Halloweens of today, are way different than Halloweens when I was a kid. It was a safer, more care-free time and my parents didn’t have the same types of worries during the holiday as parents face today. The first step in facing our fears, is educating ourselves about the dangers and how to avoid them to keep our kids safe! Here’s a guide of Halloween safety tips to keep the ghosts and goblins away, so you and your children can enjoy a night of treats with no tricks!
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Halloween safety starts with talking to your children about your rules and boundaries. Make sure they know to stay on sideways when possible. And to look both ways when they cross a street. They should also cross at crosswalks when they can, and with an adult.
Next comes the fun part of picking the perfect costume for your kids. Make sure to pick ones with bright colors that can been seen during trick-or-treating hours. If your child has their heart set on a dark color costume, ensure their’s a reflective component on it so drivers can see them as they’re crossing the street. Also make sure their costumes are well fitted, so they don’t trip over them while walking.
If your child’s costume comes with SFX make up — make sure to test it first to ensure they aren’t allergic to it.
There’s always safety in large numbers. As a rule of thumb it’s always going to be better to trick-or-treat with a group of friends. Teach them the motto, “If we come together, we leave together”.
Make sure your children know never to go inside a stranger’s home or car. And if a stranger asks them to, they should just leave immediately. This is a great tip for every day of the year, not just Halloween.
Give them clear instructions on what to do if they get separated from their group of friends. Make sure they have a way to call you or another safe adult.
If door-to-door trick-or-treating isn’t your jam, look for city or community sponsored events or church held trick-or-truck activities. Local pumpkin patches will be open for hay rides and candy collecting fun too.
Let your children know that they shouldn’t eat homemade treats from strangers as well. They should also let you inspect all their trick-or-treat goodies at home before they dive in.
To avoid tummy aches, remind your children that they can have their candies and goodies in moderation over the next few days and weeks.
Hopefully these tips will help keep your children safe during Halloween this year! There’s so much fun to be had that night, following some basic safety guidelines helps ensure everyone makes it back home safe and sound!
