Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids. You certainly don't want that excitement to end with a mishap. To help ensure your little ghosts and goblins have the safest Halloween holiday possible, we have compiled tips to keep in mind during the month of spooky fun.
From costume planning to carving pumpkins, we have all the ways to keep Halloween safe for your kids. Plus, we also included tips on keeping the holiday safe for your pets.
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Costume planning
- Encourage your child to avoid costumes with bulky full-face masks as they can block eyesight. Instead, opt for makeup or well-fitting partial masks.
- Make sure the costume isn't too big or long and will not cause them to trip and fall.
- If they are wearing a hat make sure it fits well and will not fall off or over their eyes.
- Thinking about accessories, it can be a challenge to carry these items and a treat bag, maybe leave some at home when you head out.
- Even on chilly nights it once they start walking it can be too warm for a jacket and some costumes can become hot depending on what they are made of.
- Costumes should be bright and reflective. For greater visibility, add reflective tape to both bags and costumes.
- Avoid accessories with sharp ends. Tripping while carrying something sharp could result in a serious injury.
- Don't forget to remind them to look both ways when crossing streets and driveways, it can be a busy night with lots of distractions for everyone.
- To avoid a surprise reaction to makeup, test ahead of time in a small area.
- Remove all costumes and makeup before going to bed to prevent skin and eye irritation.
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Pet safety
- Dress your four-legged family members in costume only if they enjoy the Halloween spirit and don't mind being in clothes. Costuming a reluctant pet can cause undue stress on a night that may already be full of doorbell and dress-up anxiety.
- Keep the chocolate AWAY from your pets! With so much delicious candy lying around on Halloween, your pet may be tempted to help himself. Chocolate can be fatal to dogs or cats. Dark chocolate, baking chocolate, and cocoa powder are especially dangerous and can lead to kidney failure in pets who have a sensitivity to the food.
- Keep wrapped candy out of reach too as you don't want them eating the wrappers either.
- Sugar-free candies that contain Xylitol can make your pets sick, as can pumpkin.
- Keep your pets on a leash at all times while trick-or-treating, and be especially watchful around candles and jack-o-lanterns to make sure they don't singe their fur.
- Secure your pets before opening the front door to trick-or-treaters to make sure they don't make a run for it or inadvertently trip up an invading tiny zombie or ghoul.
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Carving pumpkins
- Consider alternatives to carving - for small children, painting or decorating pumpkins can be much easier and safer than carving. Try one of these 4 no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas.
- For more no carve ideas hit up the crafts store where you'll find lots of inspiration. Those foam stickers are great or do like we did one year - we used googly eyes and mustaches, they looked so cute. You can also pick up no carve kits at the store
- Another option for kids is to let them draw or scratch a design on the pumpkin for a grown-up to carve.
- Pumpkin carving kits are perfect for kids and adults. The small, serrated pumpkin saws in the kits are less likely to get stuck in the thick pumpkin flesh and they are not sharp enough to create a deep wound in the skin. Sometime your kitchen knives are not the easiest tools for carving pumpkins.
- Have you seen all those super cool carved pumpkin designs? You can buy ready to use pattern books or download some online.
- Avoid using candles to light your pumpkin. Battery-operated lights are safer and easily available.
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Just treats, no tricks
- It's best for Younger children to be accompanied by an adult or older teens, and older kids heading out on their own should remain in groups when haunting the neighborhood. We like to go as a family, but as they get older they tend to want to go with their friends.
- If you have older children who will be going with friends discuss where they will be going, how to stay in touch and when they should be home. Remind them to avoid homes that are dark, only visit ones with a porch light on, never go inside, always be polite and courteous and always say thank you.
- Caution your children to steer clear of flames from as jack-o-lanterns with real candles inside or votive candles lining walkways.
- Keep an eye out when crossing the street. Just because you see the car coming, doesn't mean the driver can see you - it's a night for extra distraction.
- Carry a flashlight to see and be seen after the sun goes down.
- Let your kids know you want to look at their Halloween treats before they eat any.
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Safety tips for motorists
- The National Safety Council recommends discouraging new and inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween.
- Watch for children walking - and running! all over the place. There's a good chance the excitement of the evening will distract them from being alert to moving vehicles.
- Use extra caution when entering and exiting driveways and alleys.
A little Halloween safety goes a long way in making an October full of fun memories for everyone!
