31/10/2025
🎃 Halloween Through a Neurodivergent Lens 👻
Not every child will show up to Halloween in the way you might expect — and that’s okay.
For some neurodivergent children (and adults too!), this time of year can be magical — full of imagination, creativity, and excitement.
But for others, it can also be overwhelming — full of noise, costumes, sugar crashes, and sudden social rules that don’t quite make sense.
Here are a few ways to make Halloween more inclusive and supportive for every kind of brain:
🧡 Be mindful of sensory needs.
Costumes can be itchy, masks can feel suffocating, and flashing lights or loud decorations can cause sensory overload. Soft fabrics, familiar clothes, or even no costume at all are perfectly okay.
💜 Don’t assume.
Some children may not say “trick or treat,” make eye contact, or respond when spoken to. They’re not being rude — they might be communicating in their own way, or using all their energy just to be there.
💛 Offer choices.
Not every child wants sweets. Having small toys, stickers, or non-food treats can mean the world to someone with allergies, dietary restrictions, or sensory sensitivities.
💚 Respect boundaries.
If a child skips a house, refuses a photo, or covers their ears — they’re managing their nervous system, not missing out.
🖤 Celebrate authenticity.
Some neurodivergent children may hyperfocus on Halloween details for weeks, while others want nothing to do with it. Both are equally valid ways to experience the world.
This Halloween, let’s make room for every way of being —
because inclusion doesn’t mean everyone doing the same thing.
It means everyone feeling safe enough to show up as themselves. 🌙
