How to Handle Halloween Energy Without Losing Your Mind

I still remember my very first Halloween as a teacher. I was so excited to bring one of my favorite holidays to life with my kindergartners. I went all out—decorated the entire classroom in cobwebs, had themed activities, and thought it would be the most magical day ever.

By the end of the day, I was laying flat on my classroom carpet staring at the ceiling, completely zonked.

Here’s what I’ve learned since then: Halloween doesn’t have to mean chaos. With the right structure and a few simple shifts, you can make it fun and manageable. Let’s dive in.

Plan for High Energy

First things first—Halloween week naturally comes with more excitement. Costumes, parties, candy from families… it’s a lot for kids. Behaviors often spike simply because students are buzzing with energy.

Instead of fighting it, plan for it:

• Keep lessons short and focused.
  
  
• Incorporate extra movement breaks or brain breaks throughout the day.
  
  
• Sprinkle in activities that channel their excitement rather than trying to suppress it.
  
  

When you anticipate the energy, you can meet it with structure instead of surprise.

Keep Routines Tight

One of my biggest mistakes early on was throwing out the schedule for a week of “all fun.” The result? Total chaos.

The truth is, structure makes fun smoother. Students need the familiarity of routines, especially when their energy is already heightened.

Here’s what works best:

• Stick to your normal schedule as closely as possible.
  
  
• Swap out your regular lessons for Halloween-themed activities that align with your goals.
  
  

This way, students get the excitement of holiday fun within the safety of a predictable routine.

Use Transitions Wisely

Halloween week is not the time to let transitions slide. Lean into your classroom management systems and reteach procedures if necessary.

Some things that help:

• Reinforce expectations using procedure slides (already done for you in my Classroom Procedure Slides).
  
  
• Use classroom jobs like a timekeeper or teacher helper to keep things moving smoothly.
  
  
• Incorporate transition music to signal cleanup and switching activities.
  
  

When transitions are clear, the day feels calmer and more under control.

Channel the Energy

Finally, don’t fight the excitement—channel it. Here’s how:

• Use Halloween-themed activities that still review or teach important content.
  
  
• Incorporate grounding activities like mindfulness or breathing exercises to bring energy down.
  
  
• Model calm, steady energy yourself. Remember, if you’re bouncing off the walls, students will mirror it. If you stay calm, they’ll match that too.
  
  

It’s all about balance—fun, but with firm boundaries.

Wrap Up

Halloween energy doesn’t have to leave you drained at the end of the day. Instead, remember to:

• Plan for high energy with short lessons and movement breaks.
  
  
• Keep routines tight to maintain structure.
  
  
• Use transitions wisely with procedures, jobs, and music.
  
  
• Channel the energy into themed activities and grounding strategies.
  
  

With these shifts, Halloween can be fun and manageable—for you and your students.

Next Steps for Teachers

Want more tools for keeping your classroom calm and structured during high-energy times? Check out:

• Classroom Management Guide – A step-by-step reset for routines and expectations.
  
  
• Classroom Management Bundle – A complete toolkit of ready-to-use resources.
• The Present Teacher Circle – Ongoing coaching and community to help you thrive all year long.