Halloween Safety Tips for Kids!

Halloween is a favourite time of year for many young people out there – and even adults! What could be better than: 1) dressing up as anything you want, 2) collecting loads of candy and then 3) eating lots of it and staying up late?   Sounds fun, but to make sure your Halloween night stays fun, we highly recommend you review these simple safety tips with your children (click the image for a larger version):

Let’s Review

1. Ensure your children trick-or-treat in a group or with an adult. For kids going alone in a group, it’s best to sit down with them and plan out their route first so they know where to go and are not just wondering the neighbourhood. Also set a time and meeting place to regroup at the of the night.
2. Make sure everyone in the group knows their emergency contact information, whether there is an adult with the group or not.
3. We recommend they trick-or-treat in a neighbourhood you know. It helps to know people in the area and to have a good idea as to the layout of the neighbourhood.
4. Children should only visit well-lit homes and never enter a home They may be accepting candy from strangers on this night, but it needs to stay in a controlled environment – which is on the doorstep.
5. It’s a good idea to bring along a flashlight. With kids running around in costumes in the dark, it might come in handy when you really need it.
6. Have your kids walk on the sidewalk whenever possible. It may be Halloween, but the roads are not closed.
7. Make sure your kids know to look both ways before crossing a street, even on Halloween night.
8. Consider adding some reflective strips or badges to their costumes so drivers can see them.
9. Make sure their costumes fit well, including masks, capes, etc. The last thing they need is to trip on their own costume and ruin their night by hurting themselves.
10. Test out costume makeup on a small part of the skin before applying elsewhere. Some can contain chemicals or heavy metals that may not fare well with your child’s skin. It’s always best to test first.
11. Inspect all candy for tampering or choking hazards. You should tell your children not to eat any candy until they return home. Once they do, have them pour their candy in piles on the table for you to do an inspection.
12. Only let them eat the factory-made candy that does not resemble any tampering. As thoughtful as homemade candy may be, it’s unfortunately too risky in today’s day in age.