Trick or Treat! What You Should Know for a Successful Halloween
Trick or Treat! Halloween is just around the corner and all the spooktacular fun is just about to arrive! But what happens when these ghosts and goblins become too much for your little one to handle? Halloween is a past time filled with fun but can also be challenging for children on the autism spectrum. The sensory overload from scary houses to flickering vivid lights to lots of unique noises can sometimes be too much and can cause them to become overwhelmed. Well, not to fret, we are here to help your little one have the best Halloween ever! Here are 5 ways to help you succeed this fun holiday!
- Go Undercover: When it comes to children on the autism spectrum, it is always better to be over prepared than under prepared. Before starting your Halloween trick or treating journey, make sure to check the pathway and houses that your little one will be trick or treating at. Try to avoid houses with too much sensory stimulation as this can cause your child to have an unpleasant time. Or if your little one would like to experience all the scary night-time events, bring a pair of headphones to help them cope with the over stimulation. The headphones can even be hidden as part of your little ones costume like creating them into Leia buns (from Star Wars) or part of an air fighters pilot suit. Get creative!
- Avoid Mall Halloweens: Malls in general can cause sensory overload and when a mall participates in a “Mall-oween”, it can be a sensory nightmare. Therefore, it is best to avoid these if your child is sensitive to sensory stimulation.
- Halloween is More Than a Costume: It is always fun to get thrilled about dressing up for Halloween but it can sometimes diminish the meaning of the holiday… To have fun! It can be a little hard or itchy to have fun when your costume is uncomfortable so make sure to give your child not only a costume that they will be thrilled to wear but one that is comfortable as well.
- Dietary Restrictions Shouldn’t Spook You Away: Some kids don’t enjoy chocolate or sweets. Well that’s okay as it shouldn’t ruin your little ones Halloween. Before starting your trick or treat travels, stop by a store and pick up something your child might enjoy from small toys to candy and allow them to trade whatever treat they don’t want for one that they like.
- Trick or Treating Not an Option? Start a New Tradition!: Sometimes, despite preparing and doing everything possible, there are instances when your child is not ready to go out trick or treating. It’s alright, why not start a new tradition! Carve pumpkins or have a sensory friendly Halloween activity all at home!
So just know that there’s much more to Halloween than to just trick or treating! So may you and your loved ones have a fun, memorable time filled with plenty of laughs, pictures and candy!!!