Safety Tips for the Halloween Holiday for Families and Kids
We've all heard urban legends about strangers putting pins in Halloween candy. Although it's unlikely your children will eat pins or be abducted on Halloween, there are plenty of dangers associated with the holiday. Prepare your children for trick-or-treating by giving them a list of rules they must follow if they want to be able to keep their candy. If children follow some simple guidelines, they'll have fun and you'll be able to breathe more easily. Does this Spark an idea?
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Trick-or-Treating
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Children should trick-or-treat with adults and stick to familiar neighborhoods and streets. They should only approach houses that have lights on and walk at all times to avoid tripping. Walk carefully up and down front steps, since there may be cracks or decorative objects such as pumpkins there. Children should only look inside their bags while they're standing still. While walking, pay attention to the scenery.
Costumes
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Check that children can see clearly out of wigs and masks. Try to avoid masks altogether by using nontoxic face paint to decorate a child's face. Costumes should not be so long that they touch the ground, since this is a tripping hazard. Children should not carry realistic-looking weapons. Add strips of reflective tape to the front and back of each costume so the child is visible. Look for accessories that glow, such as a light-up pumpkin necklace, that the child can wear to make her easier to find in the dark.
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Candy
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Don't allow children to eat any candy until a parent or trusted adult has inspected each piece. When inspecting the candy, throw away anything that is unwrapped or homemade unless it came from a close friend. Throw away anything that could be a choking hazard for young children, such as gum balls or other small pieces of hard candy. When you're passing out candy to trick-or-treaters, stick to wrapped and store-bought treats.
At Home
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Children should always go trick-or-treating in groups. If older children are trick-or-treating without adults, give each one a lighted watch, flashlight and, if possible, a cell phone. Set a strict curfew. When you're passing out candy, remove everything from the yard such as hoses or chairs that children might trip over. Don't put any jack o'lanterns with lit candles on your front steps. Move pets to a closed-off room in the house so they can't jump on or scare children who come to the door.
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References
- Photo Credit halloween image by Nicolas D from Fotolia.com
