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20 Best Halloween Safety Tips for Moms
As I’m preparing for all the amazing fall fun we’re about to have—cooler weather, fall decorations, cozy blankets, and heartier meals—Halloween safety, too, comes to mind. This is a time of year full of anticipation and excitement for our kids, so we as parents must be vigilant to keep our kids safe on Halloween night.
Being prepared to have a safe Halloween is of the utmost importance. On Halloween night, our neighborhoods are buzzing with activity; there are more stranger interactions, the lighting outside is dim or dark, there will be more cars on the streets, and in the midst of it all, our children are excited and pumped full of sugar.
Keeping our kids safe on Halloween night is all about a little planning and a lot of awareness. For safety reasons, we must ensure our children’s costumes are fun and safe. Make sure their costumes are well-fitted and don’t cause them to trip. Also, adding some reflective tape and glow sticks to their costumes will do wonders for helping drivers see them as they go Trick-or-Treating door-to-door.
It’s also a good idea for you and your child to carry a flashlight. Most neighborhoods are fairly dark. If you have small children, stay in the most well-lit areas to help you keep track of them. Additionally, Halloween is a great time to remind your children of all the traffic safety rules—look both ways before crossing the street!
As you can see, there’s a lot to cover here, so let’s dive deeper into 20 of the best Halloween safety tips. Let’s make Halloween 2024 the best yet!
Halloween Costume Saftey
1). Choose flame-resistant costumes. Halloween is all about ambiance, and some neighbors may achieve that spooky look by lighting candles down their driveway or walkway. They may not be thinking of the dangers this might cause young children, so be sure to choose a well-fitted, flame-resistant costume for your child.
2). Use face paint over masks. Masks make it hard for a young child to see. By using face paint, your child will still have the look of their favorite character with more safety in mind.
3). Use non-toxic makeup. If you use face paint, make sure it’s non-toxic and test a little bit on their skin a day or two before Halloween to ensure they do not have an allergy to the makeup you’re using.
4). Make sure their costume fits properly. Avoid costumes that are too long, have loose parts, or are too big. As our kids go from house to house, we want to make sure they do not trip and fall.
5). Have layers ready. Plan ahead with layers in case Halloween night is cold. We live in Tennessee, and Halloween night can be 80 degrees or 30 degrees. Even though we’re in the South, we get chilly weather, too! Keep those layers ready if the fall weather turns frosty.
6). Use reflective tape. Find places on your child’s costume to put reflective tape so drivers can see your child if they wind up in the street. Kids are quick, and even the most vigilant parents can suddenly find their toddler or preschooler heading toward the road.
7). Be Aware of Props. Make sure that any props your child carries are soft and won’t hurt anyone. Have a conversation about being respectful with costume props. The props are there for fun and to make the costume look authentic, not to hurt or bother people with them.
Stay in the light
8). Stay in Well-Lit Areas. If possible, find a neighborhood to Trick-or-Treat in that is well-lit. This will help you keep track of your child and help traffic see them if they wander in the street. Some neighborhoods are set up well for events like Trick-or-Treating, so take the time to research the best neighborhoods for Halloween in your area.
9). Carry Flashlights. Be sure to carry a flashlight while out and about on Halloween night. Your child may play with the flashlight, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. This is a good opportunity to teach your child about flashlight etiquette. Explain that shining flashlights towards other people’s eyes is not polite.
Prepare and Make a Plan
10). Plan a Route. Once you’ve found your neighborhood to Trick-or-Treat in, plan your route. If you’re in a neighborhood you’re not familiar with, having a plan will help you stay on track. If your child is old enough to Trick-or-Treat with their friends, help them plan a path that the group will follow. This will help ensure they don’t get lost or end up in a place you don’t want them to be.
11). Prep Your Child for the Spooky. Talk to your child about how some Halloween costumes and decorations look scary. During this conversation, explain that the Halloween-themed decorations they will see are all pretend and meant to be just for fun.
12). Plan the Amount of Candy You’ll Let Them to Eat. Give your child a healthy meal before heading out to Trick-or-Treat so they’ll be less prone to eat too much candy. For younger kids, go in knowing in advance how much candy you will allow them to eat for the evening. If you’ve already made this decision beforehand, it’s easier to stick to your decision. Plus, you’re less likely to have a child with a tummy ache.
Teach Your Child About Halloween Safety
13). Stay in the Group. If your child is old enough to go Trick-or-Treating with their friends, emphasize the importance of staying with their group. They are much safer in large numbers if they all stay together. Stress to them that no one gets left behind or wanders off by themselves.
14). Set Boundaries. Talk about your rules for Halloween night with your child. Ensure they know they are not to enter anyone’s home or vehicle they don’t know, and they are not to go anywhere with a stranger. If one of their friends breaks this rule, they should immediately find a responsible adult they know or call 9-1-1.
15). Talk About Street Safety. Go over your traffic rules with your children. Remind them to look both ways before they cross the street. Repeat to them that we stay on the sidewalks and never walk in the middle of the street.
16). Set a curfew. If your child is Trick-or-Treating with friends, set a firm boundary about when you expect them back at home. Let them know that you are setting this rule to protect them.
General Halloween Safety
17). Keep Close Supervision on Young Children. If you have little ones, keep a close and vigilant eye on them. Our toddlers, preschoolers, and even young school-age children tend to get distracted by, well…everything. Keep them close to you, and don’t let them out of your sight when walking around neighborhood streets at night.
18). Inspect the Candy Your Child Receives. Before your child opens all their candy, ensure there are no holes or tears in the candy wrappers. If you, as a parent, don’t recognize a type of candy, throw it away immediately.
19). Avoid Dark Areas. If the neighborhood you plan to Trick-or-Treat in is not as well-lit as you thought, find another neighborhood. It’s not worth putting everyone at risk for the night. Remember, even the best neighborhoods for Trick-or-Treating may have pockets that are not as well-lit as others. Stay on the best-lit paths.
20). Avoid Distractions Such as Cell Phones. Parents need to keep a close eye on everything around them during Halloween. While it’s mostly a fun holiday for kids, be aware that not everyone has the same good intentions for our children. If we remain vigilant, everyone will have a safe and happy Halloween.
Bonus tips
21). Bonus Tips. These aren’t safety tips but a reminder to be mindful of your child’s manners and interactions with others on Halloween night.
- Have them say thank you as they leave each house. Teaching gratefulness from a young age will help your child grow up with a more positive mindset, be happier and less stressed, and develop more friendships throughout life.
- If a house has a bowl of candy out on the driveway and no one is monitoring it, teach them moderation – don’t allow them grab candy by the handful.
- Teach them to respect their neighbors, the neighbors’ property, and our friends. As exciting as Halloween is, we must be cautious not to harm someone’s lawn, decorations, or flower pots, and we must be mindful not to push past other Trick-or-Treaters.
As mothers, we all want Halloween to be a night of fun, excitement, lots of pictures, and memories with our kids. With some planning and simple Halloween safety measures, our kids will have an amazing time while staying safe. By keeping our little ones visible in the dark, inspecting their candy, and setting clear boundaries for Trick-or-Treating, a little planning and effort goes a long way to give us moms some peace of mind!
So, enjoy the Halloween memories and excitement, and remember that with a few mindful steps, your family will have a Halloween to remember for all the right reasons. Stay safe, and have a spooktacular time!
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