Trick or treating can be an overwhelming experience for lots of kids, regardless of neurotype, sensory sensitivities, age, and abilities.
But visual aids and tools can be a great way to support kids who get overwhelmed during Halloween. Especially with our hyperlexic or autistic learners in particular who may be non-speaking, minimally speaking, and/or use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
And that's where these trick or treating communication boards come into play!
The following AAC boards feature a variety of potential Halloween themed gestalts that could be modeled while trick or treating and are an awesome way to give hyperlexic learners and gestalt language processors the language they need to express themselves and communicate their needs.
About the Free Trick or Treating Communication Boards
As mentioned above, this set of communication boards is designed with gestalt language processors and hyperlexic learners in mind and are great for kids of all ages and abilities to use. Below you will find five versions included:
- One with 16 colorful clipart images paired with a written phrase or potential gestalt
- One with 13 colorful clipart images paired with a written phrase or potential gestalt and 3 blank boxes to write and draw your own
- One with 16 blank boxes to write or draw your own
- One with 16 written phrases or potential gestalts
- One with 13 written phrases or potential gestalts and 3 blank boxes to write and draw your own
Simply print off the page that will be the best fit for your needs, fill in any blank boxes (if applicable), and laminate for durability. Be sure to keep these tips in mind, though, when writing your own phrases or potential gestalts.
Once printed, customized, and laminated, attach it to a lanyard to take on the go (you might want to print it off at half the size in this case) or simply carry it while you walk around.
The phrases can then be read and/or pointed to as a way to communicate while trick or treating. And parents and caregivers can point and model different phrases as they go from door to door with their child on Halloween.
Download the Free Printable Halloween Communication Boards
