Halloween is tomorrow, and if you’re a parent of a neurodivergent child reading this tonight, you might be feeling a mix of emotions. Excitement for your child. Anxiety about how tomorrow will go. Maybe even guilt about not being “prepared enough.”
Take a deep breath. You’re here, you’re planning, and that means you’re doing exactly what your child needs.
At Committed to Kids ABA, we understand that Halloween can be particularly challenging for neurodivergent kids and their families. The costumes, crowds, sensory stimulation, routine changes, and social expectations can feel overwhelming. But here’s the good news: you still have tonight to prepare, and a little preparation can make a huge difference.
Our child-led approach means we support families in creating Halloween experiences that work for THEIR child, not forcing kids to conform to traditional expectations. And tonight—Halloween’s Eve—is the perfect time to finalize your plan.
If you’re feeling unprepared or anxious about tomorrow, this guide is for you. Here’s exactly what to focus on tonight to set your family up for a successful Halloween tomorrow.
1. Make Your Final Costume Decision TONIGHT
You’ve probably been dealing with the costume situation for weeks, but tonight is decision time. No more “we’ll see how it goes.” You need to know what tomorrow’s plan is so everyone can sleep well tonight.
What to Do Right Now:
- Final try-on: Have your child put on the full costume one last time. Watch their body language. Are they pulling at it? Asking to take it off? That’s your answer.
- The modification option: If they’re uncomfortable, you still have time to modify. Cut out tags, switch to looser pants, let them wear their regular shirt underneath. Set this up TONIGHT so there’s no stress tomorrow.
- The accessory pivot: If the full costume isn’t happening, pick ONE fun accessory tonight—a headband, cape, witch hat, or face paint. Lay it out for tomorrow.
- The “no costume” decision: If your child simply isn’t comfortable, make the decision tonight to skip it. Pick out their favorite orange or black shirt and be done. This decision will lift a huge weight.
Key Point: Whatever you decide tonight, communicate it clearly to your child before bed. No surprises tomorrow. “Tomorrow, you’re wearing your regular clothes with this fun spider ring” is a complete plan.
2. Do One Final Visual Schedule Review
If you’ve already created a visual schedule, excellent! Tonight, review it together one last time. If you haven’t made one yet, it’s not too late—even a simple one will help.
Tonight’s Action Steps:
- Review together before bed: Sit with your child and walk through tomorrow’s schedule step by step
- Quick creation: If you need to make one tonight, keep it simple: 5-7 pictures showing the sequence (dinner, get ready, go outside, visit houses, come home, sort candy, bedtime)
- Add specifics: Include actual times if your child responds well to that (“We’ll leave at 6:00 and come back at 6:30”)
- Build in flexibility: If your child can understand it, add a “we can change the plan” reminder
What to Include:
- When you’ll leave the house tomorrow
- How long you’ll be out (give a range: “20-30 minutes”)
- Approximately how many houses you’ll visit
- When you’ll return home
- What happens after (candy sorting, bath time, etc.)
Pro Tip: Take a photo of your visual schedule tonight so you can reference it on your phone tomorrow if needed.
3. Quick Social Script Practice (Optional)
If you’ve been practicing trick-or-treating scripts, do one quick, low-pressure run-through tonight. If you haven’t practiced at all, don’t stress—you can still prepare.
Tonight’s Quick Prep:
- One practice round: Have family members answer the door while your child practices knocking, waiting, and saying “trick or treat” (or just holding out their bag)
- Prepare alternatives: If your child is non-verbal or uncomfortable speaking, prepare a card tonight that says “Happy Halloween!” they can hold up
- Set realistic expectations: Tell your child tonight that they don’t have to talk if they don’t want to. You can do the talking tomorrow.
- Skip if it causes stress: If practicing tonight creates anxiety, skip it. Tomorrow will be fine without it.
Key Message for Tonight: Remind your child that there’s no “wrong way” to trick-or-treat tomorrow. Whatever they feel comfortable doing is perfect.
4. Pack Your Comfort Kit TONIGHT
This is one of the most important things you can do tonight. Having a comfort kit ready by the door tomorrow will make everything easier.
What to Pack Tonight:
- Sensory supports: Noise-canceling headphones, a favorite fidget toy, a weighted lap pad if you use one
- Comfort items: Their special stuffed animal, blanket, or comfort object
- Preferred snacks: Pack foods you KNOW they’ll eat (this is not the time for new foods)
- Drink: A familiar drink in their preferred cup
- Communication supports: If they use a communication device or picture cards, have them ready
- Backup outfit: If wearing a costume, pack regular clothes in case they want to change
Pro Tip: Use a small backpack or bag that your child is familiar with. Put it by the front door tonight so you can grab it quickly tomorrow.
Create Your Break Signal Tonight: Decide on a simple signal your child can use to tell you they need a break tomorrow—a hand squeeze, a specific word, or showing you a card. Practice it once tonight before bed.
5. Finalize Your Plan: Traditional or Alternative?
Tonight, make the final call on what tomorrow will look like. No more “maybe we’ll…” You need a clear plan.
If You’re Doing Traditional Trick-or-Treating:
- Decide on a specific number of houses tonight (start with 5-10 max)
- Choose which streets or neighbors you’ll visit
- Set a specific time frame (20-30 minutes is plenty)
- Identify your “safe house” where you can take a break
- Plan what time you’ll return home
If You’re Choosing an Alternative:
- Trunk-or-treat: Check if there are any happening tomorrow evening
- Home celebration: Plan a Halloween movie night with special treats
- Small gathering: Confirm with the 2-3 families you’re inviting over
- Scavenger hunt: Tonight, hide candy around your house or yard so it’s ready tomorrow
- Reverse trick-or-treating: Prepare treat bags tonight to deliver to neighbors tomorrow during daylight
Make the Decision Tonight: Whatever you choose, commit to it before bed. This will help both you and your child feel more settled.
It’s Okay to Pivot: If you originally planned traditional trick-or-treating but your gut is telling you it’s too much, it’s not too late to switch to a home celebration. Trust your instincts.
6. Handle the Food Situation TONIGHT
Don’t wait until tomorrow to figure out the food plan. Many neurodivergent children have limited diets, and the last thing you need tomorrow is food-related stress.
Action Items for Tonight:
- Pack preferred snacks: Put their safe foods in the comfort kit or have them ready in the fridge
- Plan for candy trading: If you’re using the “Switch Witch” or toy-trade method, have the replacement toy ready tonight
- Pre-plan dinner: Know exactly what you’re serving tomorrow before trick-or-treating (spoiler: their favorite safe food is the right answer)
- Set realistic candy expectations: Decide tonight whether candy will be the focus or not
The Candy Plan: Decide tonight what you’ll do with candy tomorrow:
- Option 1: Let them keep a few pieces and trade the rest for a toy (have the toy ready)
- Option 2: Focus on the experience, not the candy (bring it home and quietly handle it later)
- Option 3: Sort immediately and remove allergens/unsafe items
- Option 4: Let them choose—put them in control of the candy decision
Whatever you choose, explain the plan to your child before bed tonight so there are no surprises tomorrow.
7. Have Important Conversations TONIGHT
There are a few key conversations to have before bed tonight that will make tomorrow smoother.
Talk About What to Expect:
- Decorations: Show pictures or videos of Halloween decorations, lights, and sounds your child might see tomorrow
- People in costumes: Remind them that neighbors might be wearing costumes too, and that’s okay
- Scary stuff isn’t real: Explain that Halloween decorations are pretend and can’t hurt them
- It’s okay to be nervous: Validate their feelings if they’re expressing worry
For Your Child:
- Review tomorrow’s plan one final time
- Remind them about your break signal
- Let them know they’re in control and can stop anytime
- Reinforce that whatever they’re comfortable doing is the right amount
For Your Neighbors (Optional): If you have close neighbors, consider texting them tonight:
- “Hi! Just a heads up we’ll be trick-or-treating tomorrow. [Child’s name] may not say much at the door, but they’re excited!”
- Share if your child uses alternative communication
- Mention if you’re doing the Teal Pumpkin Project and looking for allergy-friendly options
For Your Family/Support Person: If someone is joining you tomorrow, brief them tonight on:
- Your plan and expectations
- The break signal
- Your “we’re done” exit strategy
- How to best support without overwhelming
8. Clarify Your Exit Strategy RIGHT NOW
This is critical: you need to give yourself permission TONIGHT to leave early tomorrow, and you need to have a plan for how you’ll do it.
Decide Tonight:
- At what point will you call it? (First sign of distress? After a certain number of houses? When your child uses the break signal?)
- What will you say to your child? (“We did such a great job! Let’s head home now.”)
- What will you say to yourself? (Not “we failed” but “we honored my child’s needs”)
- What will you do when you get home early? (Movie? Candy sorting? Quiet time?)
Give Yourself Permission Now: Write yourself a note tonight (seriously, do this): “If we need to leave after 5 minutes tomorrow, that’s not just okay—that’s me being a responsive parent who listens to my child.”
Plan for Specific Scenarios:
- If they refuse to leave the house: That’s your answer. Home celebration it is.
- If they have a meltdown at the first house: You calmly return home, comfort them, and do something cozy
- If they want to quit after 3 houses: You celebrate those 3 houses like they climbed Everest
Remember: Leaving early isn’t failure. It’s responsive parenting. Decide tonight that you won’t let anyone—including your own inner critic—make you feel bad about it tomorrow.
9. Define SUCCESS for Your Family TONIGHT
This is perhaps the most important thing you can do tonight: redefine what success means for YOUR family tomorrow.
Before You Go to Bed Tonight, Complete This Sentence: “Tomorrow will be successful if _______________________.”
NOT These Measures:
- ❌ We visit 20+ houses
- ❌ We get a full bag of candy
- ❌ We stay out for 2 hours
- ❌ My child wears their costume the whole time
- ❌ My child says “trick or treat” at every house
- ❌ We do what everyone else is doing
SUCCESS IS Actually:
- ✅ My child feels safe and supported
- ✅ We have at least one moment of joy together
- ✅ I respond to my child’s needs with patience
- ✅ My child gets to participate in whatever way feels comfortable
- ✅ We stay connected as a family
- ✅ My child goes to bed feeling good about the experience
Write It Down Tonight: Literally write your definition of success and put it where you’ll see it tomorrow (on your bathroom mirror, in your phone, on a sticky note by the door).
When you’re out tomorrow and starting to compare your experience to other families, look at what you wrote. That’s your North Star.
10. Prepare YOURSELF Emotionally Tonight
Your child will take cues from your energy tomorrow. So tonight, before bed, do some emotional prep work for yourself.
Tonight’s Self-Care:
- Release comparison: Right now, decide that your Halloween doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s
- Practice your calm: Think about your own regulation strategies for tomorrow (deep breaths, mantras, texting a supportive friend)
- Identify your support person: Who can you text tomorrow if you need encouragement? Message them tonight: “Heads up, I might need some cheerleading tomorrow night”
- Plan YOUR reward: What will you do for yourself tomorrow night after your child is in bed? Wine? Favorite show? Bubble bath? Plan it now.
Mantras for Tonight (Choose One or Write Your Own):
- “I am the expert on my child.”
- “We’re doing this our way, and our way is perfect.”
- “My child’s comfort matters more than anyone’s expectations.”
- “Even 10 minutes of trick-or-treating is a victory.”
- “However tomorrow goes, we’ll be okay.”
Get Good Sleep: Set yourself up for sleep tonight. Tomorrow will be much easier if you’re rested. Do your calming bedtime routine. Tomorrow, you’ve got this.
Remember: At Committed to Kids ABA, our child-led philosophy means we follow the child’s interests and comfort level. Halloween is no different. Your child doesn’t need the “perfect” Halloween—they need YOU, calm and present, honoring their experience.
Tonight’s Final Thoughts
If you’ve made it through this article, you’re already doing the most important thing: being intentional about your child’s experience. That’s what matters.
Here’s your ultra-condensed checklist for tonight: ✅ Make final costume decision ✅ Review visual schedule together ✅ Pack comfort kit and put it by the door ✅ Decide on traditional vs. alternative celebration ✅ Handle food/candy planning ✅ Have conversations about tomorrow ✅ Clarify your exit strategy ✅ Define YOUR family’s success ✅ Prep yourself emotionally ✅ Get good sleep
You Don’t Have to Do Everything: If this list feels overwhelming, pick the top 3 that resonate most. Even doing just one thing tonight will help tomorrow.
Remember These Key Truths:
- It’s not too late: Whatever you do tonight will make a difference
- You know best: You’re the expert on your child, trust your instincts
- There’s no wrong choice: Home celebration or trick-or-treating, both are perfect
- Tomorrow is ONE night: However it goes, it’s just one night, and you’ll get through it together
For Tomorrow:
- Prepare, but stay flexible
- Follow your child’s lead
- Redefine success on your terms
- Celebrate your way
- Leave early if needed (without guilt!)
At Committed to Kids ABA, we’re here to support your family not just through therapy sessions, but through all of life’s moments—including holidays. Our child-led approach respects your child’s individuality and empowers families to create experiences that honor their child’s needs.
You’ve done the prep work tonight. Tomorrow, trust the plan, trust your child, and trust yourself.
You’ve got this. Happy Halloween! 🎃
Need ongoing support navigating holidays and daily challenges? Contact Committed to Kids ABA today. We’re committed to helping your child thrive—on their terms.