Although Halloween is known for providing a few screams, celebrating this beloved fall holiday with kids on the spectrum shouldn’t be scary. Trick or Treating may present kids on the spectrum with a challenges, but there are steps you can take to give your child the best experience possible. In this blog post, we use our expert perspective to give you our best Trick or Treat Tips for Kids on the Autism Spectrum. Hopefully, with a little help from this article, you’ll be well on your way to happy family holiday memories.
Remember: your child’s needs are as unique as they are. There is no one size fits all approach to the holidays; and that includes the advice in this article. Take the advice that works for you and your family; and leave the rest. However, personalized treatment is available for kids on the autism spectrum. If you have serious concerns about your child’s behavior, its always recommended to reach out to a professional for advice. At ABA-LLC, our person-centered approach leads us to creating unique solutions, tailored to the individual. We are happy to work with you to help create a plan that helps your child reach their full potential. Learn more at aba-llc.com
Preparing for the Holiday
Children on the Autism spectrum often struggle with activities that are outside their routine. Holidays can be especially challenging occasions filled with strange activities, new people, uncomfortable clothing, and abnormal schedules. Therefor – one of the best things you can do for your child on the spectrum, is help them feel prepared. Here are a few suggestions of things you can do before Halloween to set your family up for success:
- Social stories are a helpful tool for children on the spectrum to become familiar with the “story” of a specific activity. They help children become familiar with new patterns or routines. You can learn more about social stories and how to create them by visiting this link. We recommend going over the social story together several times a week leading up to the day you plan to Trick or Treat.
- Practice Trick or Treating! Encourage your child to practice what they will do when they get to their neighbor’s doors by saying “Trick or treat!” and holding out their treat bag. If your area has Trunk or Treats that take place before Halloween, these might also be opportunities to practice trick or treating before the big night.
- If your child is nonverbal, you can find alternatives to saying “Trick or Treat.” These might include smiling, holding out a treat bag, or waving. As a support, consider printing out a Trick or Treating sign, or even cue cards, to help communicate your child’s needs to your neighbors.
- Some families choose to carry a blue Halloween bucket to let neighbors know that the trick-or-treater is on the spectrum and may have unique needs. Increasing the visibility of children on the spectrum can help encourage neighbors to be mindful of neurodiversity accommodations.
- Encourage your child to engage in picking out a costume. This is a great opportunity for them to express themselves by dressing up as a favorite, character, animal, or profession. Remember, your child’s excitement and happiness is far more important than anyone else’s judgement. So even if their costume may seem a little strange to others, as long as it isn’t grossly innapropriate, you should encourage them to explore their interests. It is advisable to avoid costumes that involve masks or face paint, for comfort & safety reasons.
- Encourage your child to “practice” wearing their costume in advance. That way, they have a chance to get used to any new textures. If necessary, you can also make any essential adaptations to the costume by adding or removing elements. Some clinicians suggest buying the costume a size up so that your child is able to wear their own everyday clothes underneath. For more information about Clothing Sensitivity in children on the spectrum, visit this link:
- Consider informing your neighbors of your child’s intent to trick or treat, and what behavior they should expect. You can also inform your neighbors if your child has any specific dietary needs.
Safety First
The only thing more important than having fun is having fun safely. Here are a few tips about safety when Trick or Treating.
- Start Trick or Treating a little early, so that you can have more daylight. The busiest times for Trick or Treating is usually 6PM-8PM, though this varies community to community.
- Make sure your chid has some kind of ID on their person, especially if they are nonverbal, in case of emergency.
- Use glow sticks or light up shoes to make your child easily identifiable in the dark.
- Bring an emergency kit of items that you and your child might need such as water, noise-cancelling headphones, snacks, and a flashlight.
- Always ensure that treats are properly sealed and that there are no holes in the packaging before allowing your children to eat them. However – note that most tales of Halloween Candy tampering have been thoroughly debunked.
- Walk with your child to ensure they are practicing traffic safety by following the flow of traffic, looking both ways before crossing the street, and never walking out in front of a moving vehicle. Walk on sidewalks wherever is possible.
- Plan your route in advance. Consider walking this route together as practice leading up to Halloween.
Tips for the Street
It’s the big night! Hopefully, you’ve followed our preparation and safety suggestions, and your child knows exactly what to expect tonight. We have a few more reminders that can help make your fright night a success.
- There is no floor for how many houses your child has to visit on Halloween. Even if your kiddo only makes it to 4 or 5 houses before they start to feel overstimulated and need a break, they’ve still successfully celebrated the holiday! Let your child have a say in what they would like to experience.
- If your child has dietary restrictions, consider having safe candy or small toys available to “trade” your child for unwanted candy.
- Bring an extra layer for if your child becomes chilly while Trick or Treating. Alternatively, be prepared for if your child becomes too warm in their costume and needs to take an exit.
Trick or Treating Alternatives
You shouldn’t try to fit a round peg in a square hole, and you shouldn’t try to make your child trick or treat if its not a good fit for them. It’s always good to encourage your child to stretch their horizons and participate, but if this activity isn’t for them, there are certainly other ways for them to celebrate the holiday. You could suggest…
- Trunk or Treats
- Created to provide a safer atmosphere for Trick or Treaters, Trunk or Treating can be a less stimulating experience that requires less walking.
- Mall Trick or Treating
- Similar to Trunk or Treats, many Malls host Trick or Treating to provide parents and children a safe atmosphere for fun. This option is especially great because it means you’ll be out of the outdoor elements.
- Handing out Candy
- If Trick or Treating isn’t your kiddo’s thing, try encouraging them to help you hand out candy.
- Family Movie Night (or other favored activity)
- If any of the above activities are still too stimulating for your kids, remember that its okay for them to celebrate the holiday by doing something they already like. Family movie nights, video games, or even just curling up with a book can all be wonderful ways to spend the holiday.
Be a Good Neighbor
If you don’t have an autistic child of your own, you probably know one. You might be wondering: “how can I help make Halloween more accessible for EVERYONE?” We’re glad you asked! Here are a few quick tips that will help make your house the most accessible on the block:
- Don’t force a child to say Trick or Treat to get a piece of candy. You might not know why that child is not able to ask for a treat, they could be nonverbal!
- Celebrate Trick or Treaters of all ages! Someone may look too old for trick-or-treating to you, but you don’t know what their life looks like. What may look “childish” to you may be totally appropriate for a person on the spectrum. Try to trust that every individual has made an appropriate choice for themselves.
- Provide a warning about possible jumpscares. Some children love to be surprised as part of their Halloween fun, but for others, surprise is too intense. Providing a warning encourages each trick or treater to decide for themselves.
Conclusion
Here at ABA-LLC, we want children on the spectrum to have every opportunity to be integrated into their community. Trick or Treating is a beloved holiday activity for generations of families. You shouldn’t be discouraged from letting your child participate just because they need a little extra support. We hope that the advice provided in this article inspire you to make this Halloween your best yet.
About ABA-LLC
ABA-LLC is one of the largest suppliers of Behavior Support in the State of Kentucky. Since 2007, the agency has created innovative strategies to improve the lives of unique individuals. ABA-LLC works with around 190 contractors, each dedicated to building an inclusive culture that celebrates individuals of all abilities. No matter who you are, you can reach your goals at ABA-LLC.
ABA-LLC is set apart from its competitors by its uniquely person-centered approach. The agency strives to provide services from a place of deep love for the population they serve. Their work exemplifies the belief that every individual has a right to live a fulfilling and independent life integrated within their communities. There is no objective to change a person, but rather to give them the tools they need to succeed. B.F. Skinner summarizes this vision in his quote: “I’m not trying to change people. All I want is to change the world in which they live.” Learn more about us at https://aba-llc.com/