Kids love Halloween. The holiday sparks spooky thrills and creativity—when children and teens can dress up and pretend. For many, it's a time to celebrate with friends and enjoy trick-or-treating outdoors.
But Halloween can also bring a few real-life scares. From costume mishaps to safety concerns, it's important to plan ahead. Help keep Halloween fun and safe for your family with these tips.
Costume tips
It's fun for kids to dress up on Halloween. Help your child choose a costume that they'll want to wear again when playing with their friends. Here's how to get the right fit for Halloween.
Check that your child's costume and shoes fit well. Costumes should be short enough to prevent tripping and avoid catching on objects.
Consider
non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives to masks. Test makeup ahead of time on a small patch of your child's skin to ensure there are no unpleasant surprises or allergic reactions. Hats should not slide over eyes or block vision.
Avoid sharp or long swords, canes or sticks as a costume accessory. Kids can be hurt by these accessories if they stumble or trip.
Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Choose a colorful treat bag and add glow-in-the-dark elements, reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags.
Look for "flame resistant" on the costume labels. Check for labels in wigs and accessories, too.
Do not use
decorative contact lenses without an eye exam and a prescription from an eye care professional. While packaging for decorative lenses may claim
"one size fits all," or
"no need to see an eye specialist," decorative contact lenses are a medical device. If they don't properly fit, they can cause serious eye problems and permanent vision loss.
Tips for the trick-or-treat trail
Before trick-or-treating, go over the basics to keep kids safe.
Halloween street smarts
Did you know that child pedestrian injuries are more likely on Halloween than on any other night of the year?
Always go with young children on their neighborhood rounds. If trick-or-treating doesn't start until after dark where you live, consider checking with your town or park district for Halloween activities offered earlier in the day. Earlier festivities help you stick to your child's regular
bedtime.
Encourage older children to trick-or-treat in a group. Review their plan and route. Agree on a specific time when they should return home and encourage everyone to use a flashlight after dark.
Talk with kids about the risk of distracted walking. This includes text messaging, talking on or looking at their
cell phone and listening to music.
Cross the street as a group in a crosswalk, when available. Avoid mid-block crossings, where child pedestrian injuries are much more common. Make sure kids know not to cross the street between parked cars or out of driveways or alleys.
Don't assume cars will stop just because pedestrians have the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters.
Stay on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic. Only go to homes with a porch light on and, ideally, a well-lit pathway.
A message to parents of teen drivers
Before you let your child drive on Halloween, take precautions and set specific rules. Use our
Parent-Teen Driving Agreement.
Stranger danger & tricky people
Older children should travel in groups and create a "buddy system" to get each other home safely.
Kids should never enter a home or car for a treat. Notify law enforcement authorities immediately about any suspicious or unlawful activity. See
"Help Prevent Your Child from Going Missing" for tips.
Let your child know when and how to call 9-1-1 (or your local emergency number) if they ever have an emergency, get lost or are prone to
wander.
Prepare your home for trick-or-treaters
Remove tripping hazards on your porch and in your yard, such as garden hoses, toys and bikes.
Sweep wet leaves from sidewalks and steps to prevent slips and falls.
Check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
Restrain
pets so they do not jump on or
bite a trick-or-treater.
Pumpkin decorating tips
Allow small children to decorate (not carve) pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers. Leave the carving and cutting to the adults. Little ones can help by cleaning the inside pulp and seeds out.
Consider using a battery-operated flameless candle, flashlight or glow stick instead of a candle to light your jack-o'-lantern. If you do use a candle, a votive candle is safest.
Do not place candlelit pumpkins on a porch or any path where visitors may pass close by.
Healthy Halloween tips
Consider offering non-edible goodies to trick-or-treaters. Halloween is one of the trickiest days of the year for children with
food allergies. Even candies without the allergen can cause
anaphylaxis if they were made in a facility that uses the allergen in another food. Some non-edible treats include glow sticks, spider rings, vampire fangs, pencils, bubbles, bouncy balls, finger puppets, whistles, bookmarks, stickers and stencils.
Wait until children are home to sort and check treats before eating them. Though tampering is rare, it can happen. Closely examine all treats and throw away spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items. Give your child a good meal before trick-or-treating to discourage sampling.
Keep an eye on what your child has in their mouth at all times while trick-or-treating. Keep in mind that
babies and toddlers should not have hard candies, caramel apples, popcorn, gum, small candies (jellybeans, etc.), gummy candy, pumpkin seeds or anything with whole nuts. Candy wrappers, stickers, small toys or temporary tattoos can be a
choking hazard, too.
Try to ration treats for the days and weeks after Halloween. Keep candy rules realistic, consistent and positive. Make a plan together so everyone knows what to expect. It's also a great lesson to share with your kids.
Get tips for taming your child's sweet tooth here.
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