These days, trick-or-treating during Halloween has become more and more common among kids. And aside from Halloween parties and celebrations in malls, a lot of neighborhoods are also joining in the Halloween spirit by giving out candies to kids who wear costumes and go trick-or-treating.
Here are some safety reminders to help you ensure your children’s safety when they go trick-or-treating.
General safety reminders:
- Set some rules. For younger kids, it would be best if you can go with them as they go from house to house to go trick-or-treating. For older kids who want to be with their friends, set a curfew as well as set a limit on how far they can go.
- When your child gets home, make sure to inspect their treats as they might get some candies that could be expired, or have torn or broken packaging. If your child has a peanut allergy or food allergies in general, double check the ingredients on the candies that they brought home.
- Don’t let your little one eat all their candy in one sitting. It would be best if you can try to ration your child’s candy so that they don’t eat it all at once and get a stomachache or rot their teeth. Give them a few pieces every day, or give it as a reward if they do their chores or if they get good grades.
- In some cases, hosting your own Halloween party would be a good idea. That way, you can be sure that your child is safe, and you’re in control of the candies that your child gets.
When going house to house:
- Make sure that your child knows to look left and right before crossing the road, and not to stray too far.
- Your children should always have a companion, preferably an adult or an older child who can take care of them.
- Keep in contact with your kids through a cellphone.
- Make sure they go home before their curfew.
- Remind them not to talk to strangers, and only go visit the homes of neighbors that they know and are familiar with.
Make sure your child’s costume is safe:
- Your child’s costume shouldn’t have any hard or pointy bits, so that they can be free from injury.
- Make sure they’re wearing comfortable shoes, and their costume doesn’t obstruct their movement.
- Face paint is better than wearing a mask, since face paint won’t obscure your child’s vision.
- If they’re trick-or-treating at night, make sure they wear bright colors and their candy bags are brightly colored so that they can be easily seen.
- You can also let your child carry some glowsticks with them to help them stand out more.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your kids will have a fun and spooky time this Halloween. And just a reminder for moms and dads, make sure not to eat all of your kid’s Halloween candy!
Source: safekids.org, mayoclinic.org
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