Trick or Treat Tips for Community Members
- Autism Care
- News
Happy Halloween for All
Written by Sara Grote
Administrator of Boundless Center-based Services
Sometimes people are uncomfortable with kids with autism because they simply do not understand how to relate to them. This Halloween as you are passing out candy in your neighborhood or attending trunk or treat events, please consider the tips
#1 Not every kid will be wearing a costume.
Some individuals with autism have sensory issues and that makes wearing a costume difficult.
#2 Not every kid can say “Trick or Treat” and you may not hear “please” or “thank you.”
Some individuals are non-verbal, use communication devices or have limited communication skills.
#3 There may be some older kids/teens out trick or treating or parents may come up to get candy for their child.
Welcome everyone the same even if it’s unexpected. Despite their physical age, they may operate on a level of a younger child and get great joy from trick or treating.
#4 If you have anything in your yard that jumps out or any other spooky Halloween decor, consider a sign at the front of your house to let families know so they can decide whether to approach your door.
It’s important that individuals on the spectrum know what to expect.
#5 Consider safe non-candy options.
A lot of individuals have allergies so providing options like dye-free fruit snacks or popcorn bags can make everyone feel included.
#6 Look for visual signs or blue Halloween pumpkin buckets that indicate that child is on the spectrum.
For parents of children who have I/DD, practice makes perfect. Before you go out on Trick or Treat night to your neighbors, role play with your child, so they are more comfortable when they interact with their community. In our center-based centers, we practice both wearing costumes and trick or treating with the kids and we have found that it makes a big difference.
If your child has autism or you would like to help your child know what to expect when trick or treating, there are great articles out there to check out.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZofiDjtXrO9VrvYWueF_x4PKV6_pe-fT/view
https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.autismspeaks.org/stories/halloween-teaching-story.pptx
