ve included a few object suggestions below, but this is also an ideal project for getting older children in the family involved and encouraging their creativity. So be inventive and enjoy creating these Halloween feel boxes.

Halloween Feel Box Game: Concept

Picture a spooky mad scientist or witch surrounded by scraps from an “experiment” or bubbling brew. Rather than discard the revolting ingredients, they place each one in a separate box. Somehow, you—mom, dad, or teacher—end up with the boxes and decide to present them to a group of children for a Halloween guessing game. The kids cannot peek inside. Instead, they are told what each box contains—and get to touch it!

As the Feel Box Facilitator, your task is to imagine which dreadful objects could be hidden inside and create a story that draws the children in. While narrating, hand each box around and allow the kids to reach inside and identify the “creepy” item by touch. For instance, wet spaghetti can resemble a child’s idea of veins or worms, while a large, moist sponge might feel like a brain.

Create a Story for the Game

To make the game entertaining and spooky, step into character and deliver a believable tale. Once you identify each item, circulate the box and let everyone touch what’s inside. If someone hesitates, improvise by calming them with something such as “Don’t worry—it can’t bite you anymore.” However, don’t pressure anyone who is genuinely frightened, since that may lead to embarrassment or tears.

Here’s an example script:

“Last night I chose to explore the haunted house down the street. I assumed it was vacant, but a witch was inside. She had just completed an evil witch’s brew, and when she noticed me enter, she vanished in a cloud of smoke. Looking around, I discovered that she’d left some ingredients behind, so I gathered them and placed them in these boxes. Go ahead and reach into each box so you can touch the ingredients I found—they’re quite creepy!

This [a box of wet spaghetti] is a box filled with veins!

And these [a box of peeled grapes] are eyeballs…”

How to Create Feel Boxes

A divided box, like the kind used for fruit, can work, but a collection of small boxes is generally easier to pass around. Tissue boxes, small shipping cartons, and similar containers are all suitable. To prevent children from peeking, secure a flap of construction paper or fabric across the top of each box. Shoe boxes are another option; simply cut a hand-sized opening in the lid and tape the lid securely in place.

You may fill the boxes with anything you want and invent any story you prefer, but these choices are consistently convincing:

• Moist, rough sponge: brains
• Coiled chenille stems: spider
• Pretzel rods: petrified rat tails
• Dehydrated apricots: dried-out tongues
• String: spiderwebs
• Cooked, chilled spaghetti noodles: worms or veins
• Skinned grapes: eyeballs
• Dehydrated apple pieces: ears
• Blanched, skinless tomato: heart
• Imitation fur: dead animal
• Prongs from a plastic fork: vampire teeth
• Soft flour tortilla: skin (a little oil can be added)
• Feed corn: teeth
• Corn silk: hair
• Raisins: boogers or rat droppings
• Sliced almonds: fingernails
• Mini dill pickles with pistachio shells pressed into the ends: witches’ fingers
• Overcooked rice and raisins in cooking oil: decaying maggots and bugs
• Small peeled potatoes joined with chenille stems: spiders