Halloween is one of our household's favorite holidays. Picking out costumes, decorating the house and the yard, telling spooky stories, and going trick-or-treating are all the components of a happy Halloween in my house. While the kids are, understandably, focused on having fun, my husband and I recognize that the holiday poses unique safety risks that we need to be prepared for. Since we can't simply keep them inside (though we might like to), we've had to become Halloween safety experts. Many of the safety tactics we've employed over the years haven't even registered with my kids. What are some under the radar safety tricks you can try for Halloween?
Lighten up…literally.
We typically begin our trick-or-treating while it's still light outside, but the kids love getting out the flashlight and knocking on some doors with the rest of the kids after the sun has set. Mom and dad get to carry the flashlight, and we tend to accessorize our kids' costumes with glow-in-the-dark jewelry. Bracelets, necklaces, and headbands add a little evening flare to their costumes and guarantee that they can be seen (by us, and by others). Even a reflective bag or bucket for candy can help your child stay visible once it's dark outside.
Let's get together!
A get together with friends and neighbors has become a tradition on our street. The fire pit is ready when we want to roast hot dogs and marshmallows and everyone pulls out their folding chairs and flashlights. The kids love socializing with their friends and having a Halloween party. How are we being sneaky? The kids are so excited that they don't usually spend much time going door-to-door. Instead, they hit the neighbors closest to home and spend the rest of the evening eating s'mores. We've got our eyes on them and we don't have a candy overload, either.
Focus on the fun.
I've kept them safe from oncoming cars, I've shielded their teeth, and I try to think about their emotional well-being during Halloween, too. I have one sensitive daughter who doesn't like scary stories and talk about ghosts, goblins, and zombies. She doesn't want someone jumping out at her from behind a tree. We have to focus on keeping Halloween fun, instead of frightening her to death. So we tend to keep our costumes relatively low-key (this year we'll have a lion and two fortune tellers, unless they change their minds). We keep the lights on and don't tell stories that are too scary. We make sure we pre-screen any Halloween specials she might want to watch. We try to keep Halloween fun, instead of frightening.
What tricks have you had to employ in order to keep your kids safe on Halloween?
Kelly Herdrich is a Yahoo! Shine Parenting Guru. When she isn't busy chasing after her three daughters, she's writing, blogging, and knitting. She still hasn't decided on her own Halloween costume.
