Halloween With Autism: 3 Tips for A Spooktacular Holiday with Your Child 👻

Halloween can be an exciting yet challenging time for children with Autism. The sensory overload and unplanned social interactions can make this holiday more than a little daunting for families. But, with a dash of planning, Halloween can be a sensory-friendly night to remember for your child. Here are three tips to help you create a spooktacular (Autism friendly) Halloween experience!

Tip 1: Practice Your Trick-or-Treat Route

Not every child on the Spectrum will be comfortable with trick-or-treating. That’s ok! Maybe a “spooky” movie night and some treats is just what your kiddo needs. But, if you’re heading out for a haunted night on the town, a little preparation can go a long way.

Take some of the unexpected out of trick-or-treating by planning your route ahead of time and doing a few trial runs to help your child get familiar with how trick-or-treating works. If it’s your first year trick-or-treating you can keep your route short and sweet! For an extra fun activity, print out a map of your trick-or-treating route and track your progress with a sticker on the map for each neighborhood or house you visit.

Tip 2: Choose Comfort

One of the simplest ways to make your Halloween sensory-friendly is to choose a costume thats comfortable! Nobody wants to walk around with an itchy tag scratching them or with a rough fabric irritating their skin. Some kids may also benefit from trying on their costume a few times leading up to Halloween. And, if your child really isn’t feeling it, they can still be festive with a Halloween t-shirt and their favorite pair of shoes. Other ways to keep your child comfortable include sensory-friendly tools like weighted vests or noise cancelling headphones. These can help reduce anxiety or overstimulation from noise and crowds.

Tip 3: Prioritize Safety

All parents should be safety conscious on Halloween but, when your child has Autism there are some extra considerations to keep in mind. Elopement is a serious safety hazard especially if your child uses this behavior as a tool to cope with sensory overload or changes in activities (like going home after a fun night trick-or-treating). We encourage parents to add a air tag or other GPS tracker to their child’s costume and to prepare an ID card with their child’s name, communication level, diagnosis, and emergency contact information. You can also stay safe by only visiting homes your child knows well, like those of close family friends or relatives. Finally, if you have a close-knit Autism community in your area, consider trick-or-treating as a group! Your child may feel more comfortable trick-or-treating with a buddy and you have extra support on hand.

Conclusion

Every child should be able to create fun, positive memories on Halloween. By preparing ahead of time, and prioritizing your child’s safety and comfort, you can help ensure that this spooky season is filled with smiles rather than stress. Embrace flexibility and celebrate in ways that best suit your child—after all, every ghost and goblin deserves to have an enchanting experience!