Halloween can be a magical time for many children as they enjoy choosing their costumes, getting candy and sharing spooky stories. But for many neurodivergent kids, this occasion can cause a great deal of overwhelm and anxiety.
As parents and teachers, we need to help our children feel at ease during this day while still being able to join in on and enjoy the fun. This means that it’s important to prepare ahead of time and create a plan that will work for their specific needs.
Ensuring that Halloween is predictable, flexible and inclusive will help neurodivergent children stay regulated and calm throughout the day.
With the right preparation, Halloween can be more than just a trick- it can be a treat for all of you.
Actionable Steps:
#1. Use Social Stories and Visuals
Halloween can be unpredictable and cause some children stress. Using social stories and visuals can help explain what will happen throughout the day in a clear and predictable way.
You can:
- 1. Read a social story or listen to one together that helps children understand what they can say and do when they go out for Halloween. Watch my YouTube video on Social Stories to help your children learn exactly what to say.
- 2. Use visuals to show each step of the day from putting on their costume to going trick-or-treating.
- 3. Review the social story on a daily basis during the week leading up to Halloween.
#2. Focus on Sensory Overload
Halloween can be intense for many children as they are required to deal with loud music, flashing lights, spooky objects, creepy costumes and crowded streets. You can help your child by:
- 1. Teaching them ways that they can let you know when they feel overstimulated.
- 2. Pointing out quiet areas that you and your child can retreat to when need a break.
- 3. Packing noise-cancellation headphones.
- 4. Attending calmer events like community events that take place during the day. This way you can avoid large crowds, extra lights, and loud noises. Additionally, costumes look less scary in the daytime.
#3. Practice Trick-or-Treat Etiquette
Practice different ways to approach neighbors, how to say “trick or treat,” and how to hand out or accept candy. This will make the real experience more exciting and less intimidating. You can do it with the following activities:
- 1. Role-play with family members and friends.
- 2. Use toys or pretend candy to simulate the trick-or-treating experience.
- 3. For nonverbal children, practice using a card that they can hand out that says “Trick or Treat.”
Recap:
Let’s recap really quickly. Today, we looked at the following:
- The reasons why it’s important to help our neurodivergent children get ready for Halloween in advance.
- How to prepare neurodivergent kids for Halloween: use social stories and visuals, focus on sensory overload, and practice trick-or-treat etiquette.
Free Resources:
For a taste of the resources that were mentioned in step two, check out the following resource in my FREE Education Resource Library.
Teach your little ones how to make good choices with the following FREE Resource:
Next Steps:
If you found this video beneficial, would you do me a favor? Share this with your family, your friends, your loved ones, your co-workers or someone who you think could benefit from this. Thank you!
You’re welcome to join us inside ADHD and Autism Self Regulation by CLICKING HERE or on the fallowing image.
I’ll see you next Friday at 5:30pm PST.
Until I see you next time, remember to create, experience & teach from the heart.
Take care,
Charlotte
Disclaimer: I’m a teacher and a parent. I’m not a medical professional, so please don’t take this as medical advice. The advice that I provide in my videos and online are strategies that I have used in my own class or at home that have worked beautifully.
