As Halloween approaches there is nothing more exciting for young ones then the prospect of trick or treating. Going door to door in costume, getting free candy, it is a must-do tradition. However, it can be dangerous if not done right. Here are simple tips and tricks to keep you and your children safe during this holiday.
Costume Safety
One of the first things you can check and prepare before the Halloween night is your choice in costumes:
- Avoid Dark Costumes:
Since most trick or treating is done at night, dark costumes such as ninjas and vampires can cause a visibility issues for any late-night drivers. Brighter costumes such as pumpkins or superheroes, will be easier to see in the dark and help ensure your child’s safety.
- Increase Visibility:
While a bright costume can help, consider adding reflective tape to costumes or trick or treat bags. Glowing jewelry can also be small unobtrusive adds. Provide kids can also carry flashlights if they stay out particularly late.
- Easy Mobility:
Some costumes are super cute and fun, who doesn’t love opening their door to see a tiny princess or superhero on their door? However, these kinds of costumes can be troublesome when running around the community. Have kids remove any masks that can obscure vision as it grows darker, and make sure their eye holes are large enough for proper vision beforehand. Make sure costumes fit properly so as not to drag or trip up your trick or treater. Test run costumes before the big night to make sure you or your kids can walk long term in any kind of heavy or bulky ballgowns or inflatable costumes.
Trick or Treat Trail Safety
Once you have your costumes ready it’s time to start your adventure to get as much candy as you can. Safety should be your main concern here.
- Have a Guardian:
Decide beforehand who is going to go trick or treating and who is going to stay home and pass out candy. Make sure your trick or treater stays with their guardian whether that be a parent, older sibling, or grandparent. Make sure whomever is selected understands the importance of keeping on eye on your child and is someone your child will listen to.
- Stick to Well Lit Areas:
As it gets darker earlier trick or treaters should stick to roads that are well lit as to avoid any incidents with darker clothing at night.
- Teach Stranger Safety:
Before you head out on the October 31, make sure your children are prepped and understand stranger safety. They need to fully understand the risks of entering any homes or cars with anyone they do not know.
- Road Safety:
Follow basic road safety, look both ways before crossing, stay on sidewalks and crosswalks, and be alert.
- Allergen Lookout:
Keep an eye out for any candy your children may be allergic to. Try to avoid snacking on the trail as you may miss an allergen label while walking in the dark.
Additional ways to maximize safety is to try and form trick or treating group with friends or family, this way you increase the number of guardians to watch younger children. You can also organize events such as trunk or treats where your children can still get candy while being in a smaller more supervised area.
Trick or treating may seem scary but with the right steps and precaution you can still participate while keeping you and your family safe this Halloween. For more helpful tips on managing your HOA community, visit our blog where we post new articles regularly. Or if you are looking for a new HOA management company, contact JellyBird today to receive a free quote.
