Maximizing Safety on Halloween
If you ask me, this time of year is elite, even in Florida. Although it’s still hot outside and the leaves barely change color here, the air is slightly more crisp and I can take comfort in the Halloween decorations that adorn most of the homes nearby. Moreover, even without the somewhat better weather, I am (and always have been) a Halloween girl at heart. I delight in all things spooky and love to absorb all of the Halloween festivities. Best of all, I can’t wait to share my love of Halloween with my daughter as she grows up.
However, in the increasingly scary times we live in, we parents have a lot more to worry about now than parents did a few decades ago. It’s insane to think that something as innocent as kids trick-or-treating could turn into a number of different nightmares - both intentional and unintentional. Because the world we live in doesn’t always care about the safety of children, I’ve compiled a list of ideas on how to maximize safety without sacrificing too much fun. If you’re a parent reading this, I hope these safety measures alleviate some of your anxieties and your kids enjoy themselves.
Discuss safety with your kids before going out trick-or-treating. Even if you’re going with them, it can’t hurt to ensure they know to stay on sidewalks, use crosswalks when crossing the street, and stay in well-lit areas. If anyone or any home seems sketchy, it’s best to steer clear.
Depending on how dark it is outside, and how dark your child’s costume is, consider putting reflective tape on their costume, or attaching glow sticks to make them more visible to cars passing by. If you don’t have any of that, simply turning on your phone light while walking will make you and your child more visible to drivers.
If you have very little ones, like toddlers, consider keeping them in a stroller most of the night, even if they can walk long distances. It’s harder and more tiring to keep toddlers out of harm’s way. Do yourself a favor and keep them strapped into a stroller for at least some of the night to reduce the risk of accidents happening.
Try not to get distracted too much. It’s so easy to get distracted by something on your phone or get caught up in a conversation with a neighbor, but those moments of inattention are usually when the worst things happen. Do your best to keep your attention on your littles the whole night, if you can.
Make sure your kiddos know your full name and phone number just in case they get lost. It happens to the best of us - we turn our backs for one second and they somehow disappear. Luckily, most kids only get lost for a few moments but that’s not always the case, sadly. By making sure they have your contact information and know what to do if they get lost, you can prevent a possible tragedy. If your kid(s) have phones, they can just call you or you can call them. But if they don’t have a phone, make sure they know to approach a safe person (usually a woman, especially if they have kids with them) and ask to use their phone to call you.
Pick costumes with flame-resistant materials. The chances of your child catching fire in their costume are extremely low but never zero. Some people put out candles and/or jack-o’-lanterns on Halloween and if your child gets too close, that could turn into a disaster.
Keep comfort and mobility in mind. Avoid costumes that are too long and could cause tripping, and make sure the costume isn’t too big or heavy for your child to walk around in.
Opt for non-toxic face paint instead of masks. Masks can block your child’s vision and consequently, their ability to be mindful of their surroundings. It’s better to keep your child’s face uninhibited to clear up their line of vision.
Plan your trick-or-treating route ahead of time. It’s helpful to know exactly where you’re going and if the route is familiar to you. This way, you’ll be much less likely to run into strangers and dark areas unexpectedly.
Check your child’s candy before they eat them. Unlike some other parents, I would have no issue allowing my child to go a little crazy with candy on Halloween - it only comes around once a year, after all. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t parse through it all and make sure the packaging is intact before letting your kids go ham. If any wrappers are open or if there is anything wrong with the candy at all, you should toss those pieces. Although finding needles and blades in your kids’ candy is not common or likely, it’s not impossible and is something you’ll want to keep in mind.
On a similar note, toss any homemade treats unless you know the source personally. There is no way to know what people put in their treats and it’s better to err on the side of safety. And that doesn’t necessarily mean that people want to poison kids on purpose - it could simply be that they put an allergen in their treats and forgot to disclose that to the parents. Additionally, not everyone keeps their home super clean - you never know what kind of dirt/bacteria/germs could get into homemade treats. Better to have packaged candy, only. If you prefer homemade Halloween treats, consider making them at home if you have the time.
If you have a toddler, toss all hard candy or anything else that could be a choking hazard.
Go in a group, if you can. Whether you’re taking your kids trick-or-treating or they’re old enough to go with their friends, going in groups is bound to increase safety. It’s much easier for a driver to see a big group of people than just one or two people. Likewise, a potential predator is almost certainly not going to try to attack a group of people that has multiple adults.
Share your location with someone close to you before heading out. If your spouse or co-parent is not going trick-or-treating with you and your child, consider sharing your location with them. Or, you can share your location with one of your parents, friends, or neighbors. If you have an older child who is going trick-or-treating by themselves or with friends, make sure they have their phone with them and their location is on.
Depending on where you live, consider going home when it gets dark. This is feasible in a place like Florida, where we get sunshine pretty late into the evening. But if you live up north where it gets dark by 5 p.m., it’s understandable that you and your little ones are not going to want to go home when the sun goes down.
Talk to your kids about stranger safety. While trick-or-treating, you’re bound to knock on some doors you’re not familiar with. But make sure your kids know to never go into anyone’s houses or cars under any circumstances unless they’ve gotten your permission to do so. Additionally, stick to the houses with lights on and the houses that are decorated and welcoming to trick-or-treaters. The grumpy Gilligans who don’t decorate for Halloween and don’t want trick-or-treaters are pretty easy to spot.
If you’re staying home to hand out candy, there are several measures you can take to ensure the safety of trick-or-treaters who come to your home. First, make sure your driveway and yard are clear of obstacles that people can trip on. Second, make sure your porch and entryway are well-lit to prevent accidents and to make families feel comfortable walking up to your home. Lastly, keep your pets indoors - you never know who might have a pet allergy or who might be afraid of certain animals. Likewise, you don’t want your fur babes to get startled by unfamiliar, loud children.
Keep calm and don’t ruin the whole night. As an anxious mom, I know it’s not easy to stifle your fears. My mind constantly goes to the darkest places, even during the happiest of times. But you also don’t want to overwhelm yourself or your little ones with all the possible things that could go wrong. You’ll just drive yourself crazy, so do your best and try to have fun.
If you’re going to be driving around on Halloween, drive slower than usual and keep a lookout for kiddos. Kids are more likely to get struck by a vehicle on Halloween than any other night of the year, understandably. You can help prevent a tragedy by paying attention and driving a little more slowly, at least while you’re in a residential neighborhood.
While taking precautions on Halloween isn’t always fun, neither are accidents or intentional acts of violence. I would love to say that any activity involving children is perfectly safe, but we know that’s far from true. By preparing in advance and communicating safety rules with little ones, you’ll be better equipped to relax and watch your children embrace the magic of the holiday.
XOXO, Alexis.