Halloween is a holiday full of fun and spooky surprises, but those surprises can be genuinely scary for many children with autism spectrum disorders and related disabilities. There can be crowds, masks, and a big shake up to the daily routine. However, with some planning and outside resources, Halloween is back on for children on the spectrum and better than ever with increased skill building, safety, and fun.
Plan for Skill Building
Halloween is an excellent chance to generalize the skills your child is building at school and in treatment. Children get to complete the multi-step routine of Halloween events like trick-or-treating, engaging socially, and waiting their turn. They may be expected to respond to questions or tolerate potentially startling or scary things, such as loud noises, large crowds, people in masks, creepy costumes, and flashing or colored lights. Practice the routine by “playing Halloween” and running through the steps earlier in the week or having a “dress rehearsal” to try on costumes and walking through the neighborhood to troubleshoot any potential issues with costumes or scary decorations. Preparing with Halloween themed books and videos can help expose your child to any unexpected parts of the night. The time spent running through the routine of trick or treating and exposing them to Halloween themes will develop skills and encourage success when the 31st hits. Here are some tips and resources to consider to build skills:
Plan for Safety
Road safety. It is important to maximize road safety as you and your family enjoy Halloween.
Emergency preparation. According to a 2018 study in Pediatrics, children on the spectrum wander at a higher rate than children without an autism diagnosis and large crowds can be a triggering event for some. Safety and emergency preparedness programs are a particular focus of many consultants at KGH Autism Services, so you’re also encouraged to reach out to your child’s team for specially targeted safety strategies. Here are some resources.
Food allergies and sensitivities
Many children have restricted diets because of food allergies and sensitivities or because of strong food preferences.
Plan for FUN
Remember that Halloween is about FUN. Be creative and think about sprinkling in fun to each step of the day.
It is also allowed to be fun for YOU.