Safety Tips for Halloween: Ideas to Keep Your Toddler or Preschooler Safe

Halloween is a fun and exciting time for children, but as a parent, it can be a stressful and frightening night. In the days when it seems like nothing is safe, there are so many things that need to be done in preparation for Halloween besides picking out costumes. It is important to plan ahead for the safety of the children while trick-or-treating. Below are safety tips for Halloween that toddler and preschool parents will want to keep in mind!

Trick-or-treating is the most common Halloween activity for young children across the United States. This list includes safety tips for Halloween for preschool and toddler parents while trick-or-treating.

• Always have an adult accompany young children. In fact, the bigger your group, the safer you are. One adult to every 2-3 children is recommended.
• Always carry a flashlight. Even if you are trick-or-treating in a well-lit subdivision, a flashlight allows oncoming traffic to see you. Plus, you never know when a street light may be out.
• Have all young children wear a glow stick around their neck. This adds extra light, as mentioned above. In addition, this makes counting and seeing all children in your group very easy. This is especially important with large groups. Of course, the kids love them too!
• Never trick-or-treat at houses that do not have their lights on. First of all, chances are that if they do not have their lights on, they are either not home or are not handing out candy. In either case, this will waste time your children could be getting candy elsewhere. Also, registered sex offenders are required to keep their lights off.
• Check the registered sex offenders list in your area. As mentioned above, they are usually required to keep their lights off, but in the event that they would not do so or your child walked up there anyway, it is good to know what houses in your area to avoid. You never know how an offender may choose a victim.
• Avoid going to houses of people you do not know. Sometimes this is hard to do when your family and friends do not live in the immediate area. It is always good to get to know the people around your neighborhood so you will feel secure taking your children there to trick-or-treat. It also helps to go in a large group because it is more likely that someone in your group will know people in the area.
• Make sure children's costumes fit them correctly. You do not want their costumes to be too tight, as they will be uncomfortable. You also do not want it to be too loose or long. This can be a hazard, as they may trip over it. A fall will often lead to a lot of tears and an early ending to your night. Lastly, make sure to always carry extra layers or have them wear them under their costumes. Although it may seem warm when you leave, the weather in late October can vary a lot.
• If your child is wearing a mask, make sure that they can still see. Often times the holes are not lined up correctly with children's eyes. Limited vision can cause falls and other inconveniences.
• Check your children's candy before letting them eat it. Even if you know the people you got it from, you do not know where it was before that. You should look for holes in the packaging, funny smells, or packaging that may look as if it has been opened and reassembled.

Some children do not like trick-or-treating as much as others. If your child is afraid of Halloween decorations or just does not like to walk all over the neighborhood, they may love to help hand out candy. While this may sound completely safe, there is one important rule you should remember:

• Do not allow your child to answer the door alone. Even if the child opens the door, be sure that you have a clear view of them. You never know who may come to your front door.

Halloween is a time for happy children, but safety is always first. Although some of these cautionary warnings may seem over the top, it is always better to be safe than sorry. As you prepare for October 31st, please remember to follow these safety tips for Halloween and you will have a happy and safe time with your child!