Tricks and Treats
Halloween is a tradition that can be great fun for youngsters with autism, or it can be a disaster waiting to happen. Some people with autism love costumes and masks, but others do not. Many kids with autism do not like hearing unusual noises or scary sounds. Most do not like walking through the neighborhood in the dark, visiting haunted houses, or going to crowded halloween carnivals. Families can still plan some special events to enjoy season.
or
continue reading
Pumpkin Patch. Take a trip to a pumpkin patch. Or go shopping for pumpkins at a store. Take time to look at the variety, making a game of spotting the smallest pumpkin, the biggest one, and the silliest shape. In addition to purchasing a big family pumpkin, consider letting each person pick out a small personal pumpkin to take home. You can carve pumpkins in the traditional manner or draw bold faces on pumpkins with permanent marker or pumpkin paint.
Jack o’ Lantern. Many youngsters with autism are intrigued with candle light, so you might want to introduce the tradition of a jack o’ lantern. After sunset, gather the family around a carved pumpkin placed in the middle of the kitchen table, in the middle of a table on your porch, or on the picnic table outside. Light a votive candle or two inside the pumpkin, then turn out the light and watch the candle light dance inside the jack o’ lantern.
Trick or Treat. Rather than gathering a huge bag of candy by going door to door, plan a family Halloween party. Play bingo with fun prizes and treats. Serve popcorn and apple cider. Play Pin-the-Grin-on-the Pumpkin. Hang marshmallows from the ceiling with string and try to catch them with your mouth with both hands behind your back. Give everyone a bag and let them search for candies or little treats you hid around the house earlier in the day.
The key is to enjoy some family time together without forcing a youngster to participate in uncomfortable activities. Share your ideas and experiences. Just click on the comments button or send a confidential e-mail to talk@FAQautism.com.
NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. Send email to talk@FAQautism.com And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com
Automatically generated related posts:
- Halloween Fun Not all of our FAQautism.com listeners live in countries that...
- Fall Fun It is fall in our part of the world –...
- Five-Minute Fall Follies Pumpkins. Cool mornings. Swirls of colorful leaves. Sometimes we miss...
- Celebrating Birthdays Traditional birthday parties with big groups of kids, organized games,...
- Say What you Mean “Our son seems to always do the opposite of what...