On the night of October 31, it is not unusual for children to dress up in costumes of ghosts, vampires or fairies, knocking on their neighbors’ doors and asking for some treats. Since the children wander by themselves, parents must remind and guide them for a safe trick-or-treating night ahead.
Choose the right costumes. Ask yourself: Is your child’s costume safe and comfortable? Is it visible in the dark? Your child’s safety is the top priority. Choose costumes which are flame-resistant. Different sources of light are present during Halloween, so ensuring that his costume is flame-resistant will keep him from fire hazards. Choose comfortable costume which is just the right size for him. Wearing oversized costumes or shoes might lead to your child tripping or falling over. Choose a light-colored costume or accessorize with bright colors. Wandering in the dark is dangerous, especially when children cross the streets. Wearing light colors make your child stand out, so it is easier for drivers to spot and avoid him if he happens to cross the street.
Wander in a group. Have your child join a group of children to be safer. Wandering alone is sad and not fun. He could even get lost before he knows it. Therefore, joining others will increase your child’s safety, especially if they follow your instructions obediently.
Set up a schedule. Remind the children of their curfew. Wandering too much until the wee hours of the night could be dangerous because they might meet harmful strangers.
Choose a familiar route. Asking the children to take a familiar route is safer because you can locate them faster, if anything happens. It would also lessen the chance of getting in contact with dangerous strangers in the streets.
Always bring a flashlight along. Taking strolls in the streets at night could be dangerous, especially when the children could not see what they are passing through. Chances are, they might fall off a canal or a hole if they could not see their way properly. Thus, a flashlight comes in handy to illuminate their path.
Be polite. Always remind the children to be polite when accepting treats. Never leave out the ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ before leaving. Tell them that if they see a house with the lights off, refrain from knocking because either the homeowners are not at home, or they are already fast asleep. If no treats are left outside the door, remind them to move on to the next house instead.
Check the treats. Before leaving, remind the children one last time to check the treats before eating them. Of course, you can do it if they come back with the treats. However, some children might be too excited to eat the treats while on the street. Tell them to avoid eating treats which were given unwrapped or unpackaged because it is not safe.