Halloween Safety Tips for Parents

Halloween is an exciting holiday, intended to thrill and inspire kids of all ages. Parents are often amazed at the creativity unleashed in their children as they dream up costumes and even voices for the characters they wish to portray. There are many ways to encourage creativity in your kids, including allowing them to help make their own costumes and Halloween decorations.

Unfortunately, Halloween is also a time of year when parents must be extra aware of their children’s safety. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, “children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year.” In addition, the candy children consume may be contaminated and must be thoroughly examined before being consumed. Consider the following tips for safety at this fun and fanciful time of year:

• Use reflective tape: Decorate costumes and candy-carrying pumpkins or sacks with reflective stickers or tape to make kids more visible when going from house to house.

• Perfect fit: Make sure your child’s costume fits well: short enough to prevent tripping but warm enough to shield your young one from cold night air.

• Choose vision: Masks can obstruct a child’s vision. Non-toxic face paint is an excellent alternative. Allow your child to help paint his or her own face and ignite that creative spark.

• Carry glowsticks: Have your children carry glow sticks or flashlights to make them visible to drivers.

• Supervise: Children under the age of 12 should be supervised at all times while trick-or-treating. Popular trick-or-treat times are 5:30pm – 9:30pm.

• Make eye contact: Teach children to make eye contact with other drivers before crossing the street, to ensure that they are seen and that it is safe to cross the street.

• Stay out of the street: Be sure to walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, travel facing traffic and as far left as you can. Keep children walking on direct routes with few street crossings.

• Examine all candy: Be sure to sort through and examine all of your child’s candy before you allow them to eat it. Contaminated or improperly packaged candy or suspicious items should be disposed of immediately.

• Driving tip for parents: Keep distractions in your car to a minimum so you can focus on the road ahead. Watch carefully for children moving in unexpected directions.

Halloween is a wonderful time to encourage your child’s creativity and individuality. By supervising your child and making sure he or she is wearing a safe and appropriate costume, keeping to side streets, and using street safety, you go a long way to making your child’s Halloween the best – and safest – one yet.