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🎃 Halloween and autism ,a few tips from me for the weekend. Halloween is nearly here and whilst lots of children love all the excitement, for some autistic children and pets it can be a bit overwhelming. The costumes, masks, people knocking at the door, lots of noise and a change from their usual routine can sometimes be a little too much. Both my sons Patrick and Angelo have always loved Halloween. Every year we would design our pumpkin face and make sure we had plenty of sweets ready for the trick or treaters. Patrick loved dressing up when he was younger. One year I made him a dinosaur costume out of cardboard and crepe paper. Nothing fancy at all, but he thought it was wonderful. He loved it so much he wore it every evening for a whole week! 😂🦖 Over the years I have learnt, like many parents, that a littlr preparation can really help. 🎃 Let your child try their costume on a few times beforehand. What looks great might feel a bit scratchy, tight or even uncomfortable. 🎃 Masks and face paint are not for everyone. If your child does not like them, don't worry about it. 🎃 Talk about what is going to happen. Pictures or a simple social story can help explain knocking on doors, saying "Trick or Treat", getting a sweet and moving on to the next house. 🎃 Have a little practice at home first. We all know as parentd things do not always go to plan! 🎃 Do not put pressure on them. If they manage one house and then that is enough donot push it. If your child doe not want to go trick or treating at all, well that's fine too. Stay home, carve a pumpkin, watch a favourite film, give sweets out at the door or simply treat it like any other evening. I love Hocis Pocus a fun movie. As parents we know our children best. Do Halloween their way, not the way everyone thinks it should be done. Most of all, have fun and make your own memories. 🎃💜 I still smile thinking about Patrick wandering around in that homemade crepe paper and carboard dinosaur costume for a week! 😂 #Autism #Halloween #AutismAcceptance #SensoryNeeds #AnnaKennedyOnline T shirt from Born Anxious Kellie Croft

Thank you enjoy the start to your week 🌸