Adapting Halloween Traditions

As moms of children with rare diseases, we know that even fun traditions like Halloween can present unique challenges. But that doesn’t mean we have to miss out! With a bit of planning and creativity, Halloween can be an inclusive and magical time for our families. Here are some tips and ideas to help you navigate Halloween with your child’s needs in mind—whether they’re in a wheelchair, have sensory sensitivities, or face other health considerations.

Costumes

Adaptive Costume Ideas: If your child uses a wheelchair or other medical equipment, consider making the costume part of their mobility device. For example:

• Turn a wheelchair into a race car, spaceship, or magical carriage.
• Incorporate medical tubes or devices into the costume (e.g., transform IV tubing into a superhero’s power source or oxygen tubing into wizard’s magic strings).

When my son was younger, we turned his wheelchair into the Millennium Falcon, a Batmobile, and even added Captain America shields to the wheels. We’d light up his chair for an extra “wow” factor in the dark! While these ideas were fun, I’ll admit they were time-consuming and required patience I didn’t always have. Thankfully, adaptive costumes are now readily available online from retailers like Target, Amazon, and Party City. These options make it easier for our kids to choose something they love without requiring us to become expert crafters.

Trick-or-Treating

For many kids, trick-or-treating is the highlight of Halloween. But for children with rare diseases, it’s not always easy. Here are some ways to make it work:

• Indoor Trick-or-Treating- Many homes have steps that can make trick-or-treating difficult for kids in wheelchairs. To work around this, we’ve had siblings or parents collect candy for our son. Alternatively, consider accessible trick-or-treating options like indoor events at malls or shopping centers. These venues are weather-proof and provide a safer, more controlled environment. Let’s be honest—Murphy’s law ensures Halloween night will either be freezing or raining. Malls and indoor shopping centers are great alternatives when the weather doesn’t cooperate.
• Trunk-or-Treat Events: These are often held in large parking lots with decorated cars. Kids collect candy from car trunks, which is perfect for flat surfaces and a community-friendly vibe. Schools, churches, and community centers often host these events.

Sometimes, trick-or-treating just isn’t practical. Maybe your child isn’t feeling well, or the risks of illness outweigh the fun. Staying home doesn’t mean canceling Halloween! Here are some ways to do trick-or-treating while staying in.

• Indoor Trick-or-Treating: Set up candy stations around your house and let your child collect treats in a safe, familiar environment.
• Candy Distribution: Your child can enjoy the action by handing out candy at home. Create a comfortable spot by the door where they can greet trick-or-treaters, which helps them feel involved.
• Reverse Trick-or-Treating: Invite friends or family to come to your home and bring treats to your child. This allows them to stay cozy while still enjoying the spirit of Halloween.
• Candy Trade: If your child has dietary restrictions, create a system to trade candy for fun items like toys, stickers, or sensory-friendly fidgets.

Other Halloween Activities to Consider

If traditional trick-or-treating isn’t a fit, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate:

• Host a Party: Create a sensory-friendly Halloween party at home with a controlled environment and a small group of understanding friends or family.
• Virtual Halloween Party: For kids who can’t attend in-person events, host a virtual party. Share costumes, play games, or hold a virtual costume contest.
• Halloween-Themed Obstacle Course: Tailor a fun course using pumpkins, broomsticks, and other decorations. Adjust activities to fit your child’s mobility.
• Crafting and Baking: Make spooky decorations or Halloween-themed treats together for a low-pressure celebration.
• Sensory Play: Create a Halloween-themed sensory bin with plastic spiders, soft fabric ghosts, and squishy eyeballs for tactile fun.
• Glow-in-the-Dark Fun: Use glow sticks for a dance party, decorate pumpkins with glow-in-the-dark paint, or set up a scavenger hunt with glowing items.
• Spooky Science Experiments: Try baking soda and vinegar “pumpkin volcanoes” or make oozing slime for hands-on fun.
• Movie Night or Storytime: Watch family-friendly Halloween movies or read not-too-scary books
• You’ve Been Booed: Spread Halloween cheer by secretly delivering treats to neighbors or friends with a note encouraging them to “boo” others.

Making Halloween Magical

Halloween can be whatever you want it to be for your child. The key is to adapt the holiday to fit their unique needs and ensure they feel included. Whether it’s trick-or-treating, staying in, or trying alternative activities, what matters most is creating joyful moments that work for your family.

As a fellow rare mama, I know how much effort it takes to make these moments special. But seeing our kids light up with happiness makes it all worthwhile. No matter how you celebrate this year, I hope these ideas help make Halloween a magical experience for your family.