How to Enjoy Halloween: Tips for Parents of Children with Autism

The bustling activities, unfamiliar social interactions, and sensory overloads of Halloween can feel overwhelming to children with autism. Society’s expectations and social pressure to have fun during Halloween and the general stimulation that comes with the event do not augur well for some children. Keep learning and discover possible strategies to make this holiday enjoyable and meaningful for the whole family.

Here are some tips to help make Halloween a safe, enjoyable, and stress-free experience for your child.

Prepare Ahead of Time

• Use visual aids to plan and design different Halloween’s treats and activities. or if they prefer to stay at home and give out candies. This will give them an idea of what the day will look like.
• Read books or watch videos: social stories can help your child feel comfortable and familiar with the theme and activities that are going to be performed
• Practice Dress Reharsals: Wear costumes 2 or 3 days before to help make your child more comfortable with wearing them.

Choosing the Right Costume

• Sensory-Friendly Materials: Many costumes can have unpleasant textures, smells, and tag. Consider skipping face paint or masks if they cause discomfort.
• Comfortable Alternatives: If a full costume isn’t working, consider letting your child wear festive colors, a t-shirt with a fun Halloween print, or even their favorite pajamas. Participation doesn’t have to mean a traditional costume.

Plan Trick-or-Treating with Flexibility

• Set Boundaries and Goals: Set a plan together, decide for how long you will be outside or how many houses you’ll visit.
• Skip Crowded Spots: Look for a quitter and non busy street neighborhood or attend “trunk or treats” events that may be easier to navigate than busy streets.
• Practice “The Routine”: Teach your child expected trick or treating and how they are to respond, trick or treat”, knocking, saying hi to the neighbors, and taking candy as nicely as possible.

Emphasize Safety

• Glow Sticks and Reflective Gear: If you will be out at night make sure your child is always visible, you can use neon or glow sticks reflectors.

Watch for Signs of Overwhelm:

• Identify Triggers: Be mindful of what triggers your child. Objects such as Halloween decorations can be scary.
• Build in Sensory Breaks: Find a quiet area of the neighborhood where your kid can have a chance to escape from noise in case they need to.
• Have an Exit Plan: If the night becomes too overwhelming, have a plan to go home early or take a break.

Prepare for Candy Surprises

• Bring Familiar Snacks: Bring your child’s favorite snacks to keep them comfortable. They might enjoy the social aspect of trick-or-treating even if they don’t eat candy.
• Sort Candy Together: When the evening is over, involve your child in sorting their treats. You can practice sorting by color, size, or favorite items, making the activity fun and educational.

Create Alternative Activities

• Host a Halloween at Home: If trick-or-treating appears to be too overwhelming, have a Halloween party at home.  You can dress up and have a family parade or a Halloween treasure hunt in the house.
• Plan a Sensory-Friendly Activity: Sensory bins filled with Halloween-themed items (like foam spiders, plastic pumpkins, and textured paper) can be enjoyable and helpful for children who benefit from sensory play.

Set Realistic Expectations

• Celebrate Small Wins: Halloween can be overwhelming, so celebrate each little victory, whether it’s going to one house, keeping a costume on, or saying “thank you” for a piece of candy.
• Enjoy Quality Time Together: Focus on having fun together and enjoying each other’s company. Each Halloween will bring its own small victories and memories to cherish.

Wrapping Up

Halloween can be as simple or festive as you and your child want it to be. By planning ahead, focusing on comfort, and staying flexible, you can make Halloween or any other Holiday a memorable and positive experience for everyone.