Ten Simple Tips for an Autism-Friendly Halloween

            Halloween can be a stressful time for individuals with autism; spooky costumes, eerie noises, strangers and unnerving objects that glow in the dark are all triggers that can easily overwhelm a child with sensory issues.

Here are ten tips for a fun and safe Halloween:

1.    Help your child choose a costume that is simple and comfortable. Avoid frilly lace, buttons, zippers and any fabrics that can irritate the skin. Steer away from costumes that require a lot of time to put on and remove or multiple layers with capes, hats, gloves, belts, ties, etc. Accessories such as swords or wands can also add to your child’s stress if he needs to keep track of it.

2.    Read books or watch videos about Halloween ahead of time to help your child understand what to expect. You may even consider writing a social story describing what your child might encounter when trick-or-treating.

3.    Decorate your home together. This will provide you with a sense of what your child finds threatening – for example, if your child is afraid of spiders you’ll know to steer away from homes with large spiders or spider webs when you take her trick-or-treating. Talk with her about those fears and offer her reassurance.

4.    Practice ahead of time, using role play, so your child learns what to do beforehand. Remind them to say thank you at each house!

5.    Check your community for autism-friendly events. Many towns or communities are now hosting trick-or-treat parties for individuals on the spectrum. These events are usually free and can be a great way to meet other autism families or find a local autism support group.

6.    Plan your route ahead of time. Check the houses where you plan to go trick-or-treating ahead of time so you know which ones might have lights or decorations that might upset your child. If your child is very visual, you can provide him with a map of your chosen route so he knows which houses you are or aren’t going to.

7.    Explain to your child that you will sort through his goodies so he’s prepared when you remove anything that contains ingredients to which he is allergic or you’ve eliminated from his diet. If you choose to dole out the candy, let him know you are going to place his treats in a certain spot, to be handed out as you wish.

8.    Know your child’s limit. If you notice your child is showing signs of stress, consider cutting it short. If you are close to your home and your child wants to complete the route, suggest a short break so he can regroup. You might also bring along an MP4 player with soothing music your child can listen to in order to block out some of the noisiness that comes with trick-or-treating.

9.    Take notes for next year. If you notice something that bothers your child, make note of it. These are issues you can talk about, work through or even avoid all together the following year if they cause him too much stress.

10. Finally, have fun. Trick-or-treating can be just as stressful for the parents, so try to keep it short, keep a smile on your face and cherish the memories.