My son is 4 and my daughter is 8. My son has autism and is mostly nonverbal. I like taking them to trick or treat. However, it can be tricky with being a Special Needs parent. It’s sometimes hard and nearly impossible to go trick or treating depending on the disability, medical condition or food allergies/sensitivities.
Here are my tips.
1. The bag says it all.
My friend Sara Satterfield, from SophieCat Creations, made this bag for my son. His bag says his name, diagnosis and his ability level. I had the bag created so people wouldn’t be offended if he couldn’t say trick or treat and thank you. You even put on there any food allergies or sensitivities. Instead of me explaining every time the bag did it for me. You could also use business cards and hand those to the people to explain your child’s condition.
2. Food allergies and food sensitivities.
My friend Sara lets her kids trick or treat then they exchange the candy for a treat almost like a present. The kids still get the fun of trick or treating but not an allergic reaction or sensitivity from an ingredient that isn’t good for them. The leftover candy is taken to work the next day for co-workers to enjoy. The kids love picking out a new toy or game and are okay with not eating the candy.
If you are an allergy friendly house make or buy a teal pumpkin. This is to say you have treats that are allergy friendly. Peanuts, wheat, soy, or dairy are the most common allergens. Have the ingredient packages for parents to look and determine if the product(s) is acceptable for their child. If it’s someone in your neighborhood ask them what brands are good for their children with allergies or sensitivities. Maybe pass out small toys, slime or fruit instead of candy. Vitacost or Amazon are good websites to order allergy friendly treats from. Whole Foods and Kroger are great local places to buy from.
3. Halloween Cookout
One year a bunch of us with special needs children had our own Halloween Cookout. It took the stress away from dealing with meltdowns, sensory overload or an allergic reaction as everything was allergy and food sensitivity friendly. It wasn’t focused on getting candy but dressing up. The kids played outside in the backyard. The party was fun and I didn’t stress about my kids getting overwhelmed and if they did get overwhelmed it was a safe environment for them to calm down.
4. Do what is right for your family.
Halloween isn’t meant to be stressful. Sometimes our kids can’t do it because it’s too overwhelming for them. Maybe staying home with the family and watching Halloween movies is best. I’ve done that too. We decorated pumpkins and made popcorn. It was fun. Halloween isn’t for everyone. It’s not mandatory. I always tell parents to do what’s right for your sanity and the sanity of the family.
5. Go to small events.
Last year Downtown Buford had a business event where the vendors handed out candy or did crafts with the kids. It suited my kids because the event was small, short and sweet. The kids really enjoyed not being in a big crowd. Also, check out local churches for their trunk or treat events.
I love the magic and fun of Halloween. I love dressing up with my kids and seeing their faces light up as they so enjoy getting candy. However, I’ve also had to learn how to make Halloween fun for my family and not stressful. Happy Trick or Treating everyone.
