Halloween Fun

October brings much to celebrate, including cooler weather, colorful leaves, and Halloween fun. Families all over the country take advantage of the nice autumn weather in October to spend time outdoors in pumpkin patches, parks, and state fairs. Halloween is a favorite holiday for kids, and carving or decorating pumpkins is a creative activity that families can do to help to make the season memorable and enjoyable for children. Going to the pumpkin patch to select pumpkins for the kids is a fun family outing to get into the spirit of the season. To get ready for the holiday, kids also love to make and put up spooky decorations around the house. Perhaps most of all, kids look forward to dressing up as their favorite character to go trick-or-treating. Many children start thinking about their costumes months in advance. Since Halloween is so exciting for kids, it is a relief for many families that the CDC has advised that it is safe to go trick-or-treating this year while exercising caution. In addition, to make sure children have a safe evening, parents should take some basic precautions involving costumes and traffic safety.

Here are some recommendations that parents can follow to help kids stay safe on Halloween:

- When shopping for costumes, make sure materials and accessories are fire-resistant. Keep in mind that dark colored costumes are more difficult for drivers to spot on the road. Ensure that costumes are the right size for your children to prevent trips and falls. 

- It is preferable for kids to wear nontoxic Halloween makeup instead of full face masks that obscure vision. Always test makeup on a small patch of skin first in case redness or irritation develops.

- Add reflective tape to costumes and treat bags if children will be outside after dark. Carrying glow sticks or flashlights is also helpful for providing extra illumination.

- Children under 12 years old should be accompanied by a responsible adult while trick-or-treating. 

- Tell your children not to eat any treats until after they return home and you have inspected their candy. 

- Remind kids that they should never enter a stranger's home or vehicle.

- If older kids are going trick-or-treating without a parent, tell them to stay together in a group with their friends. It is also a good idea to plan a safe route and set a specific time for them to return home.

- While trick-or-treating, kids should use the sidewalks whenever possible and stay in well-lit areas.

- Teach kids to use crosswalks and make sure there aren’t any cars coming when crossing the road. Tell them to walk briskly across the street rather than run. 

- Remind kids to put electronic devices away while walking so they can be alert to their surroundings. 

- When driving on Halloween evening, make sure to exercise additional caution and watch for children on the street. Drive more slowly in residential areas during popular trick-or-treating hours from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

- When the night is over, don’t forget to completely remove makeup before kids fall asleep to avoid irritating the skin or eyes.