Halloween is all about ghosts and goblins and all things spooky. This special holiday is full of fun and adventure, but before venturing out for a family night of trick or treating, it’s worth reminding ourselves of the real-world dangers kids can face. Planning ahead can make a huge difference in making sure that everybody has a great time. Here are some tips to ensure that everyone has fun.
Halloween at home
A party at home can be a lot of fun for all the family, however try to separate adult celebrations from children’s celebrations. When adults are in charge of keeping children safe from harm, this is not the best time to be drinking or serving alcohol. You should also keep activities age appropriate. In a mixed group, the needs of the most vulnerable person should be honoured ahead of the wishes of anyone else. Some children like going out and some prefer to stay home and to greet others.
Keep it friendly
If you are going trick-or-treating, remember that Halloween is not celebrated by all cultures and not everyone in your neighbourhood is going to want to get involved. With younger children, it is better where possible to stay within a compound and only visit neighbours that you know.
Dressing up
Many costumes, although amazing to look at, can be uncomfortable to wear. They can be easy to trip on and make it hard to see. Add to this the challenge of going to unfamiliar places with steep steps and kids rushing past, and there is the potential for lots of falls. Unless they are in a controlled environment for a very short time, masks and high-heeled shoes are a bad idea for most young children. A simpler costume can make the difference between a fun adventure and a miserable disaster. Also, many costumes have lots of dangly pieces, making them flammable and hazardous around candles and flame-lit walkways.
Road safety
Your child may not be used to walking along the street in the dark and they may be focused on their treats. If they are wearing a mask, they may also lose their peripheral vision. Even older kids might impulsively cross the street after suddenly spotting a friend. Make sure you set clear boundaries and go in a group with other adults and responsible older children, so you can work together to keep everyone safe. Flashlights and glow sticks for both children and adults can make it easier for people to see each other and increases visibility for drivers. Use extra caution when you are driving.
Don’t get lost
Halloween is noisy and dark and it can be extremely challenging to keep track of each child in your care. Remember that what you see and your child sees are different. Even if your child is easily visible to you, watch for that look of anxiety when your child isn’t quite sure where you are. Before going out, make a plan in case your child does get lost.
Stranger danger
During Halloween, children are encouraged to talk to strangers and take sweets from them. This is fine, because you are there with them. Even if the adults you visit are people that you know, don’t assume that they are not strangers to your child - some of them may look pretty strange if they’re dressed up. It is important to give children clear guidelines and rules specific to what you will be doing.
Avoid a meltdown
Halloween falls on a school night this year and it is often very exciting and overwhelming even before trick-or-treating time, so make choices on the number of activities you choose to participate in. Also, routines are very important for kids so to prevent meltdowns, go early and give the kids some time to wind down before trying to get them to go to sleep.
Make a plan about the treats
To avoid disappointment and tummy ache, make a plan ahead of time for what to do with that bag of goodies. Teach children to focus on the joy of gathering treats without feeling the need to eat most of them, especially right away. Many treats have lots of chemicals, fat and sugar. If your child is allergic to something that is in most treats, like milk or soy, buy some favourite treats and trade after the trick-or-treating is done.
Keep pets out of the action
For both their own safety and everyone else’s, cats and dogs need to be kept well away from the activities. Even normally very calm friendly animals can become upset because people are looking and acting in a different way. They might bite or scratch, or panic and get hit by a car.
When visiting other homes, remember that some people bring their dogs to the front door. Just because owners have complete faith in their dog’s behaviour, it doesn’t mean it isn’t really scary for the animal to suddenly come face to face with a child in a mask. Keep children away from dogs during Halloween, no matter what the owner says.
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