Choosing a Halloween Costume for the Sensory Child

The wrong Halloween costume can create a scary Halloween for the sensory child.

For the sensory child, everyday encounters involving touch can become a monumental issue. An over or under-sensitivity to touch and texture can make eating, showering and getting dressed a real challenge.

This challenge can make the annual choosing of a Halloween costume a frightening event. The sensory child may find the myriad textures of superhero and monster costumes just too intolerable and uncomfortable due to tactile sensitivities. One child may prefer a loose-fitting costume – another, something that fits snugger. Sometimes seams or tags are the culprits. Evaluate what your child is comfortable with for his everyday attire then seek costumes that fit those criteria.

Something else to consider is the time and place where your child tries on his costume. Children with tactile sensitivities are often in a state of hypersensitive alertness and high arousal. Try on Halloween costumes when the child is calm and without agenda.

Perhaps wearing familiar, comfortable clothing under their costume might be the easiest fix when the “perfect” costume isn’t perfectly comfortable. Washing the costume before wearing and a trial run may also be beneficial to ensuring a successful and happy “trick-or-treating” experience.

And in case all those precautions fail at the last minute and your child’s first choice costume just isn’t working out, prepare to have a “backup” costume made from your child’s tried and true favorite clothing. Being prepared helps keep the situation light and everyone smiling.

Happy Halloween!