We don’t want anyone left out of Halloween celebrations, so we are continually developing new innovative ways to make Halloween accessible for all. Read on to get some great ideas and find products that can help bring the experience to life.
Some simple swaps can make Halloween more accessible.
Swap Face Masks for Face Paint
Instead of using masks as a part of the fancy dress experience, use face paint.
For visually impaired children, masks can hinder their sight, and for children who rely on lip-reading, masks can obstruct a person’s mouth. Children with autism sometimes have sensory sensitivities, and masks could be too intensely stimulating.
The best alternative is face paint, as you can adapt the design to be more inclusive and suitable for various conditions and disabilities.
Trick or Treating
If you plan on venturing outside, make sure you have the relevant mobility aids for children, making the experience as comfortable as possible.
Youngsters who use a wheelchair and need help manoeuvring in and out of it can use non-slip floor mats. Floor mats can give the child the support and grip required to manoeuvre into their wheelchair. Whilst out and about, feet don’t always stay on the wheelchair footrest, but having grip roll that’s stuck to the footplate prevents feet from slipping off, avoiding injury and maintaining comfort.
A trial run of the trick or treat route you will take, completed a day before, can help reassure children.
Adults and children alike can have allergies. One of the most common is a nut allergy, so make sure you stock a variety of treats that all children can enjoy, which avoids children feeling left out and prevents them from consuming foods that cause an allergic reaction.
Sometimes drinks are given out as all the candy has run out, or the child requires a drink at the end of trick or treating. Either way, you may need a bottle opener. At Tenura, we have a grip-enhancing bottle opener that helps you open bottles with more comfort and grip.
Rather than going outside and trick or treating, you can hide the treats around the house as a treasure hunt. You can place them in areas you know are manageable for children at the party.
Prevent Spillages
Some children have trouble with their hand-eye coordination. But placing sweet bowls and drinks on anti-slip table mats and drinks coasters can prevent spillages. They are brightly coloured, so easy to see. Tenura mats are also easy to wipe down and protect furniture from stains.
It may be a good idea to take a drink out with you whilst you trick or treat, and a Tenura silicone CupCap drinks cover can make any drinks container spill-proof.
Pumpkin Carving
Carving pumpkins is a staple of Halloween, but it can be dangerous. By sliding Tenura children’s cutlery grips onto the carving knife, the child’s grip is maintained on the knife’s handle, making the knife less likely to slip out of their hand. Children’s cutlery grips make handles larger and easier to hold. Some children have difficulty grasping thin handles, so this is a perfect way to make pumpkin carving accessible.
To prevent the pumpkin from moving whilst you carve, you can place it on a Tenura anti-slip table mat.
If your child cannot participate in pumpkin carving, consider sticking items such as colourful pom-poms, fluffy pipe cleaners, and googly eyes to the pumpkin instead, which significantly reduces any risks involved.
Mark Your Home
Let others know that people in the home have conditions that require patience and understanding. You can do this by placing a sign visible to those coming up your driveway. Parents can read the sign and educate their children before approaching the door.
We hope these tips and tricks have given you some inspiration to make Halloween more accessible for various disabilities. If you have any other ideas you would like to share, let us know via our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram).