Expert tips to make Halloween less scary, especially for neuro-divergent children

It’s often scary for little ones to dress up in ghoulish clothes and go trick-or-treating in their local area. This can especially be the case if the child is neurodivergent

Neuro-divergent children, including those who are autistic, can find Halloween overwhelming.

Halloween is a spooky time of year, and for a young child, it can seem like reality shifts a bit. Walking down the street, a ghost or ghoul can step out of the shadows of a familiar gate. People you know, all costumed and masked, don’t look like themselves. And suddenly, it is OK to go to a stranger’s house, knock on their door, and accept sweets.

Lots of children love all the ghostly doings, the fun activities — and, of course, the treats. But it is worth remembering that for many more, it can be an unsettling and scary time. So many factors can be scary, says Dr Sinéad Smyth, associate professor at DCU’s School of Psychology.