With Halloween around the corner, kids are excited to wear their costumes and collect candy for as long as you will allow during the evening. Halloween has been a fun day for kids for many generations. You want your children to have fun, yet it’s also crucial to make their safety your top priority. Here are some Halloween safety tips for kids to keep in mind in advance of October 31.
Reflective Costumes
It’s important to make sure that your child’s costume has some reflective properties so they are easily visible at night. If the child chose a dark colored costume, simply purchase plenty of glow sticks that will make their presence known while trick or treating. These glow sticks can be hand held or fashioned into a necklace or bracelet. Explain to them why these reflective elements and glow sticks are important, so that drivers will be able to spot them easily when they’re trick or treating. It’s also a good idea to provide each child with a flash light for added safety.
Well Lit Neighborhoods Only
Choose a well lit neighborhood that is child friendly for trick or treating (preferably a neighborhood that has speed bumps and plenty of stop signs to force motorists to slow down). When a house is dimly light, it’s probably a good idea to pass it up because they may not be Halloween-friendly. If the neighborhoods that surround you are not well-lit or child friendly, no worries. Call you local libraries and malls to see if they are giving out candy to children.
No Candy Until It’s Checked
The most important Halloween safety tip is that your children are not allowed to consume ANY candy before it is checked by you or another trusted adult at home. When you and the children arrive home, empty the bag of candy on a table and inspect each and every piece of candy. Look for any open wrappers or punctures in the candy wrapper. If ever in doubt, just throw it out! Your child’s safety always comes first. Only allow your child to keep candy that has a wrapper. Any candy without a wrapper should immediately be thrown away.
Trick or Treat Right After School
If your child is still in elementary or middle school, always accompany him or her when trick or treating and go right after school is out. Most schools encourage kids to come to school dressed up in their costumes, so it’s just a matter of having a quick after school snack and heading out the door. Finish up your trick or treating activities by sunset.
In our modern times it’s extremely important for parents to discuss Halloween safety tips and rules for the evening of October 31 with their children of all ages. Make it clear to your kids why these rules are necessary — because they are for their protection.
Posted by Eve