Halloween Safety

There are all kinds of myths and urban legends that float around, especially about this time of year. Most are flat out lies, fabricated by the fears that we have of the unknown. Sometimes the root of them does hold a smolder of truth. Those are the stories that we really cling to, to pass on, the ones that keep us checking and re checking ourselves and our kids.

There are many ways to teach kids to be safe on Halloween. In my eyes, probably the most important safety tip is for kids to go with an adult. As that is not always the case, they should at a minimum, go with a friend or preferrably a group of friends. Teach kids to not leave the group or leave one another at any time. Children should be told to not get into a vehicle of anyone they don't have permission to go with for any reason.

The second thing that we should all be teaching our kids about being safe at Halloween is where to go if they get scared. Yes, Halloween is a scary holiday, and to an extent, it is supposed to be that way. However, there are and will probably always be, those that take the fear factor and run with it. If you aren't going with your child, make sure to either have a way for them to get into contact with you, or have your own emergency plan in place with your child to ensure that if an emergency DOES occur, they know what to do, instead of doing nothing. It could be as simple as having them go to a trusted friend's house.

Ah....candy! There is nothing better than a holiday where you get to dress up, be silly and get rewarded for your creative efforts with good old fashioned candy in a bucket (or bag). As the years have passed, the times of homemade popcorn balls, candied apples and rice krispy treats as Halloween treats seems to have pretty much faded. There are still some that do that, but it is usually given to children they know personally, not to everyone like they used. Make sure to remind your kids that no matter how tempting it may be to munch away while they continue the trek from house to house, to wait until they get home so that the treats can be inspected and questionable pieces thrown away.

Last, but definitely not least is visibility. There are tons of ways to make your child visible both to others walking, but to those in vehicles. There are flashlights, glow sticks, glow neclaces, bracelets, etc. to keep your child easy to see. There are even crafts to make your own reflective halloween spooky neclaces. Whichever way that you decide to keep your child lit up, they will be safer than if they aren't able to be seen.

Have a fun and wonderful Halloween. And remember, there are tons of Halloween crafts that make a great alternative to candy!