• Don’t feel pressured to buy a typical store costume. Think outside of the box: pajamas, clothes that look like a profession, maybe a face mask or paint.

• Let your little one collect candy; filling up the bag and sorting it can be fun. Donate what you don’t eat to churches, doctors’ offices, or schools.

• Ask neighbors, family, and friends to do a special “trick or treat” with small treats that your tricky treater enjoys

• Check out a local church’s Trunk or Treat; they typically have games, prizes, and smaller quantities of candy.

• Stay in! Enjoy a fun movie and snacks curled up in blankets

• Make homemade caramel apples or s’mores

• Host a Halloween Party

• Skip the candy, hand out sensory-friendly tiny toys: think fidget spinners or squishies.

• Attend a Trunk or Treat at your local church or HOA

• Host games or give out candy at a Trunk or Treat. Some kids enjoy giving out candy and hosting games more than attending.

• Pop It Toys

• Squishies

• Pencils

• Stickers

• Coloring Books

• Crayon Boxes

• Stress Balls

• Spider Rings

• Fidget Toys

• Scratch Art

• Art Kits

Candy Alternatives

Turning Tricky Nights into Lasting Memories

Candy, costumes, and ringing doorbells can be a tad tricky for those who get overwhelmed easily. Halloween should be filled with candy and laughter, not tears and breakdowns. Sensory overload gets very real on a holiday for those who don’t love costumes, loud music, or lights. I know this firsthand; when H was little, he was not the little boy in a mask with pajama bottoms running around Target. At age 2, it got very real when we went shopping for his first nursery school “trick or treat parade.” He was very overwhelmed, cried that the outfits were “too itchy”, too scary, and, lady, you can forget a mask or a hat of any kind. This left me scrambling for ideas. That year, he wore a Dallas Mavericks jersey, and we told him if anyone asked, his name was “Dirk”. Thank goodness the Mavs were pretty hot that year. Over the years, he has learned to love some costumes but has been extremely overwhelmed by others. In the past few years, he has chosen to wear only a mask or face paint, with clothing as his costume. Last year, he literally wore shorts, a button-up, and the name tag “Dr. Venkman” from Ghostbusters. Wins come in all shapes and sizes in this house.

As a family, we have never lived in a trick-or-treating neighborhood. We have always stuck to ringing the bells of a few (already notified) neighbors and our church’s Trunk or Treat. Now that H is in his teens, we have started a tradition of hosting an annual Halloween Party. It has greatly enriched our lives, filling a void that I never knew we had. Spending time with the ones you love should be all treats!

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