Special Needs By Krystyann Krywko, Ed.D.
Bring the Fun Home: Making Halloween Accessible for Your Special Needs Child While the sights and sounds
Halloween festivities that
of Halloween can be exciting for
their children can participate
many children, some children
in. “Locations like churches
are completely overwhelmed by
and malls can be great places
the suspenseful music, cackling
to celebrate Halloween as
laughs, and grimacing skeletons
their celebrations tend to be
associated with the holiday.
a little less scary, and offer
For those children who
environments that the parent can
have some form of a sensory
control a little more easily to fit
processing challenge, such as
the needs of their child.”
children with autism, ADHD,
One way to have your child
developmental or speech and
and their friends participate
hearing delays the sights, sounds
in the ritual of Halloween is to
and smells of Halloween are
host your own Halloween party
difficult to absorb. “Children’s
taking into account the needs of
routines are disrupted, they
your child. You might decide to
are exposed to strange lights
host this party solo, or join with
and sounds, and costumes
a group of parents who are also
can be unfamiliar”, says Dr. Ari
looking for an alternative way to
Goldstein, Director of Cognitive Solutions Learning Center. “While the child might want to participate in the festivities, the uncertainties can lead to withdrawal and confusion.” “My daughter has a difficult
celebrate Halloween. When hosting a Halloween
sensitivities do children have to noise?
Decorations Halloween decorations don’t have to be focused on the scary or the macabre. Try decorating your house with orange and black decorations instead. This will create a festive atmosphere, but will not overwhelm.
Make Your Own Costumes can be tricky for children with sensory processing
party for children with special
challenges. Many do not feel
needs some things that
comfortable wearing masks,
are important to take into
or itchy costumes, and it can
consideration are:
also be difficult for children to understand the idea of “make-
enough time processing her daily
Accommodating Needs
believe”. Let parents know
experiences,” as a friend with an
What are the needs of your
that costumes are optional.
autistic daughter pointed out,
guests? Take time to find out
“celebrations such as Halloween
what the abilities of your guests
add an entire layer to the
are, this will help with all party
information that she needs to
planning from what food to
process and her challenges are
serve, to what games or activities
magnified.”
to play. What are the mobility
Paula Tobey, a special needs
needs of your guests? Do some
parenting coach, suggests that
rooms have to be rearranged to
her clients look for alternative
accommodate wheelchairs? What
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Consider having a craft station where children can make their own “costume”. Have children decorate either foam visors, or tagless cotton t-shirts.
Candy Might Be Dandy, But… For children who are on
monitored nutrition plans due to food allergies or sensitivities it can be difficult to navigate ingredients. Make sure to offer a variety of foods and stay away from some of the most common allergens such as peanuts or wheat. Again, check with parents to see if there are any specific food issues. There are numerous resources out there to help you think of alternatives, kidswithfoodallergies.org and nut-freemom.blogspot.com are two great places to start.
Quiet Time Set up a quiet area. Even with a well thought out party plan there will still be a time when a child simply needs to get away. Designate an area of your space as a quiet area. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy, as long as it is removed from the festivities. Try putting a couple of chairs in a bedroom and keeping the lights dim. Let other parents know there is a space where they can take their child when there is a need to regroup.