A safe and happy Halloween

My oldest daughter has always loved Halloween. When she was a toddler, she enjoyed dressing up and giving out the treats and then quickly moved to die-hard trick-or-treating. For our younger daughter, Halloween has had mixed success. Her first Halloween went well, when she was a happy oblivious peapod, only months old. She turned the corner last year; when her princess gene kicked in and she realized that looking cute and getting candy are good things. In between her first Halloween and last year, she frankly could take or leave Halloween. As long as no one in a costume talked to her and she got some candy, she was happy. She spent most of those years hiding behind my husband while her sister got the treats for her.

Keep in mind that for young kids, Halloween can be very overwhelming. Some kids may just prefer to stay at home and help give out candy; others may want to carry their costume; and others may not be interested at all. Your child will let you know when they are ready to dress-up and “be a big kid”. Until then, just go with the flow.

For the kids who do venture out each Halloween, here are some tips compiled from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Red Cross to help you on your way:

• Costumes should be bright and short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with fire-related objects, like Jack-o-lanterns. All costume material should be flame resistant. Make sure your child’s shoes fit well and that they are dressed for the weather – Halloween is often very chilly!
• For better visibility, carry flashlights; reflective trick-or-treat bags, or the ready-to-use glow sticks.
• Especially for older kids that are going out without an adult, make sure emergency identification (name, address, phone number) is discreetly tagged within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.
• Use make-up instead of masks; masks can block vision.
• Instead of carving pumpkins, consider decorating with markers and paint. Also consider battery-powered lights for the pumpkin instead of candles.
• At your home, remove anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations. Make sure your outdoor lights are on and the walkways are free of wet leaves. Do not overload electrical outlets with holiday lighting or special effects.
• Plan and review with your children which route is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when revelers must return home. Make sure someone in the group has a watch and a cell phone for emergencies. Make sure a parent or older teenager accompanies children, especially small children.
• Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
• Although sharing is encouraged, make sure items that can cause choking (such as hard candies), are given only to those of an appropriate age.
• Avoid “homemade” edible treats – you can’t be sure what is inside.
• Make sure your Trick-or Treaters:
  • use their flashlights and stay with their groups at all time
  • only go to homes with a porch light on.
  • remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
  • never cut across yards or use alleys.
  • never enter a stranger's home or car for a treat.
  • obey all traffic and pedestrian regulations, and only cross the street at crosswalks.
  • call 911 for any suspicious or unlawful activity.

Finally, above all else, enjoy an evening of fantasy and fun with your kids!

© 2005 Pediatrics Now. All rights reserved. PEDIATRICS NOW is a trademark of Pediatrics Now.

[back to Salem News Archive]