The ghouls and goblins out and about on Halloween are all in good fun, but no one wants to be spooked when it comes to their kids on the upcoming holiday. Here are some tips and tricks to keep your family safe this trick-or-treating season.

For kids 12 and under

• Dress your kids in clothing that is easily visible at night time or add features to make them visible. Light-colored costumes will make it easy to keep an eye on your kiddos. Furthermore, you can give them glow-in-the-dark bracelets or add reflective tape to their trick-or-treat bags to make sure they’re visible.
• Masks, wigs, and beards can make it hard for kids to breathe and see. Consider alternatives like face paint and makeup!
• Make sure your kids’ costumes fit well in order to prevent falls. Oversize shoes and long costumes can be a tripping hazard.
• In the case that you and your kids do get separated, make sure they are equipped with a name tag that includes your contact information. 

For kids 12 and up

• Check with your older kids who are trick-or-treating alone and ensure they know their planned route. Familiarize yourself with the route in the case of an emergency.
• Make sure older kids who plan on going trick-or-treating without adult supervision go with a group and stay with that group for the duration of the evening.
• Let them know that they should never enter a stranger’s house or car while trick-or-treating. Additionally, encourage them to only go to houses with porch lights on.
• Consider letting your older kids carry cell phones or other communication devices. This way, they can get in contact with you at any point while they’re trick-or-treating.

For all kids

• On Halloween, kids are more likely to get hit by cars than any other day of the year. With this in mind, make sure your kids know to stay on sidewalks, only cross streets at crosswalks, and walk facing traffic if they absolutely have to walk on roads.
• Supply your kids with flashlights or glow bracelets/necklaces.
• Stay local and trick-or-treat in neighborhoods/communities that you are familiar with.
• Check to make sure all the treats they receive are sealed, and throw out anything that looks to be tampered with or damaged. Pay attention to candy that may be a choking hazard for younger kids.

Adapted from:

“Halloween Safety Tips (for Parents) – Nemours Kidshealth.” Edited by Melanie L. Pitone, KidsHealth, The Nemours Foundation, Oct. 2022, kidshealth.org/en/parents/halloween.html.