By the end of this month, don’t be surprised if you see a variety of black cats, witches, and ghosts running rampant throughout your neighborhood. Halloween is less than a month away and with it, a fresh opportunity to make sure your kids have a safe, fun, and healthy holiday.
When designing your child’s costume, prioritize safety. Mindful parents should keep watch over everything, from weather reports to the length of their child’s Superman cape. Incorporating bright colors, reflective tape, or flashlights into the costume will not only improve your child’s visibility, but can also make the costume feel more authentic to the child. If he or she wants to go to infinity and beyond as Buzz Lightyear, find some glow-in-the-dark tape and reflectors to make the costume come to life. Be sure the costume does not drag on the ground (this prevents tripping) and avoid masks that cover children’s eyes or make it difficult to breathe freely.
Before heading out with your kids (or before you get ready to hand out candy to someone else’s) make sure trick-or-treaters have a clear path to the front door. Place jack-o-lanterns off to one side, and put away unused toys, garden supplies, and anything else that could present a tripping hazard to others. If you have older kids going out, be sure to know where they are headed and when they will be back. Children of any age should have the phone number of an adult in case they get lost.
In an effort to curtail an overindulgence in candy intake, the website KidsHealth.org suggests serving a filling, healthy meal to children before trick-or-treating. When they return home with treats in tow, make sure to keep an eye on exactly how much candy they bring back. Store candy somewhere other than the bedroom and consider setting daily limits on candy consumption.
Just enjoy the night, the candy, and of course, your own little goblins and ghouls!