Halloween, dogs and neurodivergent kids

This Halloween, please be mindful of how dogs and some neurodivergent kids might see this special day.

Halloween is meant to be a bit of a scary evening, with creepy decorations, frightening costumes and games to play.

Humans like this kind of controlled fear... it gives us an adrenaline rush, just as if something truly scared was happening, but with that sense of safety that it is, in fact, all part of the fun.

So, it's actually a safe way to face danger.

Kids, and adults, will face the Halloween events in company, and sharing scary experiences with others, strengthens social bonds, especially when you can then laugh it off, as you feel connected and even proud to have 'survived' such scary thing.

Also, and this is rather powerful, going through something scary sends messages to your brain that give you a bit of confidence boost! Facing fear and come out ok feels very empowering!!

And another big thing about Halloween is that fascination for the dark side... I am a big fan of Buffy, Supernatural, Charmed, the Vampire Diaries, etc. I am very curious about what else might be out there, but I also like to feel safe while feeding my curiosity.

You see, in all the things I listed above we might differ rather a lot from dogs.

Some, especially when puppies (teenagers) might seek out adrenaline, like when chasing a ball, or a prey (ask Winnie every time she tries to get those pesky squirrels away from our garden).

However, we need to remember that some of that behaviour is part of their breed and dna; but that ultimately, dogs will try to keep themselves safe; they will try to safe energy, and survive!

Many Neurodivergent kids might struggle to understand Halloween! Why dressing up and pretend to be someone you are not?And why wearing uncomfortable masks, make up, or other things that might cause sensory processing issues?Why knocking at strangers houses and eat sweets given by those strangers, when every day they are told to do the exact opposite?

And what about the lights around? The unusual number of people on their normally quiet road? Or strangers keep knocking at their door, disrupting their routine and winding down time?

So, this Halloween, why not being mindful of others, including dogs?

Your dogs don't need a Halloween outfit; they don't need to come trick or treating with you and the kids; and they don't need to see you wearing a scary mask.

Your neurodivergent kids are entitled to make their own decisions: they don't have to dress up if they don't want to; they don't have to go trick or treating if they don't like that idea; and they don't have to eat any of the sweets collected from other people's homes, if they prefer not to.

Give them a choice and respect that choice.

Leaving a cauldron of sweets outside your house with a sign saying something like 

'Candy? Yes.
Doorbell? No.
We’re ghosts after 8 p.m. 👻'

Or

'👻 Take a treat, don’t make us repeat!
The candy’s yours, just don’t knock on the doors! '

Or get the kids to coms up with something to write.

That way, you can avoid people knocking at your door if you are out trick-or-treating and the dogs are home alone; or if you don't want to be disturbed, but want others to enjoy this creepy night with some sweets. 

If you are in, the kids really want to give sweets out, but the dogs might get too stressed out or agitated, be sure to have something to keep the dogs amused in another room or space of the house during the busier trick-or-treat time (somewhere between 5 and 6pm, before kids have dinner, bed time, etc.)

So, this Halloween, let’s make sure everyone, kids and dogs included, can enjoy the evening in their own way, without pressure or fear. A little understanding goes a long way, and it can make this spooky night feel much more fun and safe for all.

If you’d like a bit of extra support to help your child and dog build confidence and trust around each other, get in touch with one of our Kids Around Dogs® professionals, we’re always happy to help.

And don’t forget to join our friendly community for more tips, stories and smiles!

📺 Subscribe on YouTube

📸 Follow us on Instagram

👍 Find us on Facebook

Enjoy the spookiness ❤️