Halloween tricks and pranks can be fun, but never at the expense of child safety. Share some easy and effective tips with kids and other parents to help reduce risk of injury.
Costume Safety
Whether you make your own costume or buy one, make sure it fits properly. A costume too big or too long can cause trips and falls. Place reflective tape on costumes and trick-or-treat bags to easily be seen by other pedestrians and drivers.
Choose a mask (face paint or makeup is a great alternative to masks) that does not obstruct vision to avoid trips, falls, or cars in crosswalks. Be cautious of costume accessories like swords, knives, or anything sharp.
Carry flashlights to light the way up driveways, walkways, and stairs. Give the kids glow sticks to carry or wrap around their wrists or candy bags.
Never Trick-or-Treat Alone
Times of popular trick-or-treating hours are between 5:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Children should not be out at night without adult supervision. Teens mature enough to be out without an adult should follow family guidelines, go to familiar places well lit, go in groups of other teens, and never walk alone.
Street Safety
Walk on the sidewalk whenever possible (if no sidewalk is available, walk facing traffic). Only cross the street at corners, crosswalks, or traffic lights. Look both ways, twice, making eye contact with drivers before continuing across the street. Watch for cars backing out of driveways or turning street corners. Stay alert; never walk while using an electronic device like a cell phone. Stay clear of walkway or steps with lit pumpkins, candles, or luminaries.
Be especially alert when driving on Halloween. Kids will be excited and may be a little unpredictable. Be patient at intersections giving kids plenty of time to cross without rushing. Turn corners or into driveways with caution, yielding the way to trick-or-treaters.
Treats Safety
Check all food and non-food items. Discard all unwrapped food items unless from a trusted friend or neighbor’s house. Read the labels for potential food allergies. Keep a watchful eye on what treats are eaten while trick-or-treating.
Halloween Party Safety
Keep all lit pumpkins, candles, and luminaries away from doorsteps, walkways, landings, curtains, and out of reach of small children and pets. Have healthy alternative food, treats, and drinks. Have walkways and stairs well lit. Have a variety of games for kids and adults. Clearly label foods prepared for guests with food allergies.
What to Do With All That Candy
There are great ways to initiate candy swaps, exchanges, or trades with your kids. Be mindful on the discussion you have with the emphasis not on the candy but rather on a healthy nutrition balance and a thoughtful exchange to help or give to others.
· Dentist office swap: Most offices will swap a toy in exchange for your candy
· Great pumpkin swap: Kids that watch “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” can have the Great Pumpkin swap them a toy for their candy
· Tooth fairy swap: The tooth fairy will swap a quarter for a handful of candy.
· School class competition: The class that gets the most candy donations gets a prize.
· Penny trade: The trade of a penny for a piece of candy.
· Box up candy: Packaging candy for a donation to community shelters or for a care package to U.S. soldiers overseas
· Save some candy for making holiday gingerbread houses.
· Candy jars: Place candy in decorated canning jars for gifts (favorite teacher, birthdays, grab bags).
· Event calendar: Make a calendar for special events, school events, good grades, or a countdown to Christmas with one piece of candy per event or countdown day.
· Freeze candy: Freeze candy for other holidays like Easter, Mother’s Day, and Christmas, etc.
· Teaching healthy choices: Allow one piece of candy on weekends as a treat.
Regardless of your age, young or young at heart, we love the fun and sweet festive activities of Halloween. Our hectic over-scheduled lifestyles make it a challenge to keep health and wellness goals a priority during holidays. Life balance is about never depriving you, the family, or the neighborhood trick-or-treaters.
Victoria Ann Diaz is a certified holistic health and life coach and graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. In her Life Balance Health Coach practice, she supports clients with a mindful-living approach to health and wellness. For more information, see LifeBalanceHealthCoach.com.
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