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How to Help Your Autistic Child Enjoy Halloween
Author Info | 10 References

Updated: October 18, 2019

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Planning Ahead
Dressing Up
Enjoying Halloween Parties and Events
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Questions & Answers
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Halloween can be an exciting and overwhelming experience for many children. For
autistic children, it can be a little too overwhelming. By adjusting your plans and
staying attuned to your child's needs, you can find your own way to make Halloween
enjoyable for your child.
Method 1
Planning Ahead

Image titled Have Fun with Your Toddler Step 9

1
Use picture books, videos, and stories to help your child understand Halloween.
Knowing what will happen makes the holiday less stressful and more fun for autistic
kids.
Even older kids may like reminders of the Halloween routine.
If you have photos from previous Halloweens, bring them out and show your
child.
Talk about how Halloween is different from normally taking candy from
strangers, because you are there so they know they are safe.
2
Explain the safety and politeness rules of Halloween. Autistic kids may not
implicitly understand how to stay safe, so it's best to be clear about the rules.
Here are some example rules you may set:
Walking feet in your costume
Hold hands when crossing the street
Stay on the neighbor's porch (don't go inside)
Take only one piece of candy unless the neighbor says you can have more
 Ask for a break if you need it
You can only eat 3 pieces of candy while trick-or-treating (so they can eat
if they're hungry, but don't overeat)
3
Try role-play or a practice run to help them prepare for Halloween. While older
kids may know the drill, younger kids or those with intellectual disabilities may
need extra help to learn how it works. You can practice using a house, using dolls,
or using a door at home. Practice the following steps:
Going up to the door
Ringing the bell
Saying "trick or treat!" (if they can)
Getting a piece of candy
Saying "thank you!" (or waving or smiling)
Walking back
4
Plan a comfortable and safe trick-or-treating route. If your child is new to
trick-or-treating or tends to struggle with it, then keep your route short with
only familiar houses. Stay close to home and figure out what you think your child
can handle.
Ask neighbors if they plan on putting up strobe lights, using scary
decorations, or jumping out and startling children.
If your child is afraid of animals, only go to houses that you know have no
pets or only have cats. (Dogs tend to bark and run to the door when doorbells are
rung.)
5
Look for an explanatory prop or two if needed. If your child has difficulty
speaking or tends to act noticeably different, it may help to have a quick way to
explain their behavior to confused neighbors.
Cards that explain your child is autistic and doing their best[1]
A bag that says "Nonspeaking trick-or-treater" (you can buy these online)
A "trick or treat!" sign so that your child doesn't have to speak
6
Talk to your child about their choices for Halloween night. Trick-or-treating
isn't fun for everyone, so tell them what their choices are. This can help ensure
that the night is fun and meltdown-free. Say that their choices will be to:
Go trick-or-treating
Give out candy at the door
Stay home and watch a Halloween movie
7
Focus on your child's fun, not on your expectations. Halloween is about having
fun, not about copying everyone else. It's okay if your child's idea of fun looks
different from everyone else's.[2]
Follow their lead. What do they want to do? What interests them? Base the
experience on what they like.

Method 2
Dressing Up

1
Ask them early on if they want to dress up. Talk about dressing up and show
them examples of costumes. See how much interest they show in it.
You can use a magazine with pictures of kids in costumes to help them show
you whether they're interested and what they want.[3]
2
Pick out costumes early, even if you aren't sure your child wants to dress up.
(Sometimes kids change their minds.) Shopping early gives you more options and more
time.
Even if your child doesn't trick-or-treat or attend any parties this year,
it can still be a fun costume for dressing up year-round.
 3
Choose a sensory-friendly costume. Make sure your child has time to try on the
costume so that you can be sure it's comfortable and a good fit. If they seem
uncomfortable, then you need something different.
Some costumes can be worn with regular clothes. Consider hats, butterfly
wings, capes, and other elements that might be more comfortable than a polyester
costume.
Costumes related to special interests can be exciting, but don't forget to
check if your child picked out something comfortable.
Skip makeup, wigs, and other things that tend to be uncomfortable.
4
Try turning regular clothes into a costume. Costumes may involve polyester,
spandex, itchy seams, and other uncomfortable aspects that could ruin a night of
fun. Here are some example easy costumes:[4][5]
A comfortable t-shirt with the words "This is my costume"
Jeans, a button-up shirt, and perhaps a bandana or hat to be a cowboy
A favorite dress and a comfortable coat to be an ice princess
Regular clothes with a "dog catcher" name tag and a toy dog peeking out
from their trick-or-treat bag
Pet and human (you or them being the animal, and a "leash" tied to your and
their belt loops; this can be a safety accessory if they tend to bolt or wander)
5
Plan to dress warmly if cold weather is likely. Depending on the climate, your
child may need to wear coats, gloves, and/or hats to stay comfortable. Talk about
this from the start, so that they aren't surprised on Halloween night.
6
Talk about adding light-up accessories to help with visibility. Depending on
where you live, it may get dark while you are trick-or-treating.
Flashlight
Glow necklaces/bracelets
Light-up sneakers
Reflective tape or clothing items
7
Let them practice wearing their costume at home. Let them put it on and wear it
around the house.[6] This can help them acclimate to it. It can also reveal if part
of the costume is uncomfortable, so that you don't have to discover this when
you're out at night.
8
Help them dress comfortably for the evening when it's time to go out.
Uncomfortable or weather-inappropriate clothing may cut the night short, even if
the child wants to keep going.
Any itchy, tight, or uncomfortable costume parts should be left behind.
Noise-canceling headphones can help reduce noise and stress.[7]
Choose comfortable walking shoes.
Gloves, coats, and hats may be necessary depending on the weather.

Method 3
Enjoying Halloween Parties and Events

1
Talk to the child about common ways people celebrate Halloween. Consider using
pictures to help out. Notice what gets their attention. This can give you ideas
about what types of activities they might enjoy.
2
Ask ahead of time what the school plans on doing for Halloween. Some schools
hold parties or parades. This will help you understand what your child can expect.
What does the school plan on doing?
Can parents come to help?
Do they have pictures of previous events that you could show to your child?
 3
Talk to your child about the event beforehand. Tell them everything that you've
been told. The more predictable it feels to them, the more likely they can relax
and enjoy it.
Try making a social story explaining how it will go. Be sure to include
statements emphasizing choice, such as "I can decide whether I want to play the
games."
4
Advocate for your child if they don't want to attend a school function. Some
events, like parades or crowded events, aren't fun at all for kids who get easily
overwhelmed. If your school is holding a "mandatory" event, advocate for your
child. Make sure they have a decent option, even if it's just sitting in an office
with a coloring book.[8]
5
Try making Halloween-themed treats at home. Even if your child isn't ready for
parties or events, they're probably able to enjoy special treats. Try out a few new
Halloween recipes or buy something from a store.
6
Try enjoying other Halloween-related events. Whether your child likes trick-or-
treating or not, you can seek out fun activities that you think your child will
enjoy.[9] Consider:
Pumpkin picking
Pumpkin carving and/or painting
Kid-friendly haunted houses
Eating dinner (at home or in a restaurant) wearing costumes
Enjoying a Halloween movie night with favorite snacks
Throwing a small, sensory-friendly Halloween party
7
When in doubt, encourage them to try it and tell you whether they want to stay.
Sometimes, autistic kids have anxiety about trying new things. Gently encourage
them to try it briefly and tell them that they can leave if they don't like it.
(This may give them the courage to try.) Sometimes they'll discover that it's fun.
Other times they won't, so make good on your promise and take them home. Try
saying:
"It's okay to be nervous. I'm taking you because I think you might like it.
Let's go in and look around. Then you'll tell me if you want to stay or go."
"Let's go in for five minutes. I will set a timer on my watch. I will check
on you in five minutes and you can tell me whether we are staying or leaving."
"Thank you for trying it out and telling me how you feel. You said you
don't like it. We can leave right now. Is that what you want?"

Method 4
Trick-or-Treating

1
Think about whether your child is developmentally ready for trick-or-treating.
Smaller kids, kids with intellectual disabilities, and kids who struggle to
communicate may not be ready to trick-or-treat. That's okay; there are other ways
to have fun. Here are ways to know if your child is ready:
Your child should understand basic street safety rules.
Your child either knows not to wander/elope, or is comfortable being
tethered to a person or service dog.
Your child should be able to handle minor changes in routine (such as
someone not answering the door).
Your child should feel at least somewhat comfortable approaching neighbors
with you nearby.
Your child should be able to communicate (verbally or with AAC) "yes,"
"no," "I need to use the bathroom," "I need help," and "I need a break."
Your child shows interest in trick-or-treating and wants to (or seems to
want to) try it.
2
Schedule free time for trick-or-treating, even if your child says they don't
want to. Sometimes kids change their minds at the last minute. Make sure that it's
an option just in case your child wants to go out.
3
Ask if they'd like to put on their costume. Different kids have different
feelings about costumes; some will jump at the chance to put them on while others
won't want to.
Don't force a costume on a reluctant child. Instead, ask why they don't
want to wear it. It may be that the costume is uncomfortable, or they just may
prefer to wear regular clothes.
4
Ask if they'd like to go trick-or-treating, give out candy, or just relax at
home. Even if you think you know what they want, it's good to ask them, just in
case they've changed their minds. Avoid pressuring them in any direction.
5
Start with nearby houses with neighbors your child knows. This can be less
intimidating for your child. And if they can't handle it, you'll be close to home,
so it'll be easy to return.
6
Focus on fun, not performance. It's important to be flexible with your child.
Halloween is supposed to be fun, so if they need to take breaks or can't always
muster the strength to say "trick or treat," don't make a big deal out of it.
7
Give your child lots of positive feedback. Halloween involves a lot of
challenging skills for autistic kids: managing tons of transitions between homes,
speaking, interacting with people (potentially strangers), using motor skills to
grab candy and navigate new yards, et cetera. Offer praise as your child handles
Halloween challenges.
"You and your sister did such a good job thanking the neighbor for the
candy!"
"Thank you for telling me that you're tired. I'll take you home and we'll
relax while Mommy and your brothers keep trick-or-treating."
"I know answering new questions can be hard for you sometimes. You did a
great job with the neighbor back there."
"I can tell that dog barking loudly startled you. You did a great job
handling it. Do you want to be done with trick-or-treating, or do you want to keep
going?"
8
Notice when your child is getting worn out or stressed. Going from house to
house for minutes or hours is a lot of transitions! If you see signs of stress in
your child, suggest a break right away.
9
Be willing to go home early. Trick-or-treating may be overwhelming for some
kids, especially autistic ones. Even if they only are able to handle a few houses,
it's a success.
If you brought multiple adults or responsible teens, then one adult can
accompany the tired kid(s) back while the rest keep trick-or-treating.
It may take a few years of trick-or-treating to "get the hang of it."
That's okay. You can try again next year.[10]
10
Plan a relaxing evening after trick-or-treating. Try letting your child sort
their candy, watch a Halloween movie, or do something else they enjoy. This can
occupy them and maybe give you a little time to relax too.

Community Q&A

Question
 How can an autistic teen or adult enjoy Halloween when they are too old to
trick or treat but get overwhelmed by Halloween parties or don't get invited?
Zack Chadwell
Community Answer
They can still enjoy trick or treating! Many adults are extremely understanding
when an autistic teen or adult comes to their door and are usually very willing to
give them candy as well. There's also this thing going around where autistic
kids/teens/adults bring a "Blue Pumpkin" to trick or treat with as a sign that they
have autism. But regardless, they can still enjoy Halloween, people are very
understanding.
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Warnings

Some autistic kids have very good memories, especially when it comes to things
they like (e.g. a candy stash). If you sneak candy from them, they might notice
it's missing!

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References

↑ https://autisticmama.com/autistic-halloween-printable-cards/
↑ https://blog.theautismsite.greatergood.com/sensory-halloween/
↑ https://blog.specialneedsessentials.com/2019/10/10/4-halloween-tips-for-
special-needs-parents/
↑ https://www.nationalautismresources.com/blog/tips-for-preparing-your-child-
for-halloween/
↑ https://autisticmama.com/sensory-friendly-halloween/
↑ https://www.easterseals.com/explore-resources/living-with-autism/choose-the-
best-sensory-friendly-costume-yet.html
↑ https://www.themomkind.com/autism-and-halloween/
↑ https://blog.specialneedsessentials.com/2019/10/10/4-halloween-tips-for-
special-needs-parents/
↑ https://www.easterseals.com/explore-resources/living-with-autism/choose-the-
best-sensory-friendly-costume-yet.html

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wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles
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worked to edit and improve it over time. Together, they cited 10 references. This
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Categories: Supporting Autistic People | Halloween

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12 votes - 72%
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Co-authors: 4
Updated: October 18, 2019
Views: 3,408
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