Halloween costumes for kids with disabilities

Target now has a line of adaptive costume options for children with a mobility disabilities

Sensory-friendly and adaptive costume ideas and adaptive technology designs make Halloween fun for children of all abilities

With Halloween right around the corner, our kids are filled with excitement over candy, trick-or-treating, Halloween movies and dressing up as their favorite characters. While some costumes can be extremely uncomfortable for sensory-sensitive kids, there are many options to make your child comfortable while fulfilling their wishes to be "in character" for the big day. In addition, there is now a plethora of adaptive costume choices for children with mobility and assistive technology needs. Here are a variety of options, from DIY and homemade, to various store-bought choices:

1.     Character Hoodies- Nowadays, there are hoodies that come in all different characters. From Spiderman, a unicorn, or Pikachu, the options are endless. Just pair the sweatshirt with pants and shoes that go along with the theme, and they will be set to not only be comfortable but warm on their night out collecting candy!

New! Disney now has a line of adaptive costumes! 

2.     Cotton Pajamas- Cotton is a great material for kids who are sensory sensitive, and pajamas are the perfect way to find characters in that soft fabric. You can find spooky options like a skeleton, a Captain America set, or a onesie of their favorite animal or monster like Sully and Mike Wasowski from Monsters Inc. Not only will they have an elaborate costume, it can be worn in the most comfortable way possible.

 3.     Target’s Adaptive Halloween Costumes- Target has a brand of costumes adaptable to whatever your child needs! From robots, dragons, witches, and princesses, there are multiple options for your child to choose from. Not only do they have sensory-friendly costumes, but they also have wheelchair covers to help make their costume more realistic for children of all abilities.

4.     Everyday Clothes Costumes- So many costumes are easy to craft DIY style with the clothes you already have at home! All black clothes with a pair of kitten ears make for a great, simple, black cat. A Where’s Waldo costume just requires jeans and a striped shirt. A minion only needs a pair of jean overalls and a yellow long sleeve. A cowgirl, a member of the Scooby Doo gang, and a pirate are just a few more of countless options that can be created right from your home.

5.     Lab coat, soft-wash scrubs, or a cape- These are comfortable options that can be made into a doctor, a mad scientist, or a superhero that require no sensory sensitivity for your child. A few extra pieces can transform a wardrobe into anything creative and fun with the right material and a quick Pinterest search!

Resources for finding costume ideas for children living with special needs:
https://www.shopdisney.com/halloween-shop/costumes/adaptive-costumes/
​Target sensory friendly and adaptive costume selections 
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/halloween-ideas/g421/halloween-decorating-ideas/
https://livingwellmom.com/sensory-friendly-halloween-costume-ideas-kids-with-autism/
https://www.understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/child-learning-disabilities/sensory-processing-issues/6-diy-sensory-friendly-halloween-costumes
https://www.hopebridge.com/blog/halloween-costume-ideas-for-kids-with-autism-and-sensory-disorders

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