5 Tips for Halloween Fun
by Shannon Nash

Note: After a yearlong hiatus to have her second child, Shannon Nash is back with her special needs column, "Special Needs Journey"– providing you with practical information for raising children with special needs. This article is one in a series of theme related articles dealing with issues of importance for special needs families for various holidays and events throughout the year. Look for articles around Thanksgiving, Christmas & Kwanzaa, Black History Month, Autism Awareness Month, to name a few. Have an article idea for Shannon? Want to be featured in her “Special Family Series”? Please e-mail her directly at specialneedscorner@hotmail.com


Ghosts and goblins, witches and warlocks -- It’s Halloween time again. We’re giving you 5 tips to help make this a fun and exciting Halloween for your special needs child

Tip 1 - Expose them to it early and often

Halloween is scary enough even for children without development delays, physical limitations, neurological disorders or other issues that cause them to be in part of the more than 6 million children who are labeled “special needs.” Getting an early start in explaining Halloween to special needs children can go a long way in ensuring a successful goblin night. Petrice Young, an early childhood educator from Silver Spring, Maryland counsels her parents to start discussing the concept of Halloween, “as soon as you start seeing costumes and advertisements.”

As is often the case with special needs kids, repetition is key to helping the child better understand the event or holiday. Ms. Young adds, “We try to take the scariness out of Halloween and describe it as a day for dressing up like a make-believe custume day.” Try and avoid discussing Halloween as a day of evil sprits, witches and warlocks. This will go a long way in making Halloween a “fun event.” Ms. Young said.

Tip 2 - Pick the right costume

Of course, picking a non-scary costume is key for getting your special needs child ready for Halloween. Avoiding popular costumes like vampires, witches, and warlocks is probably a good thing for most special needs children.

But the costume is also another chance for you to improve your child's literacy and teach your child great social skills. “Costumes can be based off of storybook characters which can also help some children with either reading themselves or being read to, “ Ms. Young said.

Top picks for storybook costumes include such old favorites as: “Little Red Riding hood,”“Mary had a Little Lamb,”“Little Boy Blue,”“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,”“Peter, Peter Pumpkin eater,” and “Little Jack Horner.” Ms. Young explains, “Parents should be creative based on the books that inspire their child or books used in the classroom.”

Although, it may be hard to find these costumes at your local mega toy store, they are very easy to make at home. For example, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”, can be made with a sheet, some glitter, glue or Velcro and a star purchased from a local fabric store. Ms. Young adds, “Whatever you choose, make sure the costume is easy for the child to get into and out of and avoid lots of buttons or awkward costumes. Simplicity is best here.”

Tip 3 - Avoid Scary Games and Activities

Halloween games are almost as popular as the act of trick or treating, often serving as the tailgate before the game. But games like bobbing for apples or swinging the apple on the stick can be difficult for special needs children to grasp and can prove to be dangerous as well.

For games in the classroom, make sure to talk to your child’s teacher to see if you agree it’s appropriate practice the game at home. Also,don’t pressure your child to participate in games at home or at parties you attend. Pumpkin carving and face painting can be fine for some children and daunting for others. As with most things with special needs children, it’s best to test these out on your child at home first, before trying at school or at a party.

“Halloween and trick or treating is hard enough for special needs children so make sure games will be fun for the child and educational if possible," Ms. Young said. She suggests games and activities such as painting a pumpkin, role-playing/character acting based on their costume, and cooking Halloween treats like cookies, cupcakes Carmel apples and baking pumpkin seeds to name a few.


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