It’s October, which means it is time to start planning for fall activities, cooler weather, and of course, Halloween. While many children look forward to dressing up and collecting candy, Halloween may be stressful for families affected by autism, with new social rules and situations presenting sensory challenges for children. Luckily, Halloween doesn’t have to be a scare! If you are still trying to pick the perfect costume or map your trick or treating route, then let the Graduate Assistants of the Kinney Center share their tips to help you have a sensory-friendly Halloween that can be fun, safe, and memorable for all.
Use a sweatshirt hood as the base for your costume like this. Attach hats, ears, and other elements on top of the hood to create a fun costume that's still comfortable. -Kelsey McCartney ‘23
Bring along noise cancelling headphones in case it gets too loud while trick-or-treating! -Kirstin Cox ‘23
Give your child the chance to try on their costume and get used to how it feels before spending the night trick or treating! You can also find social stories like this online about Halloween and the different situations they may encounter! -Colleen Kelly ‘23
Look for costumes that have built-in sensory friendly components or fidgets like this to help make it more comfortable for your child. -Emily Ring ‘22
For all of the neurotypicals… be understanding if a child does not say "trick or treat" or sing a Halloween song! An individual with autism going trick or treating is a big deal as there are many unknowns in this - they are appreciative of you giving them candy and being a friendly face. - Kella Pacifico ‘23
Have a safe and happy Halloween!
