Halloween For All
If your family participates in Halloween, there are things you can do now to make it more fun than frustrating for you and your child if they often feel things are too loud, too tight, too itchy, too bright, or just too much. Any holiday is inherently a little anxiety producing for all of us, and for some of our kids, this is compounded by their difficulty dealing with the following:
-The change in the family’s evening routine
-Access to unhealthy food
-Wearing a costume that feels different from their usual clothes
-Being asked to wear something on their face and/or on their head
-Embarking on a new social routine (trick-or-treating) involving interacting with lots of unfamiliar people, some wearing masks
-Sounds and sight (and smells) that are unfamiliar, some meant to startle or frighten.
Of course, there are many alternatives to trick-or-treating: hosting a candy or toy scavenger hunt at home, participating in one of the increasingly abundant trunk-or-treat events, enjoying a special movie night, or engaging in Halloween-themed arts, crafts, and baking activities. There are many local community events this week advertised as autism-friendly, which means the sensory aspects are highly curated. Planning ahead to exchange candy with a few trusted neighbors is another way to socially participate successfully. Letting your child help to distribute candy to others also gives them the opportunity to be right in the middle of things while still being in a safe space and able to duck out when/if a break from the action is needed.
If you do intend to venture out on Halloween, here are some tips:
Read Social Stories – Picture-heavy stories that illustrate what it might be like, how to deal with any problems that come up, etc. The first link below has several good ones!
Decide on a costume early. Your child may really want to dress as a certain character but is bothered by the costume. You can increase their tolerance for it by wearing it for awhile every day (or wear it to OT!), washing it several times, or trying on clothes to wear underneath until you and your child find something that works. And of course, you can make a costume with clothes that you already know are comfortable. Also, it doesn’t hurt to have a backup costume, perhaps made from comfortable, pre-worn clothing, but already approved by your little one (You don’t want to be cutting eye holes out of
Practice the social exchange of trick-or-treating. Restraining themselves to take only 1 or 2 pieces of candy when offered may take some real-world practice before the big night!
For other ideas and tips, visit these websites:
https://www.andnextcomesl.com/2016/10/halloween-social-stories-for-kids-with-autism.html
https://henryjaustin.org/making-halloween-sensory-friendly/
https://www.understood.org/en/articles/halloween-sensory-challenges-tips
