As Halloween season nears, it is perfectly natural to have some concerns as a responsible parent. It’s important for everybody to have fun, with the least amount of stress or worries. Take a look at some of these safety tips.
Costumes
Your child’s movement shouldn’t be restricted at all. Avoid costumes that have pieces of cloth dangling to the ground or any add-ons that may cause your child to trip and fall.
Try out the costume before Halloween just to make sure it fits.
Make use of face paint instead of masks, as they can restrict vision. If you must use masks, make sure the eyeholes and nostrils are large enough so as to prevent any constriction at all.
Certain face paints may cause an allergic skin reaction. Paint a small area on your child’s face several days prior to Halloween just to make sure there are no allergic reactions. If there are, you can get in touch with a dermatologist or switch to a different brand.
Costumes ought to be clearly visible at night. Make your child wear reflective tapes or vests on the costume so they can be fully visible to drivers or motorists.
All costumes must be flame-retardant. There should be a label on the costume that says so. This includes wigs and bags.
Avoid all “weapon” or weapon-like costume add-ons; swords, knives or any pointed objects should naturally be made of flexible material or avoided altogether.
The costume should be weather-appropriate; not too warm or too cold.
It might be useful to carry a spare “trick-or-treats”. Your child may inadvertently rip it, so always good to have a spare.
Candy
Your child should avoid eating candy until he/she gets home.
As a parent, always check to see if the candy’s been tampered with; if the wrapper’s ripped or open, do not eat it. In some cases, if the candy strikes you as suspicious, do not hesitate to ask the police to look into it.
Avoid having homemade treats or candy.
Just to be extra safe, avoid eating fresh fruit given out during trick-or-treating.
Neighborhood
Always go trick-or-treating in your own neighborhood or one you’re completely familiar with.
Children under the age of 10 should always be accompanied by their parents. Instead of going door-to-door it would be a sound idea to take your children to an organized trick-or-treating event; a nursing home or, say, a shopping mall.
Even if your child is over 10 years of age, never go trick-or-treating alone. Tell your child to go with at least two friends and stick together from the moment they set foot. Parents should know exactly who’s accompanying their child and in what neighborhoods they’ll be trick-or-treating.
Chalk out your route well ahead of time. Parents should know what route their children will be taking, and likewise, every child should be strictly instructed to stick to that route.
Avoid using candles or torches, as they can cause a fire to break out. Don’t touch or play around pumpkins. Only use a flashlight.
Go near houses that have lights on. Stay close to lighted areas. Always approach houses from the front door, never from the side or back.
Never march inside anyone’s house. If nobody comes to the door after ringing the bell twice, wait for a while and leave.
While moving around, walk on sidewalks and driveways. Taking shortcuts through alleys or backyards is not recommended.
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