Skip to content
the autism kit
Guide

How can my autistic child enjoy Halloween?

Comfortable costumes, practising trick-or-treating, handling scary decorations, and other ways to celebrate.

By The Autism Kit teamUpdated Sep 28, 2026 · 1 min read
Listen to this articleAbout 1 min
Read aloud · speed
Two children in skeleton costumes holding orange buckets outside a house
Photo: Charles Parker on Pexels
The short answer

Choose a comfortable costume (pajama-style or everyday clothes with one fun piece) and wear it at home first. Practise trick-or-treating at a few friends' doors, read a short social story, and plan a small route with a clear end. Scary decorations and masks can be upsetting, so keep to calm streets or daytime events. Skipping or celebrating at home is a fine choice too.

Key takeaways
  • Choose a comfortable costume and wear it at home first.
  • Practise at a few friendly doors.
  • Keep the route small with a clear end.
  • Celebrating at home is a fine choice.

How do I choose a costume?

Try
  • Pajama-style or soft costumes
  • Everyday clothes with one fun piece
  • Wearing it at home for a few days first
Skip
  • Masks and face paint if your child dislikes them
  • Scratchy or tight costumes
  • New shoes

How do I prepare for trick-or-treating?

  1. Read a short story about what happens.1
  2. Show picture steps: walk, knock, say or show 'trick or treat', take one, 'thank you', next house.2
  3. Practise at family or friends' doors.
  4. Show the route on a simple map: 5 houses, then home.

What if decorations are scary?

Plan a calm route in daylight, avoid houses with loud or moving decorations, and let your child decide when to go home.

Free printable: social narrative templatePDF · 1 page · a simple story to prepare for a new or hard situation
Download Free printable: social narrative template

What can I do before Halloween?

0 of 3 done

Common questions

A themed T-shirt, hat or cape works. Or no costume at all.

Sources

  1. Carol Gray Social Stories. carolgraysocialstories.com
  2. AFIRM (UNC Frank Porter Graham): Visual supports evidence-based practice brief. afirm.fpg.unc.edu

This guide shares general information and our team's perspective, based on the sources above. Every child is different, so please talk with your child's doctor or care team about what's right for your family. How we write our guides.

Was this guide helpful?
Share this guide with someone who'd find it useful
Listen

Keep reading

All guides and stories →

One small, useful tip a week

Practical ideas built on evidence-based practices, plus a free printable to start. Unsubscribe anytime.

We never sell or share your email.