Get your tricks and your treats ready because the ghouls and goblins are coming out to play! Your children are probably excited and eager for this holiday to arrive so they can show off their costumes and collect their candy while trick-or-treating.
Before Halloween arrives, it’s important to remember to think about safety before starting your Halloween preparations.
Costumes
When planning a costume for your child, remember to consider the weather on Halloween. Make sure the costume can be worn over layers to keep your children warm. While the costumes should fit over warm clothing, they should not be baggy enough to become a trip hazard.
If you have candles lit for an eerie atmosphere or for your jack-o-lanterns, be aware that baggy, flammable costumes are a hazard for your child as well. Looking for flame-resistant costumes in-store can help reduce this risk, but remember that flame-resistant does not mean entirely fire-proof and caution should still be exercised.
While trick-or-treating outside, bright coloured costumes and reflectors should be worn so your children are easily spotted.
When choosing costumes, opting for face paint over masks is often the safer choice. Ill-fitting masks can make breathing or seeing properly more difficult for children.
Decorations
Jack-o-Lanterns are fun to make with the whole family! Let your children draw a face on the pumpkin and have adults cut it out for them.
Consider battery lights over actual candles to light jack-o-lanterns. Don’t leave candles burning unsupervised.
Clear trip hazards from your home and leave an outside light on.
Trick-or-Treating
Have an adult go trick-or-treating with your children to supervise them. If they are old enough, you can follow at a distance so you can still keep an eye on them.
Make sure children walk on the sidewalk from house to house and only cross the street at a corner after looking both ways for vehicles.
You can also give each child a flashlight to make them more visible.
Advise your children to never enter a stranger’s home or car and only visit homes with their lights on.
Serve dinner before you go trick-or-treating so children are less tempted to snack on candy on their routes. Check over the candy before letting your children eat it. Throw away candy with broken wrappers and candy that isn’t commercially wrapped. If you suspect tampering, notify the police.
Bring a backpack in case the loot bag gets too heavy for your children to carry.
For more Halloween safety tips, visit Health Canada’s safety guide.
