Sensory-Friendly Halloween
Click here for photo creditFor most children, Halloween is an opportunity to dress up in a costume of their favorite character, go outside when it's dark, be able to stay up past their bedtime, and, of course, LOTS and LOTS of candy! However, for children with sensory processing issues, Halloween is a sensory-rich event that can be very overwhelming and a source of stress. From unconformable costumes, scary decorations, and unfamiliar sights and sounds it can all lead to sensory overload and make Halloween difficult to enjoy.
The sights, sounds and traditions of Halloween can be overwhelming but it's important to not avoid Halloween altogether because it makes your child uncomfortable. With some planning, Halloween can be less scary and more enjoyable for your child. As a parent you can reshape the event to make it easier for your child to tolerate. Here are some common Halloween challenges and how to help:
1. Start talking about Halloween!
Before celebrating Halloween, start talking about it. You can do this in various ways. Look at old pictures of past Halloweens, read Halloween-themed books, go to a Halloween store or watch (not too scary) Halloween movies. This is a great opportunity to have an open dialogue with your child. Have them talk about what they don't like about Halloween and brainstorm ideas with them of how to make it easier for them. If your child goes into Halloween with clear expectations of what to expect they are less likely to have a negative response.
Click here for a story to help start the conversation about Halloween
If you prefer to print the story, you can click here for a printer friendly version
2. Start wearing the costume!
This is one of the few aspects of Halloween that you can control! When picking a costume there are many things to consider other than just what your child wants to dress up as. Some costumes require face paint or are too tight or too itchy or have uncomfortable masks that will make it difficult to tolerate. Have your child try on the costume and they can even practice wearing it around the house a few weeks before Halloween. This will help to increase their tolerance to the costume. If your child is still having difficulty tolerating the costume, then consider making a simple costume at home. A white sweatshirt and white sweatpants make a great ghost costume. Add a tail to the sweatsuit and your child can be a cat, dog, lion, etc.
3. Start practicing!
Just like with anything else in life, the more you practice the easier it will be. Start at your own door. What should you do first? What do you say when they open the door? This is a great opportunity to practice ringing the doorbell. If there isn't a doorbell what can we do? Maybe we can just knock at the door. Once they are familiar with their own home you can progress to other homes in your neighborhood, to a friend's house or to a family member's home. Stick with places that are familiar. This will help in building confidence and increasing their comfort level.
4. Start small!
Think about what fits your child's needs and how you can modify the actual night of Halloween. We should begin to expand or change our expectations for what Halloween should look like and embrace the idea that Halloween might look different than what we experienced as children. Here are some suggestions of ways to make Halloween night more manageable:
- Consider going out at dusk when there are less people and before it gets too dark (and scary).
- Going to a mall, treat or trunk or a small shopping center might be a better option for your child.
- Try limiting the number of houses you will be going to. You know your child best and you know what their limits are. 3-4 houses might be a reasonable goal. Be sure to end the night on a positive note before your child gets overwhelmed and before a meltdown occurs.
For some children Halloween may just be too overwhelming no matter the circumstances. In these instances, you can start your own Halloween traditions. Your child might prefer to just stay home and hand out candy, watch Halloween movies, or have a “make-your-own-pizza” night. Halloween looks different for all families and your version of Halloween will look like whatever fits your family's needs.
.png)
.png)
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}