Trick-or-treating is a big deal when you’re a kid. If we’re being honest, it’s pretty fun for parents, too. You get to put on a costume and get candy from your neighbors. What’s not to love? For most of us, trick-or-treating is a fond memory from our early childhood that we are eager to share with our kids. But as much as we want our kids to have fun, it’s also important to stay safe. Even if you live in a quiet neighborhood, you should always take safety precautions.
Here are some simple ways you and your kids can stay safe while you enjoy trick-or-treating this Halloween.
Plan Your Route
In most towns, official trick-or-treating time is from 5 pm to 8 pm or a similar timeframe. Three hours is plenty of time for your kids to acquire a month’s supply of sugar, but you still want to plan your route to ensure you can get around the neighborhood and home within that time. Your route will also depend on the age of your children. Younger children will get tired sooner, so plan a shorter route to preempt any meltdowns. You can always have a route extension plan so you can keep going if the kids seem up for it.
Stay Visible
Drivers in your community should be informed of trick-or-treating hours, but it’s important that you and your kids can be seen from the road. Many Halloween costumes are dark colors, which are tough to see at night. Add reflective strips so they can be seen by approaching cars. Even if your kids have brightly colored costumes, a few reflective strips on their clothes or candy buckets won’t hurt. You should also carry flashlights or glowsticks to make it even easier to see your band of trick-or-treaters.
Be Safe at Home
Safety concerns aren’t limited to the kids on the sidewalks. You also have to think about the safety of the children coming to your front door for treats. Make sure that your walkway or driveway is well-lit and clear of obstacles. If you have jack-o-lanterns or decorations along your walk or near your front door, you don’t want anyone tripping on them and hurting themselves.
Safety also extends to selecting which treats to hand out. If you know that children in your neighborhood have food allergies, choose items that are free from those allergens. You can also get something special for those children and let their parents know you’ve set some allergy-safe treats aside.
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At Wollaston Child Care Center, our goal is to help your kids thrive in early childhood and beyond. Whether they are with us or at home with you, we do everything we can to support you and your children.
