Halloween is a difficult time for many children with special needs because of:
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| Credit: Steven DePolo on Flickr |
- Changes in their routines.
- Sensory overload from noises, costumes, decorations and lighting.
- Lack of social skills for trick or treating.
- Food sensitivities or limited diets.
Most children look forward to Halloween, and as parents we want our children to share in the fun. Here are some ideas to help plan a Halloween your children with special needs can enjoy.
1. Make a Plan with Your Child
Knowing what to expect alleviates a lot of children’s anxiety. Preview the route your children will follow while trick or treating. Show them the route in daylight and at night, as things look different in the darkness. Build in some time for a sensory break and decide where your children can relax away from other trick or treaters.
Use pictures and videos to show your children the types of costumes people wear, Halloween decorations and introduce them to scary sounds they might hear while trick or treating. In addition, there are a lot of social stories about Halloween that may be helpful. You will find social stories on these sights:
2. Practice
Explain exactly what you do when trick or treating:
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| Credit: Popofatticus on Flick |
- Go to the house and knock on the door or ring the doorbell.
- When the door opens and the person is visible, say trick or treat.
- Stand at the doorway – do not go into the house or apartment.
- Have your trick or treat bag/bucket ready.
- Hold your bag or bucket in front of you and let the person put your treat in it.
- If the homeowner tells you to choose from a bowl – only take one treat unless told otherwise.
- Don’t ask for more treats.
- Say thank you even if you don’t like the type of treat.
- Don't hang around; start moving to the next house.
- Don’t open, taste or eat any treats until your parents say it is okay.
Practice this routine a few times at home. Then, have your children practice with a neighbor or friend
If your children are nonverbal, make up small cards with the words "Trick or Treat" that your children can hand out while trick or treating. If you want you can put additional information on the card such as "Hi, My Name is John and I can't say 'Trick or Treat' yet. Thank you for understanding."
3. Costumes
Be flexible about your children’s costumes. Some children hate the idea of costumes and refuse to wear them. Don’t force costumes on them. Let them trick or treat without them. Alternatively, ask if they will wear face paint or carry a scary sign or object while trick or treating.
If your child does wear a costume, you need to do a few safety checks. You need to:
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| Credit: US CPSC |
- Make sure their vision isn’t blocked by a mask or part of their costume.
- Check that they can breathe easily.
- Check for tripping hazards such as a part of a costume that drags on the ground or shoes that are too big.
- Attach high visibility strips or have them wear a high visibility vest.
- Give them a working flashlight to take with them.
Have your child wear the costume at least once to make sure it is comfortable and there aren’t any annoying tags, etc.
If your children use a wheelchair or cane, there are lots of ideas for costumes incorporating these aids. Check out these websites for ideas:
4. Trick or Treat Alternatives
For some kids, trick or treat is just too much. This doesn’t mean Halloween cannot be a fun experience for you and your child. Plan a special activity to celebrate Halloween in a style that is comfortable for your child. Here are some
ideas:
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| Credit: Tawest 64 on Flickr |
- Organize a small party for your family and friends with Halloween games like bobbing for apples. Check out Family Education and Pumpkin Nook for more party ideas.
- Trick or treat at a local mall or museum.
- Check for activities at local churches and community organizations.
- Bake Halloween treats and bring them to friends and family, or a local shelter.
- Make a collage – grab your camera and see how many pictures of different Halloween things you and your child can take. Then, pick out your favorites and make a collage. You can print the photos and paste them together or use an online collage tool such as PicMonkey.
- Get out your arts and crafts and make Halloween and autumn decorations
- Please share any tips you have in the comments below.
This article was originally published by me on Examiner.com.
©Mary M Conneely T/A Advocacy in Action
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