Halloween just might be a kid’s second favorite holiday. Costumes, parties, candy. What’s not to enjoy? But for a child with word finding difficulties, it can be stressful. Practicing the words he needs to tell about his costume and his trick-or-treat plans will help him communicate with friends and family with ease.
I like to have the child describe to me his costume. What vocabulary does he need? a light saber? ruby red slippers? a crowd and sceptre? We preview his classroom party (they have certainly morphed over the last few years!) and trick-or-treat plans. I also like to present this dialog that models a variety of word finding examples. We read it together or watch a video that I made with two students acting it out:
Word Finding Script – Halloween
Student 1: Hey, guys, let’s get ready for trick or treat day!
Student 2: Trick or treat day? What’s that?
Student 1: You know, that day when we wear costumes and go trick or treating.
Student 2: Oh, you mean Halloween!
Student 1: Yeah, Halloween. I have a big thingamajig to put candy in.
Student 2: A thingamajig? What do you put your candy in?
Student 1: It’s one of those things on your bed.
Student 2: A sheet? A blanket? A pillow?
Student 1: No, the cover to a pillow…a pillow case.
Student 2: OK, so you’ll put your candy in a pillow case. What are you dressing up as?
Student 1: I have one of those things that wraps around your shoulders…like Batman wears.
Student 2: A cape?
Student 1: yeah, a cape. A black cape. And I’m going to wear fake hair.
Student 2: You mean a wig?
Student 1: A cape and a wig. And I think I’ll carry a sweeper thing.
Student 2: A sweeper thing. You mean a broom?
Student 1: Yeah, a broom. Don’t you think my costume will be scary? I want to be a scary old ghost. I mean, a witch. What is your costume like?
Student 2: I’ll have a black cape, too. Only I won’t carry a broom. I’m going to wear a mask and pretend I have a Batmobile.
Student 1: A Batmobile! You must be dressing up as Spiderman. Oops, I mean Batman!