Halloween has long been a time of costumes and candy and chilly evenings. Given the commotion and all of the fun, it’s important to make sure that everyone is safe and aware of situations that can come up. Even teenagers need to be reminded that Halloween is an unusual night and they’ll need to be more alert to their surroundings.
Guidelines For Halloween Safety at Any Age
It’s an oldie, but a goodie….Don’t take candy from strangers. That means that kids and teenagers alike should only go to the homes of people they are familiar with and to homes that are well-lit. An obvious exception to that would be if you are going to be with them the whole time or if it’s a facility of some sort that has been set up to allow trick-or-treating.
- Kids need to remember that no matter how good the popcorn ball or fudge looks, it’s never safe or okay to eat the homemade treat of someone that is not known by the family. Homemade Halloween treats aren’t as common as they once were, but they are still seen often enough that it should be discussed in advance.
- Homemade costumes are really fun to make and it’s neat to see the different ideas that are shown. However, costumes still need to be safe and comfortable. Trash bags may make a great canvas for Halloween art, but they can make it hard to see a kid crossing the street in the dark.
- Kids need to be reminded to not eat candy until mom or dad has the chance to look at it to make sure it’s safe. Some communities offer free x-rays of the candy to make sure that your little one can give themselves a safe stomachache later.
- Kids and teenagers alike should be careful to stay in well-lit environments. That means that even when everyone is in a familiar neighborhood, alleys and dark areas should be avoided. Teenagers in particular may need to be reminded of this fact, since parks that are closed in the evening can look like a great place to hang-out, but being there after dark could be both unsafe and illegal.
Halloween is a holiday that is fun for everyone involved. The kids love to dress up and to get candy, parents love to watch their kids in their costumes, and even people without children at home get to experience the joy through a child’s eyes. Appropriate precautions and the right conversations can make sure that your son or daughter will be able to enjoy many Halloweens to come.
About the Author: Kari Stringer loves Halloween and strives to make it as safe as possible for her 4 children. When she’s not hanging out with her kids, she can be found watching the UFX Markets and studying the economy.
Originally posted on October 22, 2011 @ 2:17 am
