Share Halloween photos of your 1p36 child for the 1p36
DSA Fall Newsletter!
We can’t wait
to see what great costumes our 1p36 kids are parading around in this October!
Halloween is around the corner and planning for a child with
special needs to participate in all the fun can be challenging. 1p36 Deletion Syndrome parents are used to
getting creative about a lot of things including costumes and trick-or-treating. Here are some thoughts and ideas to help.
Costumes
A little creativity and forethought can help with costume
planning. For my 9 year old daughter
with 1p36 Deletion Syndrome, I have a lot to think about for a costume. It needs to be one that she will be
comfortable in and that will allow for diaper changes and g-tube access. She won’t stand for a hat staying on longer
than 30 seconds and she won’t keep her hands away from face make-up. So these are things we avoid. Because she is in a wheelchair, the costume
has to be one that she can stay in while seated and that doesn’t interfere with
the chair’s belts and straps.
Other costume considerations for a special needs child might
be
·
avoid accessories that could be a choking hazard,
·
consider visibility both for the child to see
out easily and for others to see him or her on a dark street,
·
try to make it easy to get on and off for
you and your child.
·
If you child has sensory issues, think of a
costume that uses the child’s clothing.
Check out these websites for
costume ideas:
http://bit.ly/rq5TBr
- Ideas for children with sensory issues. If you see an idea that interests you, click
on ‘view this resource’.
Trick-or-Treating
We have never gone trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. It’s too difficult to imagine getting my
daughter’s wheelchair up the steps of every house on the block. I would be exhausted by the end of the night. Don’t get me wrong, if my daughter wanted to
do it, I would ignore my aching back and muscle through! Luckily there are other options for Halloween
fun such as church functions,
trunk-or-treat
community events and merchants both downtown and at the local malls that
entertain trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.
Do an internet search or look through the local paper to find events in
your area.
Some children (including mine) can easily be over-stimulated
so plan ahead and bring things that can help your child feel comfortable.
Have fun and enjoy your Halloween. We look forward to seeing your pictures!
