I have searched autism sites ,blogs and posted on my blog to obtain Halloween experiences of children on the autism spectrum.

Many kids have sensory issues and cannot tolerate various materials touching or coming into contact with their skin; other kids cannot wear a mask or have a costume zipped all the way up where you need to step into it. There are children that follow either the Feingold diet or the gluten, casein-free diet, also known as gfcf.

A recent guest author here has shared her family experiences in two blog posts, Halloween doesn’t have to be Frightening, and GFCF Kids Can Enjoy Halloween Too

I searched through past September/October and fall issues of autism magazines to find articles that help families adapt for Halloween. There was nothing I could find as this seems a topic not worthy for an article. I also visited the autism organization websites and did a search for Halloween. They also lacked data on this subject.

Costumes

Halloween clothing at Café Press

Sewing Mom Blog

Halloween Sewing Costume Tips - you can make a costume in a weekend

Treats

Gluten-free, Dairy-Free Brownie Mix my review of Bob’s Red Mill Mix

Halloween treats for children with autism! -Livitician Blog, article includes shopping list and recipes.

GFCFdiet - listing of candy and non dairy ice cream that are gfcf

Allergen-free Halloween treats - from the Allergies and Cold site at BellaOnline

Allergen-Free Halloween Treats from LIME.com - dairy-free, soy-free, egg-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, wheat-free, gluten-free (and of course shellfish-free and fish-free!), but they are also made without high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors or colors.

Food Allergy Fright Night from LIME.com - good ideas for trick or treating that include carrying the Epi-Pen and party ideas for school – make sure kids decline homemade items.

You Tube Videos - All from Kimmy Krocker

GFCF Halloween cookies nice visual showing the items, ingredients and tablecloth

GFCF Peanut Butter Cookies

GFCF Veggie Mashes Potatoes

Pics

autisticdad blog nice pics from 2007 Halloween

Halloween Hair Bows and Pendants - Etsy shop, nice pics and products

Parties

Calling all Ghouls and Ghosts recipes today article with good ideas. This does not pertain specifically to those on the autism spectrum.

Throw a Halloween Party for Kids - DIY Life

Recipes

kiddiekostumes - these recipes are funny looking. There is a kitty litter cake, eyeball cupcake, spider cake, mummy cupcakes, a goofy spooky cake, Harry Potter dragon snot, bug juice and bloody milkshake. This site is not specific to autism, but fun to check out and see if anything can be made for the family.

Crafts

Halloween Makeup and Asthma - from the asthma site at BellaOnline

Printable masks- cut them out and wear, like the black cat mask, clown mask or the peacock feathers.

Halloween for Kids - Creative Halloween Costumes, Cooking and Crafts

Halloween Monster Gloves Art projects for kids

E-cards

101 Halloween - they have Spanish cards, trick or treat, happy Halloween, haunted house and dungeons of blood

Care2 - pumpkins, cats, skeletons, witches, Halloween jokes and scary cards

Blue Mountain - pirate puppy, monster message, happy Halloween birthday, moonlight and magic and made from scratch

American Greetings - scarecrows, monsters, cats, magic and spiders

Decorations

Artsy Mama Blog

Ideas for decorating

How to set up a Halloween Yard Hunt

Haloween drawings by kids on the spectrum

Halloween Coloring Pages

Ivy Joy - please note this site has music running

Halloween Pumpkin costume coloring page

Halloween themed coloring pages - includes ghosts, bats, cats, vampires, witches and spiders.

Hershey’s - they also have a haunted online interactive page and pumpkin stencil page to print out.

FamilyFun.com – Halloween channel - Includes finger food, apple punch, jell-o and monster cupcakes.

Feingold Shop - shirts, hoodies and bags

Halloween cards from Feingold - template of cards to print, to use as candy holders when giving out natural treats to kids that come to your door on Halloween. Print on heavy paper or any regular paper, and either cut out each block and tape a piece of natural candy or lollipop to the back, or cut out on thick lines and fold to make packets for holding a few pieces of candy. Staple or tape the edges.

Halloween fright site

How to avoid Halloween hangover - Feingold article for survival

Halloween Newsletter from Allergy Grocer - great tips here for the night before, alternatives to trick or treating, recipes (dirt punch and witches brew)

Trick or Treat for Unicef - how to get your box, online info, parents and teachers pages and how to host a party

Social Stories

Trick or Treat social story - Flemington-Raritan School District (My son was born in Flemington, NJ)

Social Stories for other Holidays - Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and Valentine’s Day

Costume Social Story

Autism social story - five page pdf from slatersoftware.com

Autism games - check out their blog as well.

Picture Cards

Tick or Treat - Giving Greetings

Happiest Halloween - Giving Greetings

shirt on ebay - Halloween is scary, autism is not

Halloween Bingo Words - made with writing symbols, Pdf

Miscellaneous

Pumpkin Lady - patterns for sale

Green Halloween - Getting Started

Halloween with autism, part terror, part treat 2007 article from Dallas News

Halloween symbols and history

Halloween Forum Party ideas, crafts, music, coupons and merchants

Pumpking Carving 101 - Online pumpkin carving patterns

Bug Squishing Game - free online game

Safety

Halloween Safety Tips - Los Angeles Fire Dept.

Halloween Safety Guide

Halloween Safety Alert - Consumer Product Safety Commission




Educational Autism Tips for Families 71 page resourceful ebook for families entering the school system with a recent autism diagnosis. Find out what issues take place over the course of a school day and meet these challenges head on.