Halloween is probably one of your child's favorite holidays. Not only does he get to dress up in a crazy costume, but he also gets loads of candy and other treats . Unfortunately, Halloween can also be one of the most dangerous holidays, mainly because most of the festivities take place after the sun goes down. Making sure his Halloween is enjoyable—and above all, a safe experience—is easy to do by following a few simple tips.
Ensure Proper supervision – When it comes to trick-or-treating, “the more the merrier” is a good rule to follow. Safe Kids Worldwide recommends if your child is under the age of 12, he should always be accompanied by a responsible and observant adult. If your child is older than 12 and going out on his own, always recommend group activities. The larger the group, the safer he will be.
Make costumes safe – Costumes are responsible for a majority of Halloween accidents and injuries. Black and other dark colors are common colors used in costumes, but can pose a huge visibility threat after dark. While lighter and brighter color costumes are often recommended, if your child does choose a dark colored ensemble, you can attach reflective tape and/or stickers. Light accessories, such as flashlights and glow sticks are also good options to make him more noticeable to drivers and other pedestrians. Trips and falls are common occurrences due to long costumes and masks that block part or most of his vision. Hemming costumes to fit your child and making sure he can see properly out of any face masks can help reduce injuries related to falls.
ALSO SEE: Sensory Friendly Halloween
Plan your route – Plan your family’s trick-or-treat path ahead of time. Look for well-lit areas that provide sidewalks or pathways that will limit your child’s time on the road. Another consideration should be traffic lights and crossing signals, if you are planning on crossing a high-traffic street.
Examine all treats before consuming – This may be one of the hardest things for your child, but it’s very important. He will most likely want to consume treats along the way and throughout the night, but make sure he doesn’t until you’ve had a chance to carefully inspect them. Check factory-packaged treats for any tears or holes in the packaging. Never consume homemade treats unless you know the giver well. The best policy is to wait until you are home or in a well-lit area before inspecting and indulging.
ALSO SEE: Sensory Friendly Costumes
Talk to your child about stranger danger – If your child is old enough to go out without parental supervision, it is important to talk to him about strangers. Make sure he knows never to get in a car or go into a house with a stranger. It may be polite for him to accept a homemade treat from someone he doesn’t know, but he should never eat or drink anything offered by a stranger.
Sources: CDC.gov | KidsHealth.org | SafeKids.org
Making Sure Your Child’s Halloween is a Safe One
Shandy Marso, Contributor