Halloween is such a fun evening for kids! These Halloween safety tips can help to make the whole evening a whole lot of fun, easy and stress-fun for kids and parents! This can be a great night of dressing up and going trick or treating by having your kids know what the rules are for the evening before going out the door.
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Halloween safety tips
Ahhh Halloween night! My kids (and even some adults I know) love this night. When my boys were younger, we would go out and hope the kids could walk the entire ways, or would keep their mask on to complete the costume. I mean, what fun was it to see Spiderman, and then realize it really was just a kid in pajamas, as their mask was in one of the parent's hands.
Often times, the older children would run quick, while the younger ones were left dawdling along. I would get stressed out thinking one of them was going to step off the curb. For me, the night of fun turned into a night of worry! It doesn't have to be like this with these best tips for an easy and stress-free Halloween with kids!
Go with friends
Go in a group of friends. This is a key to a super fun night for many reasons. First off, it's fun. Seriously, who said kids get to have all the fun on Halloween night? Invite parents and kids to meet up and all head out together. Not only will you have some great conversation while you're strolling along the neighborhood, your kids will have friends as well to hang out with. And it's great for more eyes on the kids. We usually go with a group of parents and some walk and talk in the front and some in the back. This way we have the littles and the big kids covered.
We also love to walk around with a mug of cider (or other fun drink). Having done this now for multiple years now, Halloween has become one of my favorite nights!
Get some wheels
If you have a child in a stroller. You're golden.
But if you, like myself have kids that are too big for a stroller, then pull a wagon. This has been one of our best ideas. We all know those candy bags will soon be bulky, heavy or worse...the handle rips! If it does, throw it in the wagon. Also, if it's chilly throw an extra layer or coat in there. Rain in the forecast? Throw an umbrella in. How about an extra flashlight, lantern or glow sticks? All good things to put into your wagon!
No one wants to carry those items. Throw them all in the wagon and the parents can take turns pulling it along. One year, by end of the night, we had two of our kids in there as well, because they were tired of walking! Bring the wagon!
Leave extra accessories at home
Sure, you now have a wagon and can carry extra things. But do you really want to? Try to leave the extra costume accessories at home. The sword or pitch fork does look super cool. Take a picture in full gear and then leave the extra accessories at home! These items just get too heavy or the kids are hitting each other with them by the end of the night.
Take the picture of the kids in full gear and then leave the extra accessories at home!
Glow sticks
I make my kids wear a glow stick necklace. I like the sticks that have the lanyard hole at the top and they usually come with a black string to create a necklace. Even my big kid who insists he doesn't need it, must wear a glow stick. In our neighborhood, there aren't any streetlights. So when the sun goes down, it gets really dark!
Also, there are usually a bunch of kids walking in our neighborhood. Not only can I help ensure my kids are safe on Halloween night, but I can also easily pick out which child is mine when they are all in a group and rushing house to house.
Wearing a glow stick means not only will I be able to better keep track of my child, but so won't cars that are driving by.
Get a neighbor to help
If you are walking around, give your bowl of candy to a neighbor and have them give it out for you. We all know what happens when you leave a bowl of candy on the door step and tell kids "just take one!" Right, like that happens. Then either leave a sign that says 'See next door', the neighbor can let people know, or leave your porch lights off.
Safety rules to share with your kids
- Stay together. We're all excited to get to the next house, but running like crazy kids isn't going to be fun for the parents or the young kids. Everyone needs to stay together or at the very least, have a friend/bigger sibling right with them.
- You should always be able to see me and I should always be able to see you.
- Don't go in anyone's home, even if we know them. Some homes turn theirs into a haunted house. Never go in without your mom or dad by your side or ask permission first.
- Don't walk in the street. Even though it's Halloween, cars will be using the road. Find a sidewalk and stay on it. When it's time to cross, we'll do it together.
- Wear a glow stick or a couple!
- Only visit homes that have front porch lights on.
- We only go trick or treating during designated town hours.
- Don't eat any candy unless you check with your mom or dad first.
- Go together - always go with a friend, parent, or sibling up to a door.
- If your tween/teen is old enough to go off on their own with a friend, you may want to give them a little independence. We didn't allow this until my oldest was 12 years old and he had a friend to go with him. Use your discretion and you may also want to have a designated time and spot for you all to meet up at.
Halloween is so much fun for kids and it can be for adults as well. Plan ahead with your friends/family as to where you will be meeting up and walk together. You can help watch their children and they help watch yours. You get company to walk with and it makes the evening even more fun. Happy Halloween!
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