Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips for Kids

Whether it’s your first trip around the block collecting candy or your tenth, it’s always good to be as prepared when it comes to safety. Follow these simple trick-or-treating safety tips to keep your kids collecting the candy with peace of mind.

Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips

Dress Rehearsal

You might be surprised at the endurance your normally sleepy-by-nightfall toddler when confronted with houses full of candy, so be prepared to protect your feet and theirs with comfortable shoes. Try on all costumes several days in advance and have them walk around the house in the shoes they’ll be wearing to make sure nothing needs to be hemmed or trimmed to avoid a trip hazard. Attach reflective tape to the backs of costumes and hats to increase your visibility. Make sure any props like swords or wands are soft or flexible, or just leave them home while you’re walking.

Light it Up

Carry a small LED flashlight with you with fresh batteries just in case. However, to add a little extra ghostly glow my favorite trick for light while trick-or-treating is to place large glow sticks into the plastic pumpkins your kids use to collect candy. The glow is just spooky enough to be fun, and the brightness is actually pretty good. But by all means accessorize with glow bracelets/necklaces/wands/swords to your little monster’s heart’s content too.

Traveling Safety

Place your very young children in a decorated Little Red Wagon that’s themed with your other costumes. It will keep your youngest off their feet and in a secure place. Otherwise, make sure to emphasize the importance of hand holding, especially when crossing the street or at intersections, and make sure your walker knows to come back to you before moving on to the next house if you’re waiting at the street.

Protect Your House

It’s a good idea to run a safety check at your own front door before you head out for the evening. If you’re using real candles for jack-o-lanterns or any decorations, keep them well away from the door and any walkways. Make sure your porch light is bright enough to illuminate any steps. It’s a nice to keep some non-food or allergy-friendly treats on hand for kids with allergies, and you can signify your home as allergy friendly by placing a teal pumpkin on your doorstep.

Halloween is a fun filled holiday for children of all ages. No matter where you treat-or-treat, be safe, be courteous and most of all have a Bootiful Halloween.

What kind of trick-or-treating safety tips do you put in place with your kids?