We all have wonderful memories of Halloween - creepy Jack o’Lanterns, spooky costumes, and the “haunted house” that every neighborhood has. But what we never thought about as kids was how to stay safe. Now that we are helping our children or grandchildren get ready for Halloween, safety becomes a priority. Here are four tips to keep the kids in your life safe this Halloween.
Creative Costumes - If you are planning on taking kids Trick or Treating on Halloween after dark, get creative with their costume to make sure that it has bright colors and light reflectors to make sure they are visible for vehicles passing by. Also, use face paint instead of a mask to ensure the child’s vision is clear and unobstructed.
Reconsider Carving - Knives never mix with small kids; instead of carving a Jack o’Lantern, get some acrylic paints and allow kids to paint their pumpkins this year. It allows kids to be even more creative than traditional carving because shape limitations aren’t there. If you’re a Jack o’Lantern die-hard and carving is a must, use a flameless candle to light it up to decrease the fire risk.
Only Treats, No Trick - To keep kids safe during Trick or Treating, make sure to talk through a plan with them and set up a meeting place should anyone get separated from the group. Also, avoid a sugar high by only allowing kids to indulge in 3-4 pieces of candy post-Trick or Treating and savor it throughout the following days.
Staying in? Stay safe! - If you’re staying home to hand out candy, make sure that your house is a safe place for neighborhood Trick or Treaters. Put away garden tools, wet leaves, etc. that kids could trip on and make sure that your porch lights make a visible path to your front door. Also, consider handing out pencils, stickers, or rubber insects instead of the traditional candy; this provides longer laster fun than a piece of chocolate that can melt!
We hope you have a spooky and fun Halloween, but above all - stay safe and help the kids in your life enjoy a safe and fun Halloween!