How can my child with sensory issues enjoy holiday celebrations?

Holiday celebrations throughout the year may cause complications when it comes to behavior and sensory needs. For example, Halloween involves a lot of excitement, social interaction with strangers, scary decorations, wearing costumes, and trick-or-treating with groups of friends, all of which can be intimidating for our kids.

One way to address worrying or overexcited thoughts in a positive way is to manage expectations. You can prime your child with a Social Story about how the celebrations will go and practice ahead of time.

Priming your child for the experience can help with sensory needs, but many families also create their own way to celebrate to limit sensory overloads. You know your child better than anyone, so allow them to participate in their own way instead of expecting them to enjoy the “traditional” experience.

Check out our article Creating a More Inclusive Halloween Experience for plenty of ideas for activities that take your child’s specific needs in mind.