By its very nature, Halloween is scary. Everything from the decorations, movies, and costumes. However, perhaps the scariest part of Halloween is trying to understand it through the eyes of children with developmental disabilities. So how do we make this spooky night less of a nightmare?

BOO! Take out the surprise factor
Talk about Halloween ahead of time so your child will know what to expect. Show her pictures of kids in costumes, videos of kids trick-or-treating, and make sure you show your child what this will look like when it’s dark outside.
Scope out the neighborhood
Take a nighttime stroll through the streets where you plan to trick-or-treat and look at the decorations. Are there any houses you might want to avoid because they look too scary? Talk to your neighbors. Is anyone planning to dress in a costume and scare the kids as they approach a house? 
Teach the rules of trick-or-treating
Provide step-by-step instructions for how trick-or-treating works. For instance, how we knock on the door and say, “trick-or-treat” but don’t go into the house, put the candy in the bag, say thank you, and go to the next house. Practice this routine before the big night. 
Have a dress rehearsal
For a child with sensory issues, costumes can pose some problems. The costume can be itchy, too tight, too loose, and too hot or not warm enough. Makeup can be sticky, or smell and feel weird. Masks can make it difficult to see or hear, or cause irritation to the head. Have your child try on her costume far enough in advance that you can make adjustments and alterations if necessary. 
Make a candy plan
Think pre- and post-trick-or-treating. If your child has a restricted diet, you could drop off packages of allowable snacks or small toys to your neighbors for them to give to your child. On the other hand, be prepared with acceptable treats you can substitute when your child gets home. If there are some candies on the approved list, ask a sibling if they would be willing to swap. Tell your child ahead of time what he can/can’t do with the candy when you get back home. Can he dump it all out and eat the entire bag that night? Will you limit her to a certain number of candies each day?
Go with friends
Pair your child up with a neuro-typical buddy that can help your child remember the trick-or-treating rules. That buddy can also be another set of eyes on your child amidst the flurry of masquerading candy goers. 
Eliminate the fear factor
There’s a lot going on during Halloween’s evening hours that startles the senses. It’s dark and there are many people running around in scary costumes. Go before it gets dark if your child would be afraid during the later hours or if you need a less crowded time. If going door-to-door is overwhelming for your child, give her the option to stay home and pass out candy. Malls and community centers might offer an alternative location, but inquire about the size of the crowds they are expecting.