by Anna Kennedy OBE ||| Columnist
Trick or treating can be a daunting prospect for children with autism. A few tips for a happy Halloween.
For some children with autism, Halloween can be stressful and demanding. Both my sons Patrick and Angelo have always loved Halloween. Every year we design a pumpkin face and buy sweets to give the trick or treaters.
Patrick enjoyed dressing up when he was younger. One particular year I made him a dinosaur costume out of cardboard and crepe paper. He thought it was wonderful and wore it in the evening for a whole week!
At our schools for children with autism, the children celebrate Halloween by baking cakes and making masks and lanterns.
We also talk about the day to explain what will happen, depending on the level of understanding of the children at the schools.
Here are a few tips on preparing your child for Halloween:
Costumes
Discuss and decide together what costume your child will choose. Take into account not only his or her preferences, but also sensory concerns, for example a Spiderman costume may include a full mask – which can become overwhelming.
Some children love face paint, but others can’t take the sticky sensation. Make a plan that you can stick to.
Plan!
Choose a time to leave the house.
Plan a route.
Discuss what will happen when you come home – can they dump their sweets on the floor? What may he or she eat?
Keep it simple.
Knowing your child, how can you expect them to react? If they can handle just one house, that’s fine.
Create a social picture story. Use digital photos, images from the web, or other sources to show and tell exactly what your child will do.
Include all the steps, not forgetting that they must knock at the door, say “Trick or Treat!” and “Thank You!” Read the social story together, not once but as often as possible.
From time to time, also ask – “what if no one is home?” Help them understand that it’s ok to skip a house, to take a treat from a basket (if that’s ok with you), and so on.
Practice, practice!
Put on the costume many times before the ‘Big Night’ and work out any unpredictable situations, such as a stuck zip!
Role-play the entire trick or treat scenario as often as you can and dont forget have fun!
