Halloween has long been a favorite holiday for kids. But trick-or-treating can be more tricky and less of a treat for children with sensory challenges, because costumes, crowds, loud noises, bright lights, and unexpected or scary elements can overwhelm them.
We asked our therapists for tips about how to make Halloween a sensory-friendly holiday. Good news! With some planning, all children (and their parents) can enjoy the holiday.
Helping Children with Sensory Challenges Enjoy Halloween
Routines
Routines are important for children, especially those with sensory challenges. By sticking to routines as much as you can around the holiday, you set your child up to feel safe, confident, and successful at navigating the festivities.
Costumes
Costumes can be hard to tolerate for children with sensory challenges. Bring your child costume shopping and let him feel the different fabrics and textures to see what he’s comfortable with. Or, consider using clothing he already has to create a costume. Let him wear his costume a few times so he can stand, sit, and walk around in it. Buy a comfortable Halloween-themed t-shirt and bring it to activities in case his costume becomes uncomfortable.
Activities
Help your child understand what to expect by reading books about Halloween or looking at pictures. Talk about the different things he might see and how those things might make him feel. Use a social story to tell him what will happen, step by step. For example, you could say: “When you wake up, we will put on your costume for school instead of regular clothes! Right after lunch, instead of going back to your classroom, there will be a parade and you will walk through the halls with your friends,” etc. Do the same for party plans, trick-or-treating, and any other activities.
Loud Noises, Bright Lights & Scary Things
In addition to books, pictures, and stories, help your child understand what to expect by bringing him to the Halloween section of a store for a practice run. This way he can, at his own pace, explore decorations and other Halloween items that make noise, flash lights, or are scary.
Social Interaction
Halloween is a social holiday. For children who struggle with language and social interaction, you can practice how to behave in different situations. For example, practice what to say when someone asks about or compliments his costume. For trick-or-treating, you can practice saying: Trick-or-Treat! Thank You! and Happy Halloween!
School Activities
Address possible bumps in the road at school by talking to teachers to ensure that a plan is place if your child becomes overwhelmed by Halloween activities at school. Share cues for recognizing if he is beginning to shut down or melt down, and decide on a quiet place he can go to regroup. If you have a costume alternative (that Halloween t-shirt, for example), give it to a teacher in case the costume becomes too much and your child wants to change.
Trick-or-Treating and other Activities
Keep things manageable by arriving to and leaving from Halloween festivities early to minimize stress related to crowds and lots of activity. This will also help you maintain your child’s regular bedtime and avoid a meltdown from being overtired.
For children who need a lot of sensory input, you can have them do something physical before you start trick-or-treating, like jumping on a trampoline, carrying something heavy (pumpkins!), or pulling a wagon. While you’re out, have your child do something like push up against a tree if he needs sensory input.
Work with your child to come up with a plan if things become too loud, bright, or scary. For example: “If something feels too spooky, let’s hold hands or walk away together.” Consider taking earplugs for children who have a hard time with too much noise.
You can also modify trick-or-treating so that you’re going to only a few houses of people you know, or even set up trick-or-treating at home! For example, you can invite a few friends or family members over and have them go into different rooms, then have your child knock on each door to receive a treat.
We hope these suggestions help you have a smooth and fun holiday. If you have additional tips that we didn’t cover, please share them in the comments.
Happy Halloween!
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