Halloween was once an adult holiday based on Celtic religious traditions. Somewhere along the way, it transitioned into a night when we put our children in disguise and send them around the neighborhood to knock on strangers' doors asking for candy ... a potentially dangerous activity which we parents discourage all other days of the year.
But for kids, what could be more fun than trick-or-treating? Follow these safety tips and your kids can still have a spooktacular night of fun while staying safe.
Costumes
- Stay right-sized. Plastic princess heels and too-long pant legs do not mix with darkness and excitement. Make sure your child is wearing comfortable walking shoes and that the costume won't cause tripping or get snagged on something as your child walks.
- Purchase costumes made of flame-retardant materials. Also, check for button batteries. Some costumes have small lights powered by button batteries. These are choking and poisoning hazards for young children.
- Ditch the masks. Masks can make it harder to see, so opt for allergy-tested, lead-free face paint instead. Pre-test it on your child's skin a day or two before Halloween and watch for an allergic reaction.
- Add reflective tape to both the front and back of your child's costume, as well as the trick-or-treat bag.
- Never allow a child to carry a real weapon as part of his/her costume. All accessories should be lightweight and free of sharp edges. (Consider leaving them at home, since you'll probably get stuck carrying them anyway.)
- Bring along flashlights with fresh batteries.
Trick-or-Treating
- Eat a healthy meal prior to trick-or-treating and remind kids they must wait for the treats until they return home for the evening.
- Younger children should always be accompanied by one or more trusted adults.
- Older kids (5th grade and up) should remain in groups of 3 or 4, at least. Plan and review the acceptable route, and discuss which neighbor's homes they can go to if they need help and can't get all the way home. If they don't have their own cell phone, consider loaning one to the group for the evening.
- Stay on the sidewalk. If no sidewalk is available, stay on the far edge of the street facing traffic. Never cut across yards or alleys.
- Avoid any house that doesn't have a porch light on (they probably aren't passing out candy anyway). Tell your child to NEVER enter the house or car of someone they don't know, even in your own neighborhood.
- Trust your gut. Yes, Halloween is supposed to feel a little spooky, but remind your kids that they should pay attention to that "uh-oh" feeling and never go anywhere they feel really uncomfortable, even if their friends are pressuring them to.
