Halloween is one of the most exciting nights of the year for kids. Costumes, candy, pumpkins, spooky decorations and trick-or-treating make for plenty of fun and memorable moments.
But between running around in the dark, navigating busy streets and eating more candy than usual, Halloween also comes with a few extra safety considerations. With a little preparation, you can help your child have a Halloween that is fun, festive and safe from tricks of the not-so-fun variety.
Here are some simple ways to prepare your family for a happy Halloween.
Choose a Safe & Comfortable Costume
For kids, half the fun of Halloween is becoming someone—or something—completely different for the night. Whether your child wants to be a superhero, princess, ghost, witch or their favorite character, make sure their costume is as safe as it is fun.
- Check the fit: Make sure costumes and shoes fit well. Costumes should be short enough that your child can walk comfortably without tripping or getting caught on objects. If your child will be running from house to house collecting candy, the last thing you want is a costume that becomes a tripping hazard!
- Consider makeup instead of masks: Masks can make it difficult for children to see where they’re going. Consider using non-toxic face paint or makeup instead. Always test makeup on a small area of your child’s skin before Halloween to make sure it doesn’t cause irritation or an allergic reaction.
- Skip sharp or oversized accessories: That plastic sword might look perfect with a pirate costume, but long, sharp or rigid accessories can become dangerous if your child trips or falls. Choose costume accessories that are short, soft and easy to carry instead.
Make your child easy to see: Halloween often means trick-or-treating after dark, so visibility is important.
Choose costumes and treat bags that are bright and reflective. You can also add:
- Reflective tape or strips
- Glow-in-the-dark elements
- Glow sticks
- Flashlights
A colorful or reflective treat bag can add a little extra visibility, too.
Make Trick-or-Treating a Safe Adventure
Once everyone is dressed and ready, it’s time for the main event: trick-or-treating!
Before heading out, take a few minutes to review some basic street and pedestrian safety rules.
- Young children should always be accompanied by a parent, caregiver or another trusted adult while trick-or-treating. If your community offers Halloween activities earlier in the day, these can also be a great option for younger children, especially if trick-or-treating would interfere with their normal bedtime.
- Older kids should stick together: Older children who are ready to trick-or-treat without an adult should go in a group and use the buddy system.
Before they leave, make sure you know:
- Who they’re going with
- Where they’re going
- The route they’ll take
- When they’ll be home
A Reminder for Teen Drivers
Halloween isn’t just about keeping trick-or-treaters safe. Teen drivers need to be extra cautious, too.
If your teen will be driving on Halloween, remind them to:
- Slow down in neighborhoods
- Watch carefully around parked cars
- Pay attention near driveways and alleys
- Expect children to move unpredictably
- Avoid distractions while driving
A dark neighborhood filled with excited trick-or-treaters is not the time to rush.
Talk About Stranger Safety
Halloween provides a good opportunity to review personal safety with your children.
Remind kids to stay with their group and to seek help from a trusted adult if something doesn’t feel right. Children should never enter a stranger’s home or car to receive a treat. Older children should stay together and use a buddy system so that everyone gets home safely.
It’s also a good idea to make sure your child knows when and how to call 911 if they are lost or experience an emergency.
Make Your Home Safe for Trick-or-Treaters
If your family is handing out candy, take a few minutes to make your home safe for the neighborhood’s little ghosts and goblins.
Before trick-or-treaters arrive:
- Remove toys, bikes, garden hoses and other tripping hazards from your porch and yard.
- Sweep wet leaves from sidewalks and steps.
- Check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
- Make sure pathways are well lit.
- Keep pets safely contained so they don’t jump on or bite visitors.
Enjoy Halloween Treats Safely
What’s Halloween without candy? For most kids, treats are one of the best parts of the night. A little planning can help keep the candy fun while avoiding some common problems.
- Wait until you’re home to check the candy
- Encourage children to wait until they get home before eating their treats.
- Parents can check candy for anything that is spoiled, unwrapped or appears suspicious.
- Giving children a meal or snack before trick-or-treating can also help prevent them from immediately diving into their candy stash while they’re out.
- Keep food allergies in mind.
Halloween can be particularly challenging for children with food allergies. Consider offering non-edible treats such as:
- Glow sticks
- Stickers
- Bubbles
- Pencils
- Bookmarks
- Stencils
- Small toys
- Spider rings
- Finger puppets
These options can help make Halloween more inclusive for children who can’t safely enjoy certain candies.
If your child has a food allergy, make sure they have their prescribed emergency medication with them while trick-or-treating and make sure any adult supervising your child knows about their allergy and understands what to do in an emergency.
You don’t have to ban Halloween candy to encourage healthy habits. Instead, make a plan with your child for enjoying their treats over the days following Halloween. Keep the rules realistic, consistent and positive.
Have a Spooktacular and Safe Halloween!
Halloween should be a night full of costumes, laughter, neighborhood adventures (including a special chance to make connections with your neighbors) and plenty of fun. A few simple precautions can help your family avoid preventable injuries and make sure the only things that are truly scary are the decorations. Take a little time to prepare and ensure everyone has a safe and happy holiday.
For questions, to book an appointment, or any other concerns, Augusta Pediatrics can be reached at (706) 868-0389. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only.