Fabulous Halloween Fun for Children with Disabilities!
Halloween is typically a very exciting time for all, but for boys and girls with special needs, it can be challenging. There are so many things that you can do with your children and for the children in the neighborhood to make it a memorable experience for all. Below are some suggestions on how to create a fun and exciting day for kids who might otherwise find this day to be challenging.
Allow your child to pick his or her own Halloween costume. Parents often get hung up on creating a family theme or custom-created costume. Allow your child to pick a costume of their choice. This will ensure that they will attempt to wear the costume on Halloween because they will have picked it out themselves based upon their own interests.
Be kind to all! According to Michigan Health, 1 in 8 children in the United States are affected with anxiety. Try to make Halloween a more fun-filled day instead of a fear-filled day! Loud unexpected spooky noises can ruin a child’s Halloween experience. Be mindful of decorations and music that could affect any child in a negative way,
Try to meet your trick-or-treaters at the bottom of your porch or doorstep to give out your treats. Some boys and girls may be physically challenged and unable to climb steps. Perhaps you could even sit at the end of your driveway to accommodate children in wheelchairs or to remove some anxiety for boys and girls who are afraid to walk up to a door.
Look directly into the faces of the goblins and ghouls who are trick or treating. Some may be hearing impaired and read lips. It’s very important not to assume anything about any child.
Try your best to be patient with your own children and the trick or treaters. Boys and girls with disabilities might be too nervous to say “thank you” or even may be non-verbal. Never judge a book by its cover and never push for verbal responses.
If a child is not wearing a costume, never call them out. The child could have a sensory disorder and not like the feel or texture of their costume.
Please be prepared to hand out non-candy options. Try having some small tubs of playdough or stickers available for children who have allergies to candy.
Be sensitive to children experiencing sensory overload. Halloween can be overwhelming for a typical child, but a child with sensory issues may not know they have reached their limit until it's too late.
Preparing for Halloween night...“While parents of a child with a disability might already be well aware of their child’s triggers, it is best to prepare for the worst case scenario and go into the Halloween season proactively setting them up for the most success” says Moorehead.
If you are the parent of a child with a disability, Moorehead and Steels recommend reviewing the route in advance. Go to a neighbor’s house and practice trick-or-treating with your child before Halloween. This can be beneficial for children who are affected by new situations.
Be sure to take advantage of any community or town Halloween events. I know that in a nearby town of mine, the Chamber of Commerce hosts the “March of the Goblins”. At this afternoon event, parents are invited to bring their children to trick or treat along the closed road for a safe and non-scary Halloween activity.
Don’t expect to get through your entire neighborhood in one outing, Plan for numerous breaks throughout the day, including food and rest breaks.
Below is a wonderful resource for you to use with your children when you get home from trick or treating. It is a free Halloween graphing activity that you can use with your children throughout the days following Halloween. Help your kids separate the candies in their goodie bags by color, and then count how many of each color they got. They can write the numbers on the lines provided at the bottom of the printable. Finally, they can use their crayons or colored pencils to color the number of squares to represent their colored candies.
https://autisticmama.com/halloween-candy-graphing-activity/
Another resource is Positively Autism. This resource shares numerous Halloween activities that parents can download for free.
http://www.positivelyautism.com/free/unit_halloween.html
It’s important for all our kids to feel a sense of normalcy. Let’s do what we can so that everyone feels included. Encourage your children to participate in as much or as little as they want. It’s their day to make it a memory. Happy Halloween!
Resources:
https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/lifestyle/tips-for-making-halloween-disability-friendly
https://connectingforkids.org/Halloween