Sensory-friendly Halloween costumes are a great way to help children with sensory processing issues participate in the fun of the spooky holiday. Many costume options are comfortable and easy to put together from a child’s regular clothing items, and there are many store-bought costumes that are sensory friendly as well.
Sensory-friendly costumes should be made of soft material and either tagless or with easily removable tags, depending on your child’s comfort level.
Here are a few ideas for sensory-friendly Halloween costumes!
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- Blippi
If your child is a fan of Blippi, it’s a fairly simple costume to put together! You can purchase a Blippi hoodie on Amazon. Pair it with gray pants or blue jeans, and it’s an instant, easy costume.
There’s also a shorts and shirt set for warmer climates, or for kids who don’t tolerate pants or long sleeves well.
Alternatively, if your child has a blue T-shirt or long-sleeved shirt he’s already comfortable in, you can use orange fabric paint to paint suspenders and a bow-tie on it.
- Pajama Costumes
Pajamas are a great option for a Halloween costume because of their lack of unnecessary materials and tags. There are myriad options available. Here are a few examples:
Woody and Buzz from Pixar’s Toy Story:
Unicorn:
Giraffe:
Avengers:
Skeleton:
If cost is an issue, you may be able to find similar outfits at thrift stores, or by asking in a social media “Buy Nothing” group.
- Think Outside the Box
Look at your child’s current clothing, especially the clothes they feel most comfortable in, and figure out how accessories, fabric paint, or even printables taped to their clothing can transform it into a temporary costume.
Black and white striped shirt? Tape a number to his chest, and bam! Prisoner costume.
Swimsuit and rash guard? Hang a whistle around their neck (especially a glow-in-the-dark one), or pin a whistle to their shirt (either real or a paper printable) and they are a lifeguard!
Or, if your child loves wearing their swimsuit and rash guard around the house, they can wear it for Halloween, too! For example, they could be a shark or mermaid, or simply a beachgoer.
Remember that sensory-friendly Halloween costumes don’t need to be elaborate. Even if your child simply wears a T-shirt with a favorite character on it, that “counts.” The important thing is that your kiddo gets included in the Halloween fun!
Do you have any ideas for sensory-friendly Halloween costumes? Share them in the comments!