First, I want to start off by saying happy Indigenous Peoples' Day! I know it’s not Halloween quite yet, but I wanted to give you time to think about, and talk to your kids about, some safety practices while trick or treating. I also have a couple of fun little arts and crafts activity suggestions to complete before Halloween to add some pizazz and safety to a costume.
General Safety-
Never enter someone’s home while trick or treating
Kids under the age of 12 should trick-or-treat with an adult
Walk in groups, never walk alone and try to stay with your group at all times
Make sure your costumes fit properly so you don’t trip and fall
Make sure that face-makeup and/or masks do not obscure vision
Be careful of open flames- for example Jack-O'-Lanterns
Establish a curfew and make sure that everyone in the group knows when that is
Establish a walking route and do a practice trip before Halloween, make sure everyone knows the way back to the house or meet-up place in case they get separated from the group
Establish rules for what happens if someone is separated from the group- return home, stay where they are, continue route, or other alternatives
Have a talk with your children about safety and any other rules or guidelines that they should follow.
Always be aware of your surroundings
Be Visible-
Wear reflective tape
Bring a flashlight and/or glow sticks
Walk in well-lit areas that you’re familiar with
While Crossing the street-
Make sure to look both ways before crossing the street
Make sure to walk across the road, don’t run
Always cross the street at the corners and designated areas
Pay attention to crosswalk signs, and designated crossing areas
Pay special attention at intersections, alleyways, and driveways
While Driving-
Pay extra attention to your surroundings
Make sure to drive slowly and carefully entering/exiting driveways and alleyways
The most common hours of trick or treating are from about 5:30-9:30, so be extra vigilant during those hours especially
Fun Arts and Crafts to Consider Before Trick or Treating-
Make ID cards/badges for kids- add all contact information for what to do if a child gets lost- let kids decorate however they want- make it fun! Make sure to put it on your child in a way that they will always have access to it, some examples of this could be; make it into jewelry- necklace or bracelet, on a watch chain- use a safety pin to put it directly onto their costume or prop, put it in an easily accessible pocket, or even in their shoe.
Decorate bags and Costumes with reflective tape and bright colors- incorporate the lights into the costumes the children have chosen. Get creative!
These tricks can help you look your spookiest and still be safe!
To get in the Halloween spirit, Here’s a few recommendations to watch-
Nightmare Before Christmas
HalloweenTown 1-4
It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
The Addams Family
Casper
The Haunted Mansion
The Little Vampire
Hotel Transylvania
Scooby-Doo!- This one has Halloween specific movies- like “Scooby-Doo! And the Goblin King” but almost all Scooby-Doo movies or variations can work for Halloween
All of these movies are ones that my siblings and I loved as kids, and they’re fun for the whole family!
I hope you have a safe and Happy Halloween Season!
-Caitlin Barnard