10 Tips for a Spectacular, Sensory Halloween
Halloween is right around the corner; however, this childhood staple can often be a stressful time for families of children with visual impairments. With so much of the Halloween season centered around visual identifiers, such as spooky costumes, pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating, it is easy for children who are blind or have low vision to feel left out. But with some simple modifications and activities, the Halloween season can be enjoyed by all. Whether you’re out on the town collecting candy or staying in for the evening handing it out, here are some tips to help you and your child have a fun and safe sensory Halloween!
10 Tips for your Halloween
1. Prepare before hand
To prepare for a night of trick-or-treating be sure to prepare your child beforehand so they know what to expect (costumes, loud noises, crowds of people, special effects). You can even do a trial run before the big night to lower anxiety for both you and your child. Another way to help lower anxiety would be to read a book about trick-or-treating.
2. Autumn Themed Sensory Bins
You can collect items such as: leaves, corn kernels, feathers, cinnamon sticks, hay and other fall related items to create your own autumn themed sensory bucket for home!
3. Swap masks for face paint (or skip anything on the face altogether)
Masks can limit visibility, so try using face paint, or makeup, as an alternative to complete your costume!
4. Pumpkin carving
This is a fun activity to promote sensory exploration with textures and smells! If carving isn’t your thing, then you can always decorate your pumpkin with puff paint, stickers, sand. You can also carve up the pumpkin or gourd and place pieces of skin, pulp, and seeds on a plate so your child can explore the different textures without getting too overwhelmed or dirty.
5. Make your costume tactile
To make your costumes more sensory pleasing you can incorporate different textures into your costume, such as faux fur for animal costumes. Be sure to use what the child likes and is familiar with to avoid a sensory overload for your child. If it’s appropriate, you and your child can even design the costume together.
6. Tasting activities
Explore the tastes of fall with samplings such as apple and pumpkin flavored foods and drinks, corn, candy, caramel, and more! Consult with your therapy team to determine if this is appropriate and what thickness or texture it should be.
7. Wear comfortable costumes
Be sure your child’s costume is comfortable. The outfit should provide full mobility and be easy to remove, if needed.
8. Use lights
For extra precaution at night, you may want to use extra lighting to help both you and your child to see. This is also a helpful tool for motorists and other pedestrians. You can use things like glow sticks, lanterns, or even just your flashlight on your phone. If you decide a light is needed, have everyone in your group wear the same type of light identifier so your child can find you in a crowd (be careful of seizure precautions with flashing lights).
9. Be flexible
Halloween can be an overwhelming time as it is, so be flexible with your child if they get overstimulated, have a costume mishap or are just not enjoying themselves. If you are traveling with more than one child, take two cars or have a plan to get home before a meltdown occurs. Remember, don’t force your child to do something if they are not having fun or feel uncomfortable.
10. Follow general Halloween guidance
Always stay with a familiar adult and look both ways before crossing the street. Be aware of your surroundings and understand that unfamiliar neighborhoods can be challenging and difficult to navigate. When you are trick-or-treating, don’t go to dark/nonparticipating homes, and be sure to use your manners. Children can even practice using their communication device to ask for a treat and say thank you. Just be sure to always check your candy before consumption. Just to be safe, have contact information on the child IF they end up getting separated from the group
Have a fun and Happy Halloween!