Spider Web Rescue: A Spooky-Fun Fine Motor Challenge
Halloween is the perfect time to mix therapy with play — and our favorite spooky-season game, Spider Web Rescue, does exactly that! This fun, movement-filled activity helps kids build fine motor skills, bilateral coordination, problem-solving, and focus — all while having a blast.
In this OT-approved activity, kids become brave “spider rescuers,” reaching carefully through a web of yarn to save tiny Halloween treasures without breaking the web. It’s part strategy, part silliness — and a fantastic way to work on motor planning, attention, and self-regulation through hands-on play.
Whether you’re setting it up in your therapy room, classroom, or living room, Spider Web Rescue gets kids moving, thinking, and laughing — all while secretly strengthening the skills they use every day.
Why Occupational Therapists Love This Activity
Spider Web Rescue targets key developmental areas in a fun, low-pressure way:
Fine motor strength and precision
Bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body together)
Motor planning and sequencing
Self-regulation through slow, focused movement
Sensory exploration through tactile and proprioceptive input
Materials You’ll Need
Yarn, string, or painter’s tape
Doorway, two chairs, or a laundry basket to create your web
Small Halloween items (plastic spiders, toy rings, mini pumpkins, or cotton balls as “ghosts”)
Optional tools: tongs, tweezers, or clothespins for added hand strengthening
How to Create Your Spider Web
Build the web — Tape or tie yarn in crisscrossing lines across a doorway, between chairs, or over a laundry basket.
Hide the treasures — Place small toys behind the web or inside the basket.
Set the challenge — Tell your child their mission: Rescue the trapped Halloween treasures without breaking the web!
How to Play
Set a goal (e.g., “Rescue all 10 spiders without touching the web”).
Encourage your child to reach carefully through the yarn to retrieve each object.
Focus on slow, controlled movement and using both hands together.
For an added challenge, use tongs or tweezers instead of hands.
Turn it into a game — add spooky music or set a timer for excitement.
Grading & Adaptations
Make It Easier:
Use fewer strings or make larger openings.
Allow gentle touching or moving of the yarn.
Use larger or lighter objects for easier grasping.
Make It Harder:
Add more web layers or tighten the spacing.
Require use of tongs or tweezers.
Add sequencing (“Rescue all the orange spiders first”) or a time limit.
Sensory-Friendly Modifications
Use soft or textured strings (yarn, fuzzy pipe cleaners) for tactile exploration.
Add deep pressure activities before or after (like wall pushes or a weighted lap pad) to help organize the sensory system.
Bonus Ideas
Use as part of a Halloween obstacle course or fine motor circuit.
Great warm-up for pre-writing or hand-strengthening sessions.
Perfect for home playdates or classroom Halloween parties.
Why It Works
“Spider Web Rescue” builds real-life skills through pretend play. By combining fine motor control, sensory processing, and bilateral movement, kids learn how to slow down, focus, and problem-solve — while doing something that feels like pure fun.
If your child needs extra support with fine motor skills, coordination, or self-regulation, our team at Creating Connections OT in Woburn, MA can help. We create playful, evidence-based therapy plans designed to help kids feel strong, confident, and in control of their bodies — in and out of the therapy room.
At Creating Connections OT, we’re here to help your child thrive—emotionally, physically, and socially. If this post resonated with you and you're wondering what the next step looks like, our New Client Page has everything you need. From what to expect in your first session to how we support your child’s unique goals, it’s all just a click away.