🎃 Autism & Halloween: Tips for Navigating Ghosts, Ghouls, and Glorious Candy

Let’s be honest—Halloween is magical, but it can also be a little bit much.

For our kiddos with autism, Halloween can bring a sensory overload of flashing lights, itchy costumes, unexpected doorbells, and unpredictable social rules (wait, we’re encouraging them to take candy from strangers?!). At Compassionate Care ABA, we get it—and we’re here to help your family make the most of the spooky season with confidence and joy.

Here are some ABA-informed, autism-friendly Halloween tips to help your little pumpkins shine brighter than a jack-o’-lantern on October 31st. 🎃

🕯️ 1. Preview, Prep, and Practice

Surprises are great for haunted houses… not so much for our kids. Start talking about Halloween early. Read social stories, watch videos, and role-play trick-or-treating at home.

🧩 Pro tip: Create a visual schedule for Halloween night and walk through it together. Practice knocking, saying “Trick or Treat,” and taking just one piece of candy. Reinforce with lots of praise—or maybe a few candy corn bribes 🍬😉

👻 2. Costumes: Comfort > Cuteness

Skip the scratchy capes and awkward face paint. Your child’s costume should be comfortable, familiar, and sensory-friendly—even if it’s just a dinosaur hoodie or their favorite pajamas with cat ears.

🧩 ABA Tip: Let your child choose their costume (even if it’s not “Halloween-y”) and practice wearing it for short bursts in the days leading up to the big night.

🍬 3. Trick-or-Treat Your Way

Trick-or-treating doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s version. Set your own rules.

• Just a few houses? Awesome.

• Skip trick-or-treating and stay home handing out candy? Love that.

• Prefer a community trunk-or-treat or sensory-friendly event? YES PLEASE!

  
  

🧩 ABA Tip: Use reinforcement along the way. Every house visited = a star on the reward chart or a gummy bear in the bag!

🦻 4. Mind the Senses

Flashing decorations, crowded sidewalks, sudden “BOO!” sounds… no thank you. Try noise-canceling headphones, glow sticks instead of flashing ones, and avoiding the spookiest spots.

🧩 ABA Tip: Preload with calming strategies. If your child uses a visual schedule, AAC device, or calming tools, bring them along.

🎉 5. Celebrate All the Wins

Whether your child knocks on one door or just wears their costume for a few minutes, that’s a win.

Halloween is about fun, not perfection. Celebrate their efforts, give yourself grace, and enjoy the memories you’re making—even if they’re messy, loud, and full of candy wrappers.

🧡 Bonus: Bring ABA Into the Fun

At Compassionate Care ABA, we believe real-world learning happens outside the therapy room, too. Halloween can be a goldmine for:

• Practicing communication (“Trick or treat,” “Thank you!”)

• Building social skills (greeting neighbors, waiting in line)

• Learning flexibility (navigating changes in plans)

• Reinforcing daily living skills (dressing, walking safely, organizing)

With a little prep and a lot of compassion, Halloween can be just right for your family.

🎃 Want more tips or help building a Halloween visual schedule? We’re here for you.

Reach out at info@ccaba.online or visit www.ccaba.online for more support, smiles, and spooky success. 👻

Happy Halloween from all of us at Compassionate Care ABA!💛🧩🍫🦖🕸️🧙‍♀️🦇