Halloween is right around the corner and it’s time to start planning costumes, decorations, parties, and trick-or-treating. Keep these Halloween safety tips in mind when making your plans to make sure your kids are safe and have fun.
Halloween Safety Tips for Kids:
- Plan a Route. Discuss with your kids which streets are safe and which should be avoided, and if there are any specific homes or locations that should be avoided. Plan a route together so you can find your kids easily at all times. Make sure that kids are traveling on streets that they already know, and are already familiar with so there’s no chance of getting lost.
- No Cutting. Stick to the planned routes, and stay on the sidewalks. Don’t be tempted to cut through alleys, parking lots, or yards and make sure the route is always well lit. Only cross the street at corners and crosswalks.
- Lights On. Only visit homes that have the lights on, inside and out. Not only does this ensure that kids can see where they are going and make sure the area is safe, but turning off the lights is a common way of alerting trick-or-treaters that a home is either out of candy, or not participating.
- Check in regularly. If your kids carry a cellphone, have them call to check in at set times throughout the evening. If they don’t, plan regular check-ins at home when planning their route. Planning stops and check-ins with friends and neighbors throughout the neighborhood can reduce the number of times the kids will have to circle back.
- Have a Set End Time. If your neighborhood doesn’t have set hours for trick-or-treating, or if you want your kids in earlier than the designated end time, communicate that clearly. Make sure your kids know what time to be home, and make sure they have some way of telling the time!
- No Eating. Emphasize the importance of not eating treats and candy until everything can be brought home and checked by an adult. Kids might be tempted to eat candy right away, so make sure they eat a hearty meal before they go out to minimize the temptation. Also, advise kids against eating any homemade treats offered by strangers including ciders, popcorn, or candy apples.
- Never. Never go inside a house. Never get into a stranger’s car. Never follow a stranger somewhere.
Halloween Safety Tips For Parents:
- Costume Safety. Make sure your kids’ costumes are safe and visible in the dark. If their costumes are not made from bright colors, put some reflective tape on their treat bags, hats, shoes, or backs. Give kids glow sticks and flashlights to carry around so they are more visible. Also make sure that costumes are not too loose and floppy making it difficult to walk.
- Driving Safety. Drive extra slowly through residential streets keeping an eye out for kids. Kids often dart out into the street, or cross in the middle of a road. Making sure you’re traveling at a speed that will give you plenty of time to stop will help keep all the kids in the neighborhood safe.
Halloween activities should be a time for friends, family, and fun. Use these Halloween safety tips to help make sure everyone knows the rules and understands the importance of safety. Being safe is the first step to making sure that this Halloween is filled with fun tricks and sweet treats for the whole family.
