Halloween can be overwhelming for children with Sensory Processing Disorder. Have a listen to this short podcast where we’ll explore some sensory tips to consider, and help children with SPD and Autism feel included and enjoy this fun Holiday!

Halloween can be overwhelming for children with Sensory Processing Disorder. Let’s explore some sensory tips to consider, and help children with SPD and Autism feel included and enjoy this fun Holiday!

• Halloween costumes
  • Tactile issues with fabric, too itchy, too tight, too stiff, too crunchy – have child try on costume test comfort level
  • Wash a costume several times to soften the fabric before wearing it
  • Temperature depending –  too hot, too cold
  • Poor motor planning – Practice putting the costume on at home before taking it to school party
• Masks & Face paint – AVOID these
  • Tactile sensitivity
  • Difficulty seeing
  • Smell overwhelming can cause nausea and headaches
• School Halloween parties overwhelming
  • Sounds – play quiet music in background or have child wear headphones or earplugs
  • Sights – Limit Halloween decorations especially moving objects
  • Smells – Have modulating scents available to sniff if smells are offensive (coffee beans)
• Halloween activities
  • Carving a pumpkin – tactile defensive with scraping out gooey innards of a pumpkin, instead have child decorate a pumpkin using Fun Foam stickers
  • Instead of bobbing for apples, have child paint with sliced apples
• Consider alternative ways to participate in Halloween rather than ‘Trick or Treating’
  • Passing out candy
  • Cooking Halloween treats at home
  • Watch Halloween shows that are family friendly
• Trick or Treating
  • Practice ahead of time the sequence to decrease anxiety about what to expect
  • Limit number of houses to your child’s sensory needs (i.e. 10 houses)
  • Map out and practice the Trick or Treating route ahead of time
  • Candy givers – Don’t demand children say “Trick or Treat”
  • Offer 2 choices of candy rather than an entire basket
• Trick or Treating locations
  • Avoid houses with elaborate lawn decorations can seem real to children with SPD
  • Quiet neighborhoods
  • Churches Trick or Trunk
  • Local shops giving out candy in your hometown