This is a first-I have never created a blog post around Halloween. As someone in the Christian Faith I have never really celebrated Halloween. But as I started working in the schools I realized that this is a fun holiday for kids. Some of them get so excited and the excitement is contagious!

If you have a child with special needs-then your experience and your child’s experience can be one that can be a little bit more complex when it comes to fall festivals and trick or treating. So here are some things you can do to make your experience more smooth for you and your child:

– Talk to your child what to expect. Some kids have fears or extremely high expectations what the day brings.

⁃ Make sure costumes are comfortable. I know the costume may be super cute or creative but if the material is scratchy or if the costume is too snug tor too hot then it could be a recipe for disaster. A comfortable costume is far better than a cute one.

⁃ Consider taking them to a big box store for a trial run-exposing them to the smoke machines and noise making toys/lawn decorations can be beneficial.

⁃ Have a code word for your child to use in case it starts feeling overwhelming.

⁃ Consider a smaller event or only going to a few houses.

What ever you decide to do for fall fun-please remember to be safe and use the above suggestions for a smoother experience.