Helping Children Meet Their Full Potential Faster
“The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for out wits to grow sharper.” – Quote by Late Eden Phillpots, an English author, poet, and dramatist
It’s the time of the year when we celebrate that everything mysterious, hair-raising, and frightening. It’s the time when we look forward to decorating our homes with giant spiders and carved pumpkins on our front porches. Children get dressed in their unique costumes as cartoon characters, superheroes, and friends of the netherworld. Yes, you guessed it right. It's Trick or Treat time also known as Halloween. Britannica’s definition of the Halloween festival is that its origins are traced back to the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain, It was believed that on that day, the souls of the dead returned to their homes, so people dressed in costumes and lit bonfires to ward off spirits.
It is a day all Americans look forward to with gusto and let their hair down. Adults and children alike. To ensure that the families of children with ASD have as much funs as others, we have collated some helpful tips. These tips are focused on preventing or reducing sensory overload situations. Let’s see what they are.
Role play – Start enacting role play with the child and family members. Guide the child through the entire process a few times, with costumes and other real props. The more they practice the better they will be equipped for the evening of 31st October.
Social story – Use social stories whether purchased or crafted on your own to get the child comfortable with the entire Halloween experience. This prepares them to deal with the evening and the unexpected.
Reminders – Share verbal or visual reminders that the sights and sounds on that evening are pretended. This will help to ease their anxiety and make the evening as pleasant as possible.
Hand holding on the evening – Take your child for a “trick or treat” to the houses in your neighborhood that are not scary in appearance. If you are unable to accompany the child, get a responsible adult to do the same. It will ensure that a situation is handled before it escalates.
Select appropriate costumes – This entails costumes that are comfortable and light. Avoid masks, wigs, or makeup. Keep it simple.
Keep the trick-or-treating brief – Try to keep the walk as brief as possible so it doesn’t prove to be overwhelming or tiring. Just a few homes and preferably to of those who are aware of your child’s disorder and will take care to see that the child is not spooked or distressed.
Let’s make Halloween special for our children and give them happy memories that they will cherish. Wishing your loved ones and you a very spooky and happy Halloween from Team Caliber.
