Tweens and teens like to go #trick-or-treating on their own, Nationwide Children’s says. But parents can review a few safety tips to ensure they engage in #Halloween fun safely. Review safe walking routes; remind them to visit only homes where the porch light is on and to never enter a strange house or car. If your child is already driving, ask them to obey traffic safety laws and avoid distractions such as cell phones while driving, avoiding prime trick-or-treating hours when younger, costumed kids may be present. “Children get excited during trick-or-treating and may dart out into the road without looking.”
Tag: Halloween decorations
Make Halloween Less Stressful for Pets
#Halloween can be stressful for #pets even if no fireworks are involved. Dogs may act upon their natural instinct to protect the home and bark when strangers ring the bell, the Humane Society of the United States says, making trick-or-treating stressful for everyone involved; cats also prefer a quiet environment. Before the #kids start arriving, put pets in a quiet room, and supply them with a treat some soft music. Consider meeting #trick-or-treaters on the porch to minimize doorbell ringing. And keep candy safely stashed and secured — foods such as chocolate, gum and xylitol are toxic to pets.
Practice Safe Decorating for Halloween
Decorating for #Halloween can be a creative and joyous event. But be aware of fire risks and other #hazards as you prepare to #spook the neighborhood kids, says Travelers Insurance. Walk the property before trick-or-treaters arrive to ensure you haven’t created a tripping hazard with temporary extension cords, for example, and that obstacles are clearly marked. Arrange decorations with traffic flow in mind, and even though darkness is #scarier, make walkways and entryways well-lit. Take care not to overload electrical outlets, and avoid using the use of open flames such as candles — they can easily be kicked over or ignite costume materials.
Keep Kids Safe While Trick-or-Treating
#Halloween is a magical event for kids, with free candy and dress-up fun. Make sure your trick-or-treaters are safe on the sidewalks and streets, says the National Safety Council. A costume shouldn’t be a safety hazard, so choose costumes, wigs and accessories that are fire-resistant. If #children are going out after dark, fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags, or give them glowsticks. Choose nontoxic makeup instead of masks, which can obscure vision, and remove makeup before bed to prevent eye and skin irritation. Children are twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween, so have a responsible adult accompany young children on their rounds.
Make Lighting Spooky for Halloween
If you’re decorating for Halloween on a budget, consider the lighting, Today says. Create a spooky atmosphere with candles, a green or black-light bulb, or mini lights strung strategically on your prop skeleton or scarecrow. Successful decorating schemes often follow a theme (classics include zombie, werewolf, witch and mummy) and include only a few large items. Add a little yellow caution tape, a few plastic skulls and a plastic tombstone, and you’ll be set! If you like the way your display turns out, pack it neatly away next week and build upon it next year. #HalloweenDecorating