Four handy tips to help autistic children have a fun experience on Halloween

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – The chance to be out after dark, wear a silly costume and collect tons of candy — what’s not to love about Halloween? The dilemma for parents of kids with autism is how to make sure their child is in on the fun without becoming overwhelmed by the good-natured raucousness of the evening.

“For a child with autism, Halloween can be quite a demanding event,” said Paul Louden, autism expert and host of Theories of Mind radio. “The fun of collecting candy door-to-door can give way to overstimulation, anxiety and exhaustion for a child with autism, especially if this is their first time to participate in the holiday,” said Louden.

Louden recommended four steps for taking some of the “trickiness” out of trick-or-treating:


Break it Into Pieces – “Unpack” all the component parts of the evening. Make the concept of Halloween into a social story using photographs, clipart illustrations or drawings to show each step of the activities in which your family will participate. Keep this narrative on hand and review it with your child until he or she is comfortable with the structure of the evening.

Practice What to Say – Rehearse the verbal cues and responses that a child will need as he or she goes from door to door--not only the customary “trick or treat!” greeting, but also when to say, “thank you” and any other polite statements and responses that you believe are important for your child to use.

Scout Your Route – Pinpoint the area in which you will be trick-or-treating and make a practice run ahead of time to those houses where you’ll be knocking on doors on Halloween night. Estimate how many houses are the maximum for your child. You’ll also be able to gauge whether your child is comfortable being out after dark, or if activities should take place before the sun goes down. Plan to trick or treat with friends and families with whom your child feels at ease.


Have Fun on Your Own Terms – Know your child’s limits. If a house on your route is decked out in tombstones, glowing skeletons and a cackling animatronic witch, that may be the door to skip. Louden emphasized that, above all, Halloween is about having fun, so if preparation cause more stress than excitement, ditch the trick-or-treating plans for something easier, such as a neighborhood or church festival. A child may also get a kick out of being on “the other side of the door” and handing out candy to others. Or, just turn off the porch light, keep the basket of candy for yourselves, and watch a special movie together (spooky or not). “It’s nice to follow traditions, but the holiday should be more about your child and your family than adhering to any societal standard for the evening,” said Louden.

Visit www.theoriesofmindradio.com and listen to Theories of Mind Tuesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. on Bloomberg Business Radio 1110 KTEK-AM, a Wall Street Journal Radio Network, Bloomberg Radio Station in Houston, to find out more about the mental health challenges in the news today and how differences shape our lives.