5 Fun & Practical Halloween Tips for Kids With Cerebral Palsy

As Halloween 2024 approaches, the team at Cerebral Palsy Guide is sharing five ways to help your child with cerebral palsy (CP) enjoy a safe and unforgettable celebration.

Children with CP or other disabilities may feel left out of Halloween activities. However, with some planning, you can help your child join the Halloween fun this year.

Whether they use a wheelchair or not, here are several ways to ensure your child has a happy and safe experience with friends, family, and their community.

1. Choose Sensory-Friendly Halloween Costumes

Costumes are a big part of Halloween, but children with CP may experience sensory issues, a common symptom of cerebral palsy, that make some materials or designs uncomfortable.

Finding soft, non-restrictive costumes can allow your child to enjoy the holiday without discomfort.

Here are some tips for sensory-friendly Halloween costumes:

• Avoid masks, face paint, or accessories that may feel uncomfortable or restrict movement.
• Choose costumes that allow free movement, especially for kids with spasticity or mobility limitations.
• Modify store-bought costumes to remove itchy tags, seams, or zippers.
• Opt for one-piece outfits or pajamas with a fun theme, like superheroes or animals.
• Use breathable fabrics like cotton or fleece that won’t irritate the skin.

Many retailers now offer cerebral palsy Halloween costumes. Some stores offer adaptive costumes with hidden openings for feeding tubes or Velcro closures for quick changes. Retailers like Target and Disney provide inclusive options.

However, going the DIY route can be a fun and rewarding way to celebrate Halloween for both you and your child.

DIY Costumes

Making costumes at home lets you customize the fit and feel. Consider creating a cape, crown, or themed T-shirt featuring your child’s favorite character or animal.

Here are several ideas to get you started:

• Animal onesies or pajamas: Comfortable and easy to wear, animal-themed onesies offer warmth and can double as costumes.
• Character hoodies: Sweatshirts with hoods featuring popular characters (like dinosaurs or superheroes) are soft, cozy, and easy to wear.
• Princess or knight cloaks: Opt for lightweight, tagless cloaks or tunics. Add felt crowns that won’t irritate the skin.
• Superhero capes and T-shirts: A soft, cotton cape with a matching T-shirt can let your child feel like a superhero. Avoid masks, and use Velcro straps for easy removal.

These practical ideas can help your child enjoy Halloween comfortably, ensuring their costume fits their needs while still being fun and festive.

2. Plan for Sensory-Friendly Halloween Events

Halloween can be overwhelming for children with cerebral palsy, especially when loud sounds, flashing lights, or crowded spaces create unexpected sensory challenges.

For some children, these experiences can trigger anxiety or discomfort, even when they are excited to celebrate.

Kids with autism, cerebral palsy, ADHD, and other health conditions may have difficulty enjoying Halloween due to sensory issues or physical limitations.

“As someone with cerebral palsy, there were certain houses I preferred to skip for Halloween candy because of loud sounds of witches or music, even if I knew the family. Sensory sensitivities are something many individuals face.”

— Amie Kroessig, Cerebral Palsy Guide Outreach Coordinator

Sensory-friendly events, like community celebrations with quieter atmospheres, offer a welcoming alternative.

You can search for Halloween activities for special needs students on mobile apps, social media, your child’s school newsletters, and other local event sources.

If you can’t find a nearby event, consider reaching out to local schools, libraries, or community centers to suggest one.

Many communities welcome ideas for Halloween for kids with disabilities and may even offer resources to help organize a trunk-or-treat.

3. Join Local Trunk-or-Treat Activities

Trunk-or-treat events are a fantastic way for families across the country to enjoy Halloween in a safer, more accessible setting.

Instead of going door-to-door, children visit creatively decorated cars, each offering a fun stop to collect treats.

This setup allows children with any type of cerebral palsy to participate fully without the challenges of navigating uneven sidewalks or long neighborhood routes.

These events typically take place at:

• Churches
• Community centers
• School parking lots

No matter where you live, you can find local trunk-or-treat events through community Facebook groups, school newsletters, or neighborhood apps like Nextdoor.

Some areas even host sensory-friendly trunk-or-treat events, with quieter environments and soft lighting to accommodate children with sensory issues.

Trunk-or-treat events ensure your child can celebrate Halloween comfortably and joyfully without the usual obstacles that come with traditional trick-or-treating.

4. Get Creative With Wheelchair Halloween Costume Ideas

Designing costumes that incorporate wheelchairs makes Halloween for kids with mobility needs more accessible and enjoyable. You can turn your child’s mobility device into an exciting feature rather than a limitation.

Wheelchair-friendly costumes can foster confidence, joy, and a sense of belonging. With a little imagination and planning, you can transform a wheelchair into anything your child dreams of.

Here are some fun and practical wheelchair costume ideas:

• Astronaut and spaceship: Use silver fabric and foam to design a simple spaceship around the wheelchair and pair it with a space helmet.
• Ice cream truck: Attach colorful panels to resemble an ice cream truck, and add toy ice cream cones as props.
• Pirate ship: Craft a ship using cardboard and accessorize it with a pirate hat and a toy parrot on the armrest.
• Race car: Create car panels with foam, adding wheel decals and a race number for a personalized touch.
• Royal throne: Drape faux velvet fabric over the chair and decorate it with jewels made out of paper. A crown and scepter complete the look.

Involve your child in brainstorming ideas to keep them excited about their costume.

For safety and comfort, secure all costume pieces with Velcro or zip ties to prevent shifting during movement and make sure essential parts like brakes and wheels remain clear for mobility.

If the celebration takes place outdoors, consider using water-resistant materials in case of weather changes.

Lightweight materials like foam or felt are ideal, keeping the costume easy to maneuver throughout the festivities.

5. Prepare Your Child for Halloween Plans

For a child who may feel uncomfortable or uncertain in social situations, like kids with CP or autism, it’s important to prepare them ahead of time for how the event will go.

Here are some steps to take leading up to Halloween:

• Listen to your child’s concerns. While encouraging your child to participate in Halloween, it's just as important to listen and support them if they have concerns.
• Talk with your child before Halloween. Help them get excited about their costume and the festivities, and explain the plan for the day or evening.
• Try on their costume to ensure it fits. Also, make sure it’s comfortable when moving around, either in a wheelchair or with other mobility aids.

Remember to keep an eye out for overwhelming environments.

For example, strobe lights, which are used at many Halloween haunted house displays and for decoration, could be triggering if your child has coexisting CP and epilepsy.

Looking for CP Halloween events or quieter alternatives can also be helpful.

Ongoing Support for Families of Kids With CP

Finding ways to keep holidays like Halloween accessible can be stressful — both emotionally and financially — especially when balancing treatment appointments and daily care needs.

Cerebral Palsy Guide is committed to helping families support children with cerebral palsy. Our team of advocates has helped thousands of families nationwide access financial support, treatment resources, and more.

From all of us at Cerebral Palsy Guide, we wish you and your family a happy, safe, and joyful Halloween!

Written by:Cerebral Palsy Guide

Cerebral Palsy Guide was founded upon the goal of educating families about cerebral palsy, raising awareness, and providing support for children, parents, and caregivers affected by the condition. Our easy-to-use website offers simple, straightforward information that provides families with medical and legal solutions. We are devoted to helping parents and children access the tools they need to live a life full of happiness