With Halloween right around the corner, you may have heard some of your friends and family discussing various topics around the holiday. For some, this might just be the best places to buy candy. But for others, there are a number of considerations to take into account. These can go far beyond the simple health ramifications of your standard sugar overload. It’s important to remember this Fall that not everyone can or should celebrate the same way. Here are a few things to keep in mind for a thoughtful Halloween.
Sensory Processing Issues
Children with sensory processing issues can fall anywhere on a large spectrum. It can affect everything from how these kiddos perceive sounds, sights, smells, physical sensations and tastes. How can we have a more thoughtful Halloween with them in mind? As with many parts of this list, the first step is simply to be understanding of their experiences. These kids likely struggle with parts of life that you would normally consider ho-hum. If you notice that a child is especially overwhelmed when they arrive at your door for trick-or-treating, try giving them some space instead of leaning in. If they’re not wearing a costume, remember that not all children can handle those scratchy polyester suits or rubber masks.
Post Traumatic Stress
You’ve likely seen this come up around the Fourth of July and New Years. The fireworks can last for hours — if not days — and can be especially difficult for veterans and survivors. If you’ve planning to go all out for Halloween with scary tunes playing, it might be a good idea to let your neighbors know. For those who are just trying to get a group together for a haunted house or scary corn maze, just know that it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Try not to push your friends who turn down those spooky offers.
Physical Health
If one of your trick-or-treaters seems disappointed at your offerings, know that it might not be youthful insolence. Allergies could prevent certain children from partaking of your treat bowl. Nut allergies are common, but there’s also gluten and dairy intolerance to think of. If you want to go that extra mile, try to aim for a wide variety of candy. Otherwise, try to be understanding if one or two of those kids seems a little put out.
Halloween Costumes
There’s certainly a heated debate about what types of Halloween costumes are appropriate. The decision is (mostly) yours when it comes to what you wear, but we’d just encourage you to give it a little extra thought this year. There are so many uplifting costume ideas, like this DIY Rosie the Riveter!
