The spooky season is upon us and that means it’s time for tricks, treats, costumes and more. Many kids find Halloween to be an exciting time of coming up with creative costumes and day dreaming of candy. However, Halloween isn’t always as equally fun and exciting for children with special needs. Kids with food allergies can struggle to find treats that are safe for them to eat. Some events, decorations, sights, and sounds may be too spooky and become overwhelming for little ones with anxiety or sensory disorders. Finding a costume that can work with a wheelchair or other mobility device can prove to be a daunting task. Kids with communication issues may struggle to say “trick or treat” and “thank you.” This Halloween, let’s look at the bigger picture and make it a holiday that’s inclusive for all.

Food Sensitivities

Candy is traditionally given as a treat on Halloween. According to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), researchers estimate 32 million Americans have food allergies, including 5.6 children under age 18. That boils down to 1 in 13 children, or two children in every classroom. Around 40% of children are allergic to more than one food with the most common food allergies in children being to milk, egg, soy, wheat, and peanuts.

For little ones with food allergies, not only can it be difficult for them to find a treat they are able enjoy, it can be dangerous to come in contact with candy. Chocolate bars contain dairy and sometimes contain nuts, two ingredients that can trigger an allergic reaction. Even non-chocolate candy is produced in facilities that aren’t nut- or dairy-free so it isn’t 100% safe.

Besides allergies, kids with medical diagnoses like diabetes are also limited in what food they can enjoy. It’s also important to keep in mind that there may be trick-or-treaters with limited motor skills or issues with swallowing. For these reasons and more, it’s beneficial to have a non-food treat to offer the children that come to your doorstep. Items like themed pencils, stickers, glow sticks or small toys are still festive and a great alternative to candy.

You can even participate in The Teal Pumpkin Project created and promoted by FARE to let trick-or-treaters know non-food treats are available at your home. For this, all you need to do is purchase or paint a teal pumpkin to display. You can even add your home to the Teal Pumpkin map on FARE’s website.

Anxiety and Sensory Sensitivities

For kids with sensory processing disorder (SPD) or anxiety, the sights, sounds, and spooks of Halloween can be completely overwhelming. Decorations like strobe lights, automatic mechanical props, fog machines, and anything generally scary or creepy can be enough to trigger someone that struggles with sensory sensitivities or anxiety. Strobe lights and mechanical props can be especially triggering for epileptics. Personal space is also very important. For those with general sensory disorder or SPD, everything they experience is louder, brighter, bigger, and closer to them.

To be more inclusive of children in this category, save any scary decorations or special effects for adult-only parties. Hand out treats in a well-lit location, keep personal space in mind, and avoid wearing a mask or elaborate costume to make trick-or-treating a bit easier. Overall, be sensitive if a little one seems hesitant when coming to your door.

A newer trend for individuals with Autism is to carry a blue pumpkin to collect candy when trick-or-treating.

If your child is sensory-sensitive or anxious, preparing before trick-or-treat and Halloween can be beneficial. Walk your neighborhood or trick-or-treating route during daylight hours so kids can become more familiar with the homes they’ll be visiting and any decorations they will pass. Halloween stories or discussions of what is real and what is unreal can also help your child become more comfortable with Halloween and the costumes, decorations, or characters they may encounter.

Recognizing Disabilities

Making accommodations for individuals with disabilities should always be practiced, and there are a few easy things you can do specifically for Halloween as well. If your front porch has many steps, consider moving your hand-out spot to your driveway or flat area instead. Some trick-or-treaters may be non-verbal or struggling with communication, so it’s important to be sensitive to this if you don’t hear the words “trick-or-treat” or “thank you” from a little one.

Kids should be able to dress up as whatever or whoever they want for Halloween. This can be limiting for children needing mobility assistance devices or for those with sensory sensitivities. Costume modifications can be made at home with the help of online blogs and idea sites like Pinterest, as well as helpful tips and tricks from other crafty parents. Crafting homemade costumes can become very time consuming. If store-bought is more your style, this year Target launched inclusive costumes for wheelchairs and also carries clothing for sensory sensitivities, making it easier for all kids to dress up.

Exploring Possibilities

If trick-or-treating is not the best experience for your kiddo, there are other festive activities and events that you can participate in to get in the spirit of Fall and Halloween.

Take a trip to a pumpkin patch as a family. This is a great fall activity, and children are excited to pick their own pumpkins. Many area pumpkin patches also offer hay rides, petting zoos, corn mazes and more. Closer to Halloween, have a family night where everyone carves the pumpkins they picked.

Some communities offer “trunk-or-treat” or alternative trick-or-treating events. In this case, people gather at a central location and pass out treats so the children can trick-or-treat in a smaller area. This can be a great change-of-pace if your community’s trick-or-treat night seems too overwhelming. Your child can even be involved with handing out the treats, whether that be at home or another trick-or-treating event.

If staying in the comfort of home is more appealing, host a family movie night during trick-or-treat instead of going out. Have your child pick some fall themed movies (nothing too scary, of course) and enjoy some snacks and quality time together.

Talking with your kids, friends, and neighbors can spark an initiative that makes Halloween fun and inclusive for all ghosts and ghouls. Mindfulness and small changes made on this holiday each year can positively impact not only kids with special needs, but your neighborhood and community as a whole. W.A.G.S. 4 Kids strives to promote “Inclusion Always, In All Ways,” and this Halloween is a perfect time to practice that.

Celebrate Howl-O-Ween With Us
Come one, come all! BIG DOG or small. Dress in your Halloween BEST for a fun (FREE) Howl-o-ween Party! Our free public event will be held Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 3pm until the clock strikes midnight at Platform Beer Company’s Cleveland Taproom with dog-friendly vendors, a costume contest, a look-a-like contest, adult trick-or-treating, food, fun, and prizes!

This event is open to the public, but all dogs must stay leashed at all times! Click here to learn more and mark your calendar!