Share Halloween photos of your 1p36 child for the 1p36 DSA Fall Newsletter!
Send your favorite Halloween photo to c.daggett@1p36dsa.org and include your child’s name & age.
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.
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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 your 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’.
- http://bit.ly/JuJ1 - Great wheelchair costume ideas and advice
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!