Halloween Safety Tips | Family Economics

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Halloween is just around the corner and as parents, the first thing that comes to mind is our children’s safety. Having attended my fair share of trick-or-treating, I wanted to share the below tips I’ve gathered over time to ensure you and your child’s safety this season.

1.    Make sure that younger children are always accompanied by a parent or trusted adult. Older children (in high school and up) should always trick-or-treat in a large group and consult with an adult when planning their path for the evening.

2.    Make sure your children are easily recognizable in the dark as this will be very beneficial for drivers – especially on Halloween night. Flashlights, glow bracelets, reflective tape and brightly-colored costumes all improve visibility. When driving, remember to exercise extra caution at intersections, crosswalks, and in neighborhoods and maintain a reasonably slow speed.

3.    Remember to teach your children the importance of walking on sidewalks and crossing streets in groups. Instruct older children to do the same.

4.    Prepare children for any and all situations and include solutions for each including what they should do if they become lost or separated from their group. Little tricks such as writing their address, home phone number and emergency contact information on their costumes or pillow case will be helpful in situations like these. Also, making sure the group has a designated spot to meet should someone from the group get separated will alleviate stress. Finally, ensure that all children know how and when to dial 9-1-1 if ever needed.  

5.    Try to avoid dressing younger children in bulky costumes and props such as masks, wigs, plastic swords, buckets, or anything that could impair children’s sight or mobility. Instead of masks, improvise with face paints and make-up designs.

6.    Only approach homes that are well-lit and appear to be participating in the Halloween festivities. When walking through neighborhoods and coming up to someone’s home, urge your children to walk, not run, and keep an eye out for obstacles that could trip or injure small children.

7.    Before your children dive in and devour their pillowcase of goodies, be sure to check each candy to ensure it is properly sealed. Avoid homemade items from unfamiliar homes and discuss appropriate times and portions of when the candy can be eaten. Store the candy in a safe place, out of your children’s reach, where they can’t consume it all in one week (I know my children would!).

What are your top Halloween safety tips?

Photo courtesy of Alison Lewis.

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