Halloween is right around the corner and the excitement level is rising!  Trick-or-Treating is a rite of passage for most children as they grow up.  But, if your child has a communication disorder, it might be a cause of anxiety for him or her.  Here are 5 tips to help make Halloween and Trick-or-Treating less stressful for your child with a communication disorder!

1.  If your child needs help understanding what trick-or-treating is all about, create a social story or read books about Halloween as the night approaches.  This will allow your child to become familiar with the trick-or-treating routine and with Halloween-related vocabulary and phrases!
2. If your child has a speech sound disorder and has trouble saying “trick-or-treat” clearly, practice this phrase ahead of time to see if he/she can get a close approximation.  If not, come up with your own unique phrase to use instead of “trick-or-treat!”
3. If your child has complex communication needs and uses alternative methods of communication, add some Halloween related phrases to his/her communication system!  “trick-or-treat!” “Happy Halloween!” “boo!” or even a cute Halloween joke! “How do you make a Witch itch?”  “You take away the w!”                                                  
4. Help your child really prepare for trick-or-treating by practicing!  Let your child practice knocking on the door and saying trick-or-treat and thank you!
5. If Trick-or Treating is too much for your child, consider staying home with him/her and handing out candy instead.  This still allows your child to be a part of the Halloween fun without being overwhelmed by everything that comes with trick-or-treating.

We hope these tips help your child prepare for and enjoy Halloween!