Halloween Safety Tips

Okay, I’m a safety gal.  When it comes to Halloween, nothing can kill the fun faster than an unforeseen mishap.  With lots of kids running around in the dark in long costumes and masks, it can be a recipe for disaster if you don’t mind your P’s and Q’s.

Halloween is one of my kid’s favorite holidays.  Here are some pointers to make your Halloween safe as well as fun.  All these tips have been MOM-tested by ME!

1. Make sure your child’s costume fits properly and is not dragging all over the ground.  You don’t want it long enough to trip on—especially in the dark!  Hem it if necessary!
2. If “MAKE-UP” will work with your child’s costume, encourage them to use that instead of a mask.  They will be able to see much better and it won’t be as hot and sweaty.
3. Make sure you child EATS something healthy before they go out trick or treating.  If they go out hungry they will be tempted to nibble on candy that you haven’t had a chance to check, or they will just eat way too much.
4. Take a flashlight!  You can’t always count on everyone to have their entryway’s properly lit, and you don’t want to miss a step and trip and fall.  Flashlights also help to make sure your child is SEEN out there.  Make it fun to carry!  You can find flashlights in all sorts of Halloween themes.
5. Make sure your child is aware that even though it is Halloween, people still need to use the roadways for driving and it may be hard to see kids in dark costumes.  Neon bands or other “lit” accessories would be a great idea to enhance your child’s visibility.
6. Walk…don’t run while trick or treating.  I have seen kids every year trip and wipe out on the sidewalk and skin up their knees while their candy ends up everywhere.  Avoid this by WALKING!
7. Don’t cross the street in-between parked cars as this prevents cars from seeing you coming.
8. Approach only homes that have lights on-if the house is dark, skip it.
9. NEVER ENTER ANYONE’S HOUSE that you do not know to accept a treat.
10. If your older kids are going trick or treating alone, make sure they know how to reach you in case of an emergency and KNOW which neighborhoods they are trekking in.
11. Obviously go through your child’s candy before they eat it and throw away anything unwrapped or suspicious.
12. Make the outside of your home inviting and light the way for trick-or-treater’s.  You can find really cool blinking lights to put inside your Jack O’ Lantern’s so you don’t have to light them with candles.  This is much safer for everyone.
13. If you are going to a grown-up party be sure to assign someone to be the designated driver.  Use extra caution when driving on the roadways on Halloween, as kids will be out in full force and they may not be watching for you.  Drive slowly and cautiously particularly in residential neighborhoods.

Halloween is a great time to dress up and have fun with your kids.  With a little bit of planning your Halloween can be both enjoyable and mishap-free.  Have fun, and be safe!