Family Autism Halloween Night

Thursday, October 28 | 5 PM – 7 PM | Pretend City will be closed to the general public for this private event. 

This special evening is an opportunity for children and their parents/siblings/caretakers to enjoy Halloween fun in a sensory-friendly environment, along with other families. Children are encouraged to dress up in their favorite costume and trick-or-treat around the museum. Our community partners, who specialize in supporting children on the autism spectrum, will be on-hand to enrich your family’s play experience with welcoming smiles and practical support. 

Specifically for: Families with children of all ages who are on the autism spectrum or have a disability, as well as therapists and/or behavioral coaches; This special evening is an opportunity for children and their parents, siblings, and caretakers to have some fun in an autism-friendly environment along with other families: 

• • Art Studio Sessions (5 PM -7 PM): Join us in the Art Studio as we explore October textures and prints! Leaves, shaving cream, and even a sensory pumpkin activity are sure to have your child appreciating all things nature!
  • Sensitive Story-Time (6:15 PM): Join us for a spooky sensitive storytime that’s sure to get your littles in the Halloween spirit! 

Play Partners: Kyo Autism Therapies and our experienced stage staff of trained early childhood and child development educators.

Grown-up Tip: Each child is different and sometimes wearing a costume is a sensory challenge. See if your little one is open to wearing their Halloween attire for shorter periods of time. You can practice while at home, or during one of the many Halloween festivities you attend!  Perhaps by the 31st they’ll have eased into wearing it. Sometimes, accessories like hats, wings, capes, or masks – worn over familiar, comfortable clothes – can serve as a wonderful costume in and of itself! Sometimes, a fun t-shirt does the trick! 

RSVP: Register HERE; max: 250 guests *Only guests with a reservation and a confirmation number will be admitted. 

Fee: FREE to children on the spectrum or with other disabilities and their immediate family members.(Only guests with a reservation and a confirmation number will be admitted!) 

*AN IMPORTANT NOTE: We have a reoccurring predicament that we need your help with! Consistently, 250 guests register, but then never attend. To mitigate this, we’ve decided to open registration closer to the event’s date (10/15) so parents can better gauge their ability to attend. We know that a child’s temperament, nap schedule, energy level, will and desire to play can be unpredictable – we don’t want to discourage you from signing up for that reason! We simply want to spread awareness: When you sign up knowing that you likely won’t come, you are taking the spot another neurodiverse family might use! Thank you for your consideration and kindness!

Kyo Autism Therapy: ABA is a highly effective treatment that helps people with autism to develop language and daily living skills. ABA can also be used to decrease challenging behaviors, such as aggression or self-injurious behavior. The goal of ABA is to increase independence and quality of life for the child with autism and their family. At Kyo, ABA therapy is also naturalistic and fun! The Kyo team uses child-centric, play-based activities to help children meet their goals. By incorporating each child’s interests throughout treatment, therapy sessions are both highly effective and engaging.