Halloween Tips for Children with Autism

When Halloween time comes around, this may be a scary period for more than just the children in your family. If you’re a parent of a child with autism, Halloween brings a unique set of challenges.

Lurking around every corner are candies, costumes, frightening imagery and unnerving sounds. It may be tempting to take a pass on this holiday but before you completely opt-out, read these five ACES tips for preparing you and your child with autism for Halloween.

October is all about Halloween stories and sing-a-long fun.We know how effective story books, videos and music can be for a child with autism. Additionally, there are many wonderful children’s books and songs, such as Coast Music Therapy, about Halloween that are particularly useful for special needs children. Take advantage of these fun options to help turn spooky time in to silly time! By reading and singing together not only are you getting ready for Halloween but you are also aiding in your child’s literacy and creative development. What’s not to love about that?
Take steps to avoid forbidden foods. At School and in the Community: Before the first day of school you alerted relevant staff to any particular food allergies or sensitivities your child with autism may have. Now would be a good time to resend that list with a gentle reminder to keep an eye out for him or her. Offer to provide the teacher with food and drink alternatives for any Halloween parties that may involve the forbidden cupcakes or the dreaded sugary drinks. Community events may be a good social time opportunity but be sure to remain vigilant as to what is offered and consumed by your child. Consider having him wear a sticker or wristband alerting grown-ups to his special dietary needs. Trick-or-Treating: If you and your child are planning to go trick-or-treating on Halloween night, there are a few options you can take to keep your child safe from eating the wrong foods. Of course, discuss all of this with your child ahead of time, repeatedly, so that everyone is on board with the plan. The first option for tackling forbidden foods on Halloween, if you feel comfortable doing so, involves passing out approved items to your neighbors to reserve for your child when he comes knocking. You have probably scoped out where you plan to go anyway and it’s a good chance to raise their awareness. A second option is to discuss with your child ahead of time that all candies collected will be exchanged for a batch of parent-approved Halloween treats. You can do this trade after each house by bringing the treats along, or wait and do it all at once when you get home. Finally, if you wish to completely remove the food option, consider swapping them out for other small gifts or collectible items.

Activity

Fill out a map of your Trick or Treat route!

Example from Scratch

ACES Trick or Treat Map Template

1. Prepare your child for costumes (his and everyone else).Trick or treating is a big deal for most children. It is the moment they have been waiting for and you have been anxious about. If your child is ready to wear a costume, work out what to wear several weeks ahead of time. [One approach we like is to attach the costume to his favorite clothes to make him more comfortable.] Have your child practice wearing the costume several times. Take pictures of each step of the child putting on the costume and show it back to him on your phone.If you buy a store bought costume keep in mind your child’s sensory issues and comfort level with the whole idea of wearing a costume. In other words, he probably shouldn’t dress as Darth Vader if he can’t handle anything touching his head. Maybe a soft t-shirt with a pumpkin on it will suffice. Don’t overthink this part unless your child is really engaged. If that’s the case, use the costume selection process as another pathway to bonding with your child.Discuss with your child costumes worn by other people. Explain this is the time of year when people of all ages get dressed up as characters. Some costumes the child may find silly, scary or just plain confusing. Describe what costumes may include such as makeup, masks, hats, weapons, wigs and other props. Everything is pretend! All of this may be a bit overwhelming for your child with autism so make sure he gets extra sleep and a nutritious dinner to optimize your chances for a successful, fun night out.Be sure to check your school’s policy about wearing costumes in advance. Prepare your child ahead of time one way or the other. If he’s focused on wearing the costume to school and this is not allowed, we advise you to not wait until the last minute to have this discussion. If his heart was set on it, one possible alternative is to suggest he wear the costume at home the moment you all return from school. Have the costume in the car with you when you pick him up as an extra surprise.

1. Map out your trick-or-treat route for everyone’s safety and comfort.On this night, of all nights, parents of a child with autism are on high alert. There are some easy steps you can take to keep your child safer and make everyone more comfortable.
  - Select specific homes to visit and map it out. If you’re friendly with certain neighbors, be sure they are included. Make a simple map that shows where to go and the sequence you will follow. As your child gets older and more at ease with Halloween, you can expand the number of homes visited. ACES prepared an example map for your reference.
  - Practice walking during the day. Take your child during daylight hours on your Halloween route. Talk about staying on the sidewalk, keeping close to you when crossing streets and other traffic safety rules. Make sure he knows not to walk inside anyone’s home no matter what! This is a good teachable moment all the way around.
  - Practice walking at night. It is common for children with autism to be reluctant to go out after dark. Try the trick-or-treat route a few times before the big day to help allay his concerns. Bring your flashlight. Maybe simply being outside for a few minutes is enough for him at first. Give yourself plenty of time to work this part out. Explain he is never to venture outside without a grown-up. Again, teachable moment.
  - Place contact information on your child. Make sure your name, address and phone number is secure to his costume/clothes and visible to others. You never want to think the unthinkable but having this information readily available will give you peace of mind in the unlikely event you become separated.
  - Take a buddy. This applies to him and to you. It’s possible your child may be more comfortable trick-or-treating with a trusted classmate, family member, or friend. Invite them along for your Halloween adventure. You too will need a grown-up buddy as an extra pair of attentive eyes.
2. Make your own fun! The sight, sounds and sugars of Halloween may just be too much to handle and that is okay. This does not mean the night has to be a total bust. Create your own party and make your own fun.For your family, making your own fun may involve your child’s favorite dinner and movie in a quiet area with the porch light off and a “do not disturb” sign on the door. Or, if not upsetting for the child, perhaps the family spends time together and everyone helps to pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters. If you want to go big, have your own party at home with the proper accommodations. Invite other children with special needs (and their families) to come over. Yes, it’s going to take some effort on your part but you’re used to that as an autism parent. This will be a special time making memories for everyone involved.

Whether you go out in the community, stay close to home, or choose not to participate at all, the idea is to do Halloween as a family and on your own terms. We hope these tips from ACES will make Halloween season a little less frightening and lots more fun!