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Welcome to our Surviving the Holidays Blog Series! The holidays are supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. For many of the families we serve at We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym Westford, they can also be the most overwhelming: new places, changed routines, loud noises, strong smells, crowded rooms, and a […]

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Welcome to our Surviving the Holidays Blog Series!

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The holidays are supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. For many of the families we serve at We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym Westford, they can also be the most overwhelming: new places, changed routines, loud noises, strong smells, crowded rooms, and a lot of expectations about how everyone is supposed to feel.

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We spend our days with children with sensory, motor, communication, and regulation needs, and with the parents and caregivers who love and co-regulate with them. We hear the same thing every season: I want my family to enjoy this, and I’m not sure how to make everyone happy.

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So this year, we’re starting a series called Surviving the Holidays, and will tackle one holiday at a time. We’ll cover Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s. Each post looks at what can make that holiday hard, what can help before, during, and after, and how friends, family, and neighbors can make it easier. Each blog also comes with a free printable family checklist and a social story you can read with your child, and we’ll share our upcoming events at the gym.

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A few things we believe as we go:

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Let’s start with Halloween! \"\"

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Halloween looks like pure fun from the outside: costumes, candy, and a whole neighborhood open to your kid. For many children; especially our autistic kids and kids with sensory, motor, communication, or medical needs, Halloween can be one of the hardest nights of the year.

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Halloween looks like pure fun from the outside: costumes, candy, and a whole neighborhood open to your kid. For many children; especially our autistic kids and kids with sensory, motor, communication, or medical needs, Halloween can be one of the hardest nights of the year.

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Why Halloween is hard

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Halloween packs nearly every common challenge into a single evening. Here are the barriers we see most often.

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  1. Sensory overload. Flashing and strobe lights, loud music and sound effects, strong scents from candles and fog machines, and decorations that move, jump, or cackle when you step near them. For a child whose nervous system is already working hard to filter the world, the wrong porch can be overwhelming.
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  2. Costumes that don’t feel right. Itchy fabric, face paint, masks, wigs, and tight or layered outfits can be physically intolerable. Some kids skip the costume entirely, and that is a perfectly valid way to celebrate.
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  3. Unwritten social scripts. Ring the bell, say “trick or treat,” say “thank you,” make eye contact, make small talk. A child who is nonverbal, minimally verbal, or simply overwhelmed may not be able to say those words, however much they want the candy.
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  4. Motor and planning challenges. Reaching into a crowded bowl, grabbing just one piece, or deciding quickly while a line forms behind you takes fine motor control and motor planning. A child who grabs a handful or takes a long time to choose may be working through a real physical challenge, not being greedy or rude.
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  5. Unpredictability. New houses, unfamiliar people, changing routines, and a late bedtime. Many kids rely on predictability to feel safe, and Halloween is the opposite.
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  6. Food allergies, dietary needs, and diabetes. A child who looks let down by your candy bowl might have an allergy, a dietary restriction, or a medical reason they can’t eat what’s offered. That disappointment is real.
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  7. Invisible disabilities. Many disabilities can’t be seen. A big kid who isn’t saying thank you, a child with no costume, or a child who melts down on your steps may be doing their absolute best.
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Strategies for regulation and success

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The real goal is a Halloween that works for your child and creates a positive memory for the family. Here are strategies to try before, during, and after.

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Before: Prepare and Preview

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During: Support Regulation

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After: Decompress

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How neighbors and community members can help

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If you’re handing out candy, small changes make a big difference:

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As we like to say: be kind to everyone, because you don’t always know what a family is carrying.

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Join us this Halloween season

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We have three events ahead of Halloween, and we would love to celebrate with you!\"\"

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Here are three ways to join the fun at We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym Westford:

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  1. Pumpkin Tattoo Session (Friday, 10/23, 3:30-6:30). Book your tickets here!
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  2. 4th Annual Halloween Party (Sunday, 10/25, Two sessions). Book your tickets here!
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  3. Sensory Friendly Table-or-Treat (Wednesday, 10/28, 5-7pm). RSVP to this event here!
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Resources for your family this Halloween:

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Family Checklist

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My Halloween Story

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Up next in our series

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Thanksgiving and the winter holidays come with their own routines, relatives, and sensory surprises. Stay tuned for our next post.

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