Halloween Lighting:

Spooky atmosphere is an important part of this holiday, but you can keep your trick-or-treaters safe by making sure they carry a flashlight with their pails. Flashlights come in many sizes, ranging from standard to flashlight keychains, and having one makes sure your trick-or-treaters have a source of light ready any time.

Lighting Tip: Glow sticks are a fun way to carry a light source. They come in a variety of colors and shapes, but they all work to keep your kids visible.

Halloween Costumes:

Halloween costumes are a fun way for kids to express themselves. Is James a pirate or a zombie? Is Nancy a princess or a vampire? Whatever the costume, make sure they can move in it by pinning up parts that might cause a stumble or fall, like long tails or capes, before they head out trick-or-treating.

Costume Tip: If your Halloween costume comes with a mask that restricts your vision, ditch the mask and pick up some face paint instead. It’s a creative, fun way to keep your costume’s theme without decreasing your field of vision.

Halloween Candy:

Halloween means dressing up in costumes, knocking on doors or going to parties, and getting enough candy to scare your dentist and likely satisfy your sweet tooth for the whole year.

Check Halloween candy when your trick-or-treaters return, looking for ripped or open wrapping. It’s always good to err on the side of caution, and if there’s one Halloween rule everyone remembers, it’s check the booty.

Candy Tip: Avoid handing out hard candies to very small children at Halloween. While tasty, there’s always a choking hazard; opt for softer treats like chocolate bars, or even healthier choices like cereal bars (the kids may not get it, but parents will thank you!).

Plan Ahead for Halloween:

Halloween can be a really fun and safe night as long as you plan ahead. Buy your kids’ Halloween costumes and decide whether you’ll be joining your kids on the trick-or-treat trail (and whether you’d like to wear a witch costume this year) or if they’re old enough to go with a group of friends. Either way, know where they’re going; if possible, help them plan their route (hit up neighboring houses—if they know you, chances are they’ll be more generous with their candy!). It’s unpopular, but having a set return time is also a good way to go; discuss this curfew with your family so everyone agrees with it.

Trick or Treat Tip: Remind children about basic safety rules (stay on the porch when asking for candy from strange houses, don’t go up to houses that have no lights on or are poorly lit) and if they have cell phones, make sure they’re charged. Have a safe and spooky Halloween!

Here are some helpful links that you may find useful this Halloween:

• Red Cross Health & Safety Tips: http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/tips/October/octtips.html
• Halloween Safety Site: http://www.halloween-safety.com/
• Become.com Halloween Newsletter: http://www.become.com/newsletter.html

Happy Halloween!

Dani

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