HELPFUL HINTS FOR HALLOWEEN

Trick or treat! To keep this experience a positive one for you and your child, we have enclosed some ideas to make life easier.

• Do not force your child to wear a costume. It will backfire.
• Plan in advance and help your child know what to expect.
• If your child is afraid of costumed people, do dress-up activities or read books in advance to prepare him/her.
• If your child wears a costume, let him/her pick it out. Your child needs to tolerate the feel of the costume as well as how it looks visually.
• If your child wears a costume, make sure he/she can easily use the bathroom. It should be easy to remove and adjust to keep your child comfortable.
• Do not insist that your child wear face paint or a mask.
• If your child wears face paint, bring baby wipes or make-up remover in case he/she becomes uncomfortable.
• To avoid sugar overload, arrange a deal in advance whereby you and your child agree on how much or what can be eaten and what needs to be saved for another time.
• Acknowledge to yourself in advance that you may need to help your child more than other parents.

Have realistic expectations. Limit the amount of time you plan on spending at an event or doing an activity. For example, enjoy a successful hour- long outing rather than staying for an unsuccessful two hours.

Blog written by:

Aviva Goldwasser, OTR/L