Autumn is my favorite time of the year for a few reasons—delicious pumpkin spice, nature’s stunningly rich & beautiful colors, and Halloween. However, this time of year can also be daunting for the helicopter parent (guilty as charged). So, if you’re taking your little one out trick-or-treating, we have a treat for you! Here are our Halloween safety tips so you and your family can have a blast safely.
My Spooktacular Halloween Tip
Halloween is so much fun, especially if you allow yourself to get into the spirit. My first tip isn’t a safety tip, but a reminder…enjoy the holiday! I see so many parents with their kids on Halloween night, they look like they wish they were anywhere else, but these years won’t last forever. Dress up in a costume, jump in a pile of leaves, and let your little one stay up late. Be a kid again, we don’t have many chances to be little again—just enjoy it!
Before Going Trick-or-Treating
- Choose Face Paint Over a Mask: A mask will obscure a child’s vision, making it difficult for them to look around and see hazards.
- Face Paint: Do a spot test to make sure your child isn’t allergic to the paint you will be putting on their skin.
- Picking a Costume: Choose a costume that is fire-resistant and easy for your child to move around in. Make sure it isn’t too long to prevent falls and add reflective tape so he or she is easily seen at night. Avoid dangerous props like weapons of any sort. If your child’s costume has a faux weapon, make sure it’s made of foam or plastic.
- Dress for the Weather: In Canada in the 90s, I always had to wear a snowsuit either under my costume or over it—yes it was a drag but I didn’t freeze to death. Be sure to plan your child’s costume to protect them against the elements!
- Decorate Safely: Make sure your decor is out of your walkway, not dangerous, and not a fire starter!
- Picking out Halloween Candy: Be sure to individually wrap items like apples & be aware of potential allergies like nut allergies. Think about providing clearly labeled alternatives if you’re giving out items with nuts or nut butter. While poisonings in children on Halloween are generally an urban myth, it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Halloween Safety While Trick-or-Treating
- Plan Your Route: Before you take your little one out, plan the areas you want to hit. Try to avoid sketchy neighborhoods or places where the traffic is heavy and the speed limit is high. For example, we live in a rural area, so we go to a neighboring town to do our candy collecting. The houses are close together, it’s safe, and it’s faster to go from house to house. As a bonus, you get to see awesome decor and cool costumes!
- Trunk-Or-Treat: Keep in mind that many churches or community halls host “trunk-or-treats”. These are events where people have their trunks open with candy in a parking lot, and the kids can go from car to car. This is a great alternative for going from house to house. Perfect for really young children or if you live in a rural area! Nursing homes also usually give out candy and it brings the seniors so much joy to see the kids having fun.
- Don’t Let Your Child Go Alone (unless age-appropriate): Most safety experts say the age for trick-or-treating without a guardian is 12 or 13 years old. However, this will depend on the area they’re going to and your comfort level of course.
- Stay Visible & Practice Pedestrian Safety: Make sure your child knows the traffic rules as a pedestrian and is always following them. If they’re going with other kids, tell them to stick together and ensure everyone has reflective tape on their costumes.
Post-Halloween Safety
- Group Safety: If your child went with a group, make sure everyone got home safe. Text the other parents and check, it only takes a moment. Also, a group chat is never a bad idea, it’s an easy way to communicate with the other parents.
- Checking Candy: Always check your child’s candy before letting them dive in! This can be tedious, but it will give you peace of mind. Check for any candy that could trigger an allergy, suspicious-looking items, or open/tampered with candy.
- Fire Safety: Unplug or extinguish any of your plugged-in or lit decor.
- Limit Candy Consumption: Keep an eye on how much candy your child is eating to prevent tummy aches and sugar rushes!
Have Fun & Practice Halloween Safety
Halloween is the one time of year when you can be a kid again. Take your kids out and enjoy it! No, I mean it, shake off the tiredness that comes from adulting and throw yourself into the spirit of the holiday. And don’t forget to keep these safety tips in mind for a scarily good night!
Be aware, and stay safe!
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