Our last blog It takes planning to be this Spooky focused on what you can do before Halloween ensure your little monsters have a safe experience Halloween night. Today is about how to keep our children safe while trick-or-treating and a few tips on make sure their stash of candy is safe enough to eat! Halloween is a great opportunity to hang out with your kids. Lay out some ground rules and be sure everyone understands the expectations of this holiday.
Tricks can be safe:
- Children should be well supervised by an adult while trick-or-treating. It is best for older children to trick-or-treat in groups, but everyone should stay in well-known neighborhoods.
- Carry a flashlight or glow stick. There are so many options now-a-days, from props to match a costume, to ropes you can wrap around your children.
- It is important to follow traffic signals and the rules of the road. Caught up in the mix of excitement, children tend for forget there are still cars around.
- Avoid taking short cuts across backyards or alleys and stick to sidewalks for well-lit streets. Perhaps get your neighbor together to add as many lights as possible.
- Be sure kids only enter homes if you accompany them and only of neighbors you know and trust.
- Never walk close to lighted candles or luminaries.
- Instruct children to only approach homes that are well lighted inside and out.
Who wants tricks, give me treats:
- Instruct your ghouls and goblins to bring all candy home before eating any of it so that it can be inspected for tampering. Children should refrain from snacking on treats during their adventure.
- Tell your kids no to accept and especially not to eat anything that isn’t commercially wrapped or packaged. Discard candy and treats that are homemade, unwrapped, or if they appear to have been tampered with (this includes the candy that is easy to unwrap and rewrap easily).
- Those with young children should remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys.
Wash all fresh fruit thoroughly, inspect for holes, including small punctures, and cut it open before allowing children to eat it (Though, to be fair, I’ve never received fruit during Halloween).
Make a game plan: Talk to your kids about the concerns with Halloween, what houses you want them to avoid and that they have to stay with you or risk ending the night early. Keep everyone on the same page and be sure they understand the importance of following your rules.
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