With ghouls, ghosts and goblins galore, Halloween is the scariest time of the year. But it shouldn’t have to be scary for parents, who might be worried about their children getting lost, wandering into unsafe areas or even getting into an accident — the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that pedestrian fatalities are 43% higher on Halloween compared to the rest of the year.
But with some parental involvement and a few smart safety tips, you can ensure that the scariest thing that happens on Halloween night is being spooked by a scary costume or some creepy decorations.
Chaperone Young Children
If your children are under 12, you should be accompanying them during their trick-or-treating outings. Even if your child knows the neighborhood well, it may not be safe for them to walk around at night in dark areas. If your child is old enough to trick-or-treat without a parent, you should be sure that they are going with a friend or group of friends so they can keep track of each other.
Don’t Walk Distracted
There will likely be more people on the sidewalks and streets than normal on Halloween. Walking on the sidewalk while using a phone will likely lead to you or your child bumping into other people, and crossing the street while using a phone is incredibly dangerous. No matter what you’re looking at, it can wait until you’ve come to a full stop.
Stay on the Sidewalk
Keep off of the street, as drivers will often have a hard time seeing trick-or-treaters if the sun has already gone down. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the grass or as close to the left side of the road as possible, so drivers can see you walking towards them.
Bring a Light
While many smartphones have built-in flashlights, some children may be too young to have one. In this case, a glow stick or flashlight could help. If trick-or-treating in an area without streetlights, having a light source can keep your kids from getting lost or tripping over things.
Make Sure Your Child’s Costume Fits
Wearing clothing that is too loose can lead to tripping and falling, especially if a child’s shoes aren’t the right size. It can also be easier for people to grab hold of loose parts of a costume or for them to get caught on objects.
Consider a Warmer Costume
It’s always a major let-down when Halloween night is so cold that trick-or-treaters have to wear a coat over their costumes. Costumes with long sleeves, or ones made of clothes that have more bulk, can help avoid this. Still, bringing your child’s coat while trick-or-treating with them is a smart idea in case the temperature drops.
Don’t go into People’s Homes for Treats
Unless you personally know your neighbors well and have established a plan with them in advance, your children should not be entering people’s houses when trick-or-treating. They shouldn’t go any further than the front porch. Additionally, do not approach strangers’ cars.
Stay Away from Dark Houses
If someone doesn’t have their porch or internal lights on, chances are that they aren’t home or simply do not want any trick-or-treaters. Avoiding these houses helps teach kids about respecting boundaries, as well as any potential dangers that could come with entering an unlit area.
Don’t Take Unwrapped Treats
Whether it’s candy loose in a bowl or baked goods, unwrapped desserts have a higher chance of having been tampered with or just being unsanitary. The common rumors of sinister people hiding razor blades or drugs in candy are often urban legends, but it never hurts to be careful.
Discourage Your Kids from Eating Too Much Candy
The amount of candy you can collect on Halloween can be overwhelming, and the excitement of the night might lead to your tuckered-out trick-or-treaters chowing down on candy. Even if it’s a special night, keep an eye on them to make sure they’re not eating too much. Eating less of it at a time makes it last longer, and can help keep a little of that Halloween magic going for several months afterwards depending on how frugal you are with your candy.
