Free online video available to parents who are planning Halloween activities for autistic children

By Staff Writer

An organization that provides curriculum for autistic children has released a free online video for parents just in time for Halloween.

Rethink Autism has provided a video for parents who are concerned about their autistic child being left out of fun holiday activities. The tips cover a broad range of skills, including language, social, motor and behavior management. Parents who want to bring their child trick-or-treating or to a Halloween party may utilize these suggestions in order to prepare their kids for social interactions with neighbors and other children.

The Ohio-based news affiliate NBC4i.com recently publicized holiday tips for parents who have a child with a sensory disorder, such as autism. An occupational therapy coordinator told the news source that costumes with masks are not a good idea because kids may feel smothered.

She recommended that the child wear his or her costume of choice several times around the house before October 31 to help them feel comfortable in unfamiliar attire. In addition, she said that trick-or-treating with an autistic child should be done in a small group of close friends or relatives.

An average of one in 110 children in the U.S. are autistic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.