Blog #381: Why Are Trunk or Treats a Popular Alternative for Neurodivergent Families?
- Jeffrey Snyder
- Oct 24, 2023
- 3 min read
With Halloween just a week away, I wanted this week’s blogs to be Halloween related and for the first Halloween themed blog of the week, I want to cover a rising and popular alternative to traditional trick or treating.
What I am talking about is trunk or treating which replaces houses with vehicles such as cars, trucks, vans, etc. and neighborhoods with controlled environments such as parks, schools, etc. In recent years, trunk or treating has been a popular alternative to traditional trick or treating because it’s not only a safer way to celebrate Halloween, but also a controlled environment for neurodiverse children and individuals that adore trick or treating.
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Now, this isn’t to say that people don’t abandon trick or treating altogether. As a matter of fact, I remember families would often come by car instead of walking the streets at night. There were even a few years, where they would be wagons of families that would come to my front door. So, there is a sense of safety and security in that regard. But when it comes to trunk or treating, there are a lot of advantages that I think neurodivergent or even neurotypical families can use.
For one thing, trunk or treating gives families a chance to get candy by being in a safe space or environment. Most trunk or treats that take place in schools or parks usually take place in the parking lot and not in an unsafe area. Neurodivergent children and individuals who cannot stand being in a traditional trick or treat environment will often try to elope or wander off to get out of being in the tradition. This is a parent or guardian’s worst nightmare and the last thing anyone wants is to have a Halloween related tragedy and believe me, there’s quite a few that have happened.
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Next, trunk or treats can also give neurodivergent families the flexibility to do the trick or treating before it gets too dark or too late at night. What a lot of families do fail to realize that waiting until well after dark to go trick or treating does have its disadvantages for their is the risk of children being cranky and overtired, having routines disrupted and fears of the unknown dangers that are out there.
You gotta also remember that you don’t have to be out late at night to take part in trick or treating. Getting candy on Halloween during sunset or dusk is much better than getting candy while it’s pitch black.
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Finally, there may also be neurodivergent children and adults (myself included) that are not a big fan of Halloween or Trick or Treating to begin with. A lot fo families will often use trick or treating as a way to get neurodivergent children and adults to be involved, but often they don’t respect the boundaries that the child or adult puts in for themselves.
Some neurodivergent children and adults will often not want to wear a costume because of sensory issues or the fact that they don’t want to be part of something that they don’t want to do. For some, it ruins the fun and the illusion for them, but not everyone is going to embrace the holiday the same way as you do. So, don’t be a sourpuss if your sibling, friend or loved one doesn’t wear a costume. Trunk or Treating also allows those that don’t want to wear a costume to be themselves without any pressure whatsoever.
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In conclusion, Trunk or Treating has it’s advantages and its up to families connected to neurodiversity to decide whether or not to take up on those advantages. For some, trunk or treating gives a sense of safety and security to families who have children that elope or wander off and for others, trunk or treating is the only way to truly experience Halloween. Just be sure to bring any rocks to hand out
However, there are other ways to embrace Halloween and that is what I will cover in the next blog!!
Catch you all later!!
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