5 Tips for Halloween Fun (continued)
Tip 4 - Try a New Tradition Like a
Private Party
Did you know the act of knocking on doors and tricking or treating
is actually on the decline? Many people are trying new traditions
such as private parties where parents can control the environment
and the type of candy and food their child receives.
Private parties can be an excellent way to teach your special needs
child about Halloween without having to worry about sending mixed
messages. Ms. Young, explains, “For 364 days a year, we tell
our special needs children not to talk to strangers, but yet on
this magical day they can knock on a door an get candy? This concept
is hard for any child, but for a special needs child, the lesson
is that much harder to teach.”
As private Halloween parties are now en vogue, check with your local
special needs nonprofit or even your local child oriented nonprofit
such as the Boys and Girls Club, for parties they may already be
planning. If you opt to plan a party or attend a party, be careful
of the “many safety hazards that may arise from candles and
extension cords,” Young said.
Tip 5 – Do a Trial Run for Trick or Treating
If you want your child to experience trick or treating first-hand,
remember, practice really does make perfect. Repetition of the route
you will take for trick or treating will make it easier for child
to grasp the act of trick or treating.
Keep in mind, it’s also not the quantity of house visited
that is important, but instead the quality of the interactions for
your child. Picking a few homes where you know the families can
go a long way in making the actual act of tricking or treating enjoyable
for your special needs child. Also, start trick of treating early
and “before it gets dark,” Young said.
As with Tip 4 above, check with your local nonprofits and organizations
for planned trick or treating outings. For example, Pause 4 Kids,
a Ventura County, California nonprofit helping special needs families,
as part of their social skills program, sponsors a Halloween trick
or treating outing. Special needs children are paired with typical
developing children to go trick or treating in a neighborhood where
many of the houses have been picked ahead of time and the families
have been made aware of the program.
If a program like this does not exist in your area, consider starting
one yourself or asking your local nonprofit to sponsor it. “Programs
like these are a great way to teach social skills that cannot be
learned in the classroom, “ Young said.
Shannon King Nash volunteers her time with several
special needs and autism non-profits. Shannon is an attorney, CPA
and freelance writer who primarily covers issues relating to autism
and developmental disabilities. She is a graduate of the University
of Virginia School of Law. Shannon is currently writing a handbook
for special needs parents on the top 10 issues that they should
know. Shannon lives in California with her husband Bill, son Jason,
and Charlie, her chocolate Labrador Retriever. She may be reached
at specialneedscorner@hotmail.com
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October 2, 2004
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