This Halloween please be accepting, patient and kind to all trick or treaters. Sometimes there is more to the story than what you can see. The “greedy child”  grabbing more than one piece of candy could be dealing with poor fine motor skills. The seemingly “ungrateful child” that doesn’t say “trick or treat” or “thank you” might be nonverbal. The kid who looks “too old to trick or treat” might be developmentally delayed.

A child might come to your doorstep not dressed up. Please consider that this child might have sensory processing disorder or autism. The way a costume fits and feels can be a trigger for these kids. Also, pumpkin guts, spider webs, and fog machines can be triggers for those with tactile sensitivities.

Have you had a child who looks disappointed when they see your candy bowl? They might be dealing with a food allergy. Did you know that placing a teal pumpkin outside your door is a sign you offer non-food treats for the 1 in 3 kids who deal with food allergies? Check out the teal pumpkin project: