Halloween is right around the corner! You may have already picked out your child’s costume, carved your pumpkin, and bought all your Halloween candy for the neighborhood trick-or-treaters, but have you prepared your kids for safe trick-or-treating?
Here are some simple safety tips for choosing the right costume, carving pumpkins with your kids, and trick-or-treating:
Costume Safety:
• Choose a costume that has reflective gear or sew on some bright colors or reflectors yourself. It’s getting darker earlier and your children may be out past dusk. Make sure they are seen by motorists, cyclists, and other pedestrians.
• Consider non-toxic makeup as opposed to masks that may block eyesight.
• Make sure the sword, cane, or stick that may be part of your child’s costume is not sharp and they understand that it is not to be used on other people.
Carving Safety Tips
• Small children should never carve pumpkins. If you would like to involve your small children in pumpkin carving, hand them a spoon and help them scoop out the guts of the pumpkin.
• Consider using a flashlight or glow light that sometimes come with pumpkin carving kits instead of real candles.
• If you do use candles, pumpkins should be placed outside on a sturdy surface and out of reach of small children.
Trick-or-Treating Safety
• Teach your child how to dial 9-1-1 in dangerous situations and teach them to only dial 9-1-1 in emergencies
• Purchase a flashlight with new batteries and make sure your child knows to carry it with them when trick-or-treating.
• Parents should always accompany a small child on trick-or-treating adventures around the neighborhood.
• If your older child is taking your smaller child out trick-or-treating, make sure you teach the older child to hold his/her sibling’s hand when crossing streets, to stick with their sibling, and to keep an eye on them at all times.
• Give your children a cell phone so they can call you or 9-1-1 if there are any emergencies.
• Teach your children that if there is no sidewalk available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
By following the simple safety tips above, you and your family can enjoy and safe and healthy Halloween night!
Get more Halloween safety tips by visiting www.AARP.org
