Halloween and trick or treating can be lots of fun, but costumes, noise, high stimulation and the addition of sugar, can easily make it an overwhelming experience. Here are just a few tips to help you get prepared and stay flexible on the night in the hope of of making Halloween as spooktacular and drama free as possible.⁠

+ USE SOCIAL STORIES SO KIDS KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT ⁠

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+ ENSURE HALLOWEEN COSTUMES ARE SENSORY FRIENDLY-COMFORTABLE AND NOT SCARY. CONSIDER CREATING A COSTUME FROM FAMILIAR CLOTHING, REMEMBER, LESS IS BEST⁠

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+ HAVE A COUPLE OF PRACTICE RUNS WITH THE COSTUME LEADING UP TO HALLOWEEN⁠

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+ PRACTICE TRICK OR TREATING - CHOOSE A ROUTE TO FOLLOW AND WALK IT A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE HALLOWEEN⁠

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+ EXPLAIN WHAT SOME OF THE COSTUMES MIGHT LOOK LOOK LIKE AND THAT THEY ARE JUST COSTUMES.⁠

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+ TRICK OR TREAT EARLY BEFORE IT GETS TOO BUSY, TRY TO MAINTAIN SOME ROUTINE- KEEP AS CLOSE TO NORMAL BEDTIME AS POSSIBLE⁠

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+ WATCH OUT FOR SIGNS OF OVERWHELM OR TIREDNESS AND HAVE A BACKUP PLAN. PERHAPS HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER ON CALL TO PICK UP IF NECESSARY⁠

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+ BRING HEADPHONES IF NOISE COULD BE A PROBLEM (THINK SCREAMING, LARGE GROUPS OF EXCITED KIDS)⁠

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+ IF KIDS DONT WANT TO TRICK OR TREAT THEY CAN STILL JOIN IN THE FUN BY HANDING OUT TREATS AT THE DOOR IN THEOIR COSTUME.⁠

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Have a fangtastic night!!