Think Safety For A Fun-Filled Halloween

The chill in the air means fall. Fall means harvests, changing leaves, pumpkins, cooler days and of course everyone’s personal favorite: Halloween. And that time is very shortcoming and no doubt you have to be excited that it’s literally right around the corner. Counting down the days to the big night must be time-consuming for the kiddies. I know mine are exhausted each night before they got to go to bed. “When’s Halloween again?” is now the new question I’m asked every single day.

Sure you can think of Halloween as one of the best times of the year with the spook-filled day of nothing but costumes, pranks, candy and creepiness. There’s nothing like the outdoors on a fall evening is there? Especially when all they want to do is dress up, smear on make-up, grab the pillow cases and go hunting door-to-door for some delicious treats. But no matter how fun you make this holiday out to be, what kids and parents alike must remember is that this night is also about safety.

No matter how you think on it, safety is definitely a priority. Taking the kids out every year, you learn a lesson or two each time. It’s supposed to be the creepiest time of the year with several ghouls, goblins and ghosts running amok. And that’s definitely something you want to avoid how ever possible. Safety doesn’t sound like fun on Halloween at first, but when it comes down to it, you realize that by playing the night safe, you can easily enjoy trick-or-treating.

For the past several years, I’ve learned a few lessons here and there after trick-or-treating myself as a kid. As I got older, I began taking out my nieces and nephews when necessary. Some say it’s as easy as riding a bicycle, just take them out, go door to door and say trick-or-treat. But whether you’re by yourself or a first-time parent taking your own little ones on the town, it’s easy to lose yourself in the evening when free treats are available for the taking. Whether you’re a kid or an adult, it’s best to play it safe and think things through before beginning the night otherwise you might find yourself in a predicament that can make the night seem sad.

Don’t worry. I don’t mean to make Halloween feel like a downer, but it’s good to be safe and happy, right? Here are some lessons and tips I’ve learned, sometimes the hard way, on how to keep yourself and the kiddos safe and happy on this creep-tastic evening:

• Plan – It’s best to have a plan put together before this night comes. By sitting down the kids, you can let them know how you’ll be doing the trick-or-treating. If you’re having other kids accompanying your own, include them in on the plan. Tell them the rules you apply when trick-or-treating, what neighborhoods they will be going to, the route, who will accompany them and easy tips for crossing streets and avoiding trouble.
• Costume – This is the best part of Halloween. Everybody wants to be somebody else, but sometimes you might want to set restrictions and limitations. Some costumes have masks included, but some parents might want to consider costumes with make-up or at least fitting masks where your child can see and breath easy with no obstructions stopping them. Also, make sure the costume itself fits without any loose bottoms or hand restraints. This way there will no trips, falls or obscurities while having fun.
• Flashlight/Reflectors – When night hits, it’s not going to be easy to see where you’re going. The best thing you can do is make sure you have flashlights available to see everything around you. This helps to diminish the amount of possible falls waiting to happen. Reflectors is also a great idea to have. Put them on the costumes, trick-or-treat buckets/bags, parents, strollers, bikes or anything else with you. It lets others see you easily, especially drivers. Glowsticks are also a good safety tool to be seen. Not only that, they’re fun to carry around. (My kids love swishing them around to make fun designs)
• Streets/Sidewalks – Know all the streets you are going down. This way you won’t be able to get lost, especially if you know the neighborhood easy enough. Try to keep yourselves walking on sidewalks whenever possible to avoid any possible traffic coming your way. If you’re a kid and with a group, try to keep away from any alleys or side streets. It’s best to stay out in the public where you can be seen and remember the safety rules when crossing streets.
• Group/Chaperone – Don’t go out by yourself. Even if you feel old enough to do so, safety in numbers is the best thing. Not only will you have a lot more fun trick-or-treating, but having a big number of friends around will keep you safe from any kind of bad strangers. Also, having a single adult or more with you is key. They can keep an eye on you, walk you around the neighborhood safely and let you know which houses you can and cannot go to. It’s a big bonus if they also dress up. Come on, it’s Halloween, parents! It’s not only for the kiddos!
• Houses – Some houses don’t celebrate Halloween or they just don’t have any candy. The chaperone accompanying you can easily deter you away from the wrong ones. Usually lights on means “Come get free candy!” but sometimes it just means, “Sorry, we’re keeping lights on cause we’re not home.”. So it’s pretty 50/50 there. Also, when you go up to a house, try to stay with your group. Do not go into a home that belongs to a stranger. If it’s necessary, make sure the adult goes with to keep you safe.
• Treats – Parents and kids, please take caution on this one. Do not allow them to eat any of the treats they get while trick-or-treating until the end of the night and AFTER you check their candy. If any candies are unsealed, punctured or have a bulge of some sort that shouldn’t be there, throw it out immediately. Also, if they receive any homemade goodies from houses you, or they, don’t know, it’s recommended not to eat them either. Sure it may seem the little old lady who made those oatmeal cookies are harmless, but it’s best not to take a chance.

So, if it seems I made Halloween sound less fun, sorry, sorry. Didn’t mean to. But as long as you follow safety rules and tips like the ones I shared with you, you’ll be able to continue on with your evening and have the best night of your life!

If parents wish to find lots more safety tips and advice for having a safe Halloween, you could probably check out your local community website.

Have a safe and happy Halloween, everybody! Mwha-ha-ha-ha! *wolf howl*