24th October 2023 • My Family Our Needs

Halloween is the spookiest time of year. But for children with additional needs, the season can come with challenges that could cause quite a fright if unprepared.

With a night of scares just a week away, we’ve compiled some of the best tips to help you create a safe and inclusive Halloween experience for your child.

1. Understanding the Challenges

Before delving into preparations right away, it’s a good idea to get your head around why your child with additional needs might feel unsettled or distressed on Halloween night and the run-up. Trick-or-treat festivities are filled with an entirely different set of social rules that can completely go against what they’ve been taught. For example, it’s the one night in the year when they’re told to interact with and take food from strangers, make eye contact and utter unfamiliar greetings, and roam the streets during the night. Not only this but an evening full of frights with people in scary costumes and jumping decorations all add to an even more terrifying evening for children with additional needs.

These circumstances mean big changes to regular routines which can disrupt the regulation of emotions and behaviours and may cause heightened stimulation, or for your child to simply withdraw. The streets will be filled with people and will be far noisier than usual. Of course, every child is different, so it’s all about knowing what may upset your child and what they may be fine with. With all of these factors in mind, how can you help prepare for the day?

2. Before the Day

Prepare in advance:

Sitting down with your child and going over what to expect is a good start. You’ll want to let them know about the increased number of people outside after dark, the scary costumes, the greetings of ‘Trick or Treat’ and scares that might await them, and anything else you think they should be aware of.

If you’re planning on attending a party, you might find it beneficial to run through what may happen there, what music might be playing, and what activities will be on offer. A great way to go through situations like Trick or Treating itself, or a Halloween party is by using social stories, or a YouTube video of Halloween night.

Another key thing to keep in mind is the sweets and goodies that will be offered to your child on the night. Some mini versions of sweets and chocolates sometimes have different ingredients, so it’s worth checking. If they have allergies or intolerances, you’ll want to plan for this, either by taking some safe alternative snacks to swap out the candies with or perhaps some toys or sensory items that your child may prefer. You know your child best, so try to accommodate them with alternatives you know they’ll enjoy.

Plan your route:

Allowing your child to become familiar with the route before your walk is a great idea so they know the environment before the night. Small things like checking in with neighbours to let them know your child has additional needs and will be Trick or Treating may be beneficial, as well as going earlier in the evening to avoid big crowds. You might find it helpful to practice how to Trick or Treat with your child with some roleplay, running them through what to say and when to say it. If you want to do a full run down, perhaps get some family members involved to act out a larger scene. Coordinating with your child’s friends’ parents may be useful to establish a group to go out with.

Costumes:

Think about what your child would like to wear on the night. Their outfit doesn’t necessarily have to be scary – they might want to be a unicorn! It’s all about having fun and dressing up. If you’re feeling crafty and looking to make their outfit, make sure you’re using fabric and resources that are comfortable for your child. With any costume, be sure to try it on before the day to make sure it fits, to ensure they can see, and that they are happy sensory-wise with the material.

3. On the Day

• Trick or Treat cards: If your child is non-verbal, it could be a good idea to take Trick or Treat cards along to show at doors. Decorating them together beforehand could also be a way of familiarizing them with the cards, bonding together, getting creative, and ensuring they’re comfortable with using them on the night.

• Countdown: Transitioning between activities or houses may be difficult for your child. Using a countdown could be a good idea to smoothly move them along without any sudden changes whilst giving them time to adjust to the new location or move.

• Praise: Throughout the night, be sure to give your child lots of praise and positive feedback. Tell them how well they’re doing and encourage positive emotions. If you’re out with family members, it may be a nice idea to ensure everyone is encouraging them.

• Toys: Even with the best preparation, things can go wrong on the day. Make sure you’re prepared with any sensory toys that your child enjoys such as fidget toys, ear defenders, etc.

• Breaks and exits: It is also a good idea to incorporate breaks into the evening, especially if you’re planning on going to a party. They may become overstimulated, so having a quiet area may be beneficial. Talking to the party host beforehand could be a good idea to establish this area, and an exit strategy may also be useful if your child becomes too stressed and needs to leave.

4. Doing something different

However, if you find your child wants to do something completely different to going out on Halloween night, that’s completely fine. Be sure to listen to what they want. Your child might want to be the one handing out sweets at the door. You can also give lots of options like arts and crafts, nature walks, inviting friends over, baking, playing games, attending neuro-affirming local events, or something else your child will enjoy. There are plenty of ways to get into the spooky season without going out and about.

5. Blue Pumpkins

If you’ve never come across blue pumpkins before, they’ve been rising in popularity in SEN communities to show that children have additional needs. Blue pumpkins or buckets are sometimes used for non-verbal or neurodiverse children to show they may need a little longer or may interact slightly differently when Trick or Treating. Whilst there has been some debate online about using blue pumpkins and buckets, it’s up to you if you want to give your child one. As well as being held, some houses have also put blue pumpkins on their doorsteps to show that their house is a welcoming space and to normalize the use of blue pumpkins on Halloween.

Blue pumpkins are hard to come by, so opting for some blue acrylic paint is the best idea. Also, if you want to paint a pumpkin bucket blue, go with acrylic paint too.

Final Thoughts

Everyone should have the same opportunities to celebrate this Halloween. Listening to your child and what they need is the best idea this spooky season to accommodate their needs in a way that suits them.

With just a week to go, think about running through the night, getting costumes ready, and planning for the night. Above all, be sure to have fun and enjoy this Halloween!