Double Double Toil & NO Trouble:
A Guide to a Safer Halloween

By Chresta Brinkman, Colorado H&V

H&V Communicator – Fall 2018

Now that we are hitting our groove with end of summer and back-to-school routines under our belts it is time to think about the month of October. If your family celebrates Halloween we have some tips for you. Costumes, masks, darkness and more might make navigating this holiday seem scarier than you think so here are some tips to help your child have a safe and SPOOKTACULAR Halloween.

Make a card, sign or button:

Looking for a POTION to help your kiddo who is nonverbal, shy or just learning to trick-or-treat? You can make a sign for your child to hold up, a card to hand out or a button to draw attention to. If being crafty is in your wheelhouse, you can print something on ironing paper and iron it on to their trick-or-treat bag or modpodge on harder surfaces.

Select a costume that doesn’t have a mask:

Wearing a mask can make it more difficult for a child to be able to hear and may impede their line of sight. Face paint and drawing in key details (think of Harry Potter’s lighting trademark) will often suffice. If this is a non-negotiable for the costume, then look for a face mask that only covers the face and doesn’t occlude hearing by covering the ears. For parents of children committed to specific costumes with masks that don’t meet these specifications then scissors may become your MAGIC WAND to adapt masks as needed.

Try before you buy: 

It will be helpful to have your child try on their costume before you purchase so that you are able to see how accessible it will be. It is also helpful to do a dry run a week ahead of time by having your child try everything on at home so that you are able to see any adjustments that need to be made prior to festivities and you can hear your child, or yourself “Yahoo!!!” instead of “Boo-hoo”.

Make your child shine:

Purchase glow jewelry, wands, sticks or use flashlights to help light the way. If your child is reluctant, unable or unwilling to carry these items (or you don’t want to have to eventually carry it for them) place reflective tape on to their costume. ZAP! This will make them more visible at night and might add some fun flair. This is another magic wand option when steering clear of full coverage masks).

You have the power: 

Don’t let your children’s hearing aids TRICK you. Make sure to check aid batteries before festivities. Pack backups if needed and always check again before you leave the house.

The big event:

Avoid stage FRIGHT. Role-play trick-or-treating in advance. This is a great activity for the whole family. When doing your dress rehearsal, make it more fun by having family members go behind different doors in the house to role play what trick-or-treating door to door. Enlist a neighbor and take the rehearsal on the road.  Make a plan in case your child cannot see you or somehow gets lost and review road safety regarding cars. (Where I live, we add moose and bears to that list.)

Safety in numbers:

If your ghosts and goblins are old enough to trick or treat on their own ensure that are with a group of trusted friends. Not only will it be safer and less SPOOKY; their friends can also help with access and safety.  Be sure to go over stranger safety rules as well as neighborhood maps and safe routes. This is a group that you will want to bewitch with a plan for where to meet as they leave each house or if they get separated.

Wishing you a safe and BOOTIFUL Halloween!  ~

Editor’s Note: Brinkman serves as the Statewide Unilateral Hearing Loss Parent Guide and lives with her family in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.