Use your child’s regular clothes. Find clothing that is comfortable and use it as a base, if your are making his costume, or under his store bought costume. This will prevent any itchy or irritating tags from directly touching his skin. Be wary of masks and face-paint. Most children with SPD dislike certain textures on their skin, especially the face. When deciding on a costume, take that into consideration and try to avoid costumes that rely heavily on a mask or face-paint. Practice beforehand. Try her costume on several times before Halloween to help her get use to it. If there are any accessories, make sure to try them on as well. The more she becomes familiar with exactly what she will be wearing, the less likely she will become overwhelmed on the actual day. Safety first. Store-bought costumes are not fitted to a specific size, they may offer small, medium, or large, but they tend to be loose fitting, long, and shapeless. It may be necessary to hem it up a bit to prevent a tripping hazard. If he is comfortable wearing a mask, make sure it fits snugly, to prevent any obstructions of his sight. Make sure it is weather appropriate. October is a month, in which the weather can change from year to year. It may be comfortable during the day and cool/cold once the sun sets. Since most trick-or-treating starts when it is still light out, and ends long after the sun has set, the weather/temperature may change drastically during the outing. Short sleeves may be comfortable at first, but as the temperature drops she may become cold. Bring a jacket or sweatshirt that coordinates with her costume, in case she gets cold. Gloves, hats, and stockings can also be comfy additions to her costume that can be easily taken off or added as the temperature changes. Sources: Patch.com | AutismUnited.org | SensoryParenting.blogspot.com Sensory Friendly Costume Shandy Marso, Contributor Carolina Pediatric Therapy © October 2014