Halloween can be scary and confusing to most children, especially those with developmental challenges. But it can also be a great opportunity to work on social skills.
Here are some tips to prepare your child – and yourself – for Halloween:
Repeatedly tell your child about wearing costumes and trick or treating.
Read books about Halloween together. Choose literal stories if that works best with your child.
Show him photographs from past Halloweens of his siblings or even of you as a child in costume while you explain costumes and trick or treating.
Show your child how to trick or treat before Halloween. If possible, enlist a neighbor to help you practice by answering her door when you and your child call out. Have your child practice saying “thank you” after your neighbor gives him a treat. This is also good interaction practice. Some children who normally do not speak to people they do not know will be motivated to do so by trick or treating.
Once your child decides on a costume, encourage him to tell others what he will dress up as and, if possible, to describe what it looks like (even if it’s just to say what color it is), when he’s going to wear it, why and where he’s going to go trick or treating. Some children have difficulty with who, what, where, when and why and this is good practice.
Avoid Halloween and costume shops with scary costumes until you’re sure your child understands them and won’t be frightened or upset as some shops carry masks and costumes that are very graphic.
Help your child chose a comfortable costume that is something she would enjoy. Many store-bought costumes are itchy, warm or confining; have him wear pajamas or something that he’s used to.
Play to his strengths: if he loves dinosaurs, have him wear green and be a dinosaur. Attach a small toy dinosaur to the top of a hat he’d like to wear. Or have him draw a picture of a dinosaur and wear it around his neck or affix it to his shirt.
Have her wear the costume around the house ahead of time to be sure she’s comfortable and can move easily and see well with it on.
Be ready to end trick or treating if your child becomes tired or frightened. If possible it may be best to visit only homes of people she knows, so she feels comfortable.
Lastly, go trick or treating with your child to ensure your child is safe.
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