The costumes, the creativity and, of course, the candy. There’s plenty for kids to be excited about on Halloween. As a parent, however, there are things for you to be concerned about as well: dark streets, moving cars, suspect candy, etc. And these concerns can seem especially troubling if you’ll be traveling when the time to don the costumes officially arises.
Fear not. Today we’re donating our entire blog to strategies you can use to keep your kids safe this Halloween by focusing on three key areas to follow — or, if you’re traveling — ask a loved one to follow to ensure your kids have a fun, safe Halloween.
Pick smart costumes
Your children will pick their costume based on the character itself. As a parent, try to steer them with safety in mind. Choose bright costumes — hello, superheroes — over dark and drab and always go for costumes made of flame-retardant material. Don't be afraid to get creative as well and add glow sticks to the costume to make it more noticeable — perhaps give that monster some green, glowing eyes. Finally, avoid a mask if possible. The small eyeholes make it hard for your child to see the world around them.
Have a safety plan
If your child will be going out with friends instead of an adult when trick-or-treating this year, it pays to have a plan in place in case they get lost. Tell them to stick to the sidewalks and ask an adult for help. You can also consider placing a GPS tracking device in their bucket or giving them a phone to call you if they’re lost so together, you can find one another.
Hold off on the candy
As hard as it can be, your child will be better off if they hold off eating any candy until they come home. This gives you a chance to inspect it and be sure everything is as it should be. As you’re reviewing their haul, this is also a good time to look at the ingredients and remove anything that might trigger an allergic reaction.