Keep Your Kids Safe And Healthy This Halloween

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word “Halloween”? Costumes? Haunted house? Ghosts? Pumpkins? If you ask any of my children, their first answer will likely be “CANDY!” A lot of parents worry about the amount of candy their kids eat on or after Halloween. Yes, too much candy can cause major problems with you child’s teeth and weight. But, candy isn’t the only risk out there on Halloween. Like I’ve talked about before, accidents are one of the leading causes of death in children. And trick-or-treating on Halloween can really increase that risk. So, here are a few ways you can keep your kids safe and healthy this Halloween.

Watch the road

Have a safety talk with your kids before going trick-or-treating. My husband is pretty good at doing this on a regular basis with our kids. Remind your kids to walk on the sidewalk whenever possible. Even if your teen doesn’t think it’s cool, remind them to look left, right, and left again before crossing the street. They should always cross at the crosswalk, if available. And stay in a well-lit area.

Be smart about costumes

Last year, my daughter decided to be Cinderella for Halloween. She had fancy “glass” slippers that she insisted on wearing for trick-or-treating. She didn’t even make it to the end of our block before she started complaining! So make sure your kids have comfy costumes and shoes. Also, be sure that the costumes aren’t too dark. This way, your kids can be easily seen by people driving by. I recommend putting reflective tape somewhere on their costume or their trick or treat bags.

Be sure that your child’s costume isn’t too long. You don’t want them to trip and hurt themselves – especially in the middle of the road! I recommend against using masks, especially when trick-or-treating at night, since they can limit your child’s view.

Stranger danger

Remind your kids to be aware of their surroundings. They shouldn’t talk to strangers, and should never go into the home of someone they don’t know, even if invited. I recommend against trick-or-treating in a neighborhood that you’re unfamiliar with. Stick to what you know, especially since it’ll be dark.

Watch your child’s mood

Halloween can be a little overwhelming, especially for little ones. We walked into Party City the other day and my almost 2-year old screamed his head off when he saw all the big scary talking zombies on display at the front of the store. If your kid gets too scared on Halloween night, it’s absolutely OK to end it all early. It’s not worth pushing through and having to deal with the nightmares and anxiety for weeks afterwards.

Candy Risks

I know you’ve probably heard this over and over again. But, be sure to take a good look at your kids’ candies before they eat any of it. You just never know the “tricks” that people try to play nowadays. If gummy bears can be laced with marijuana, anything is possible!

If your child has any food allergies that could be present in the candies they collect, be sure to pull those out before they start opening and eating them.

Your kids will likely want to eat their candy ASAP once they’re done trick-or-treating. Or, if they’re like mine, they’ll want to try to eat some even before they get home. Try having your kids eat a good meal before they go trick-or-treating. This will hopefully keep them full a little while, so they won’t be as hungry for candy when they get back home.

In the days after Halloween, limit the amount of candy that your child eats, to prevent problems with obesity and cavities. Make sure they’re brushing their teeth regularly, and schedule your child’s dental appointment if it’s due!

Healthier alternatives to candy

Of course, your kids will likely want candy on Halloween. But here are other things you can offer your own kids and other trick or treaters:

• Small packs of nuts or trail mix
• Granola bars
• Fruit snacks
• Goldfish
• Halloween pencils
• Halloween stickers or temporary tattoos
• Small books/coloring books/toys

Donate your left-over candy

Once trick-or-treating is done, my kids are all excited about the candy they collected. That excitement only lasts for a few days, luckily. Then they pretty much forget about it. Once your kids are done indulging in their candy, consider donating the excess to an organization like Operation Gratitude. This organization provides the candy to first-responders and soldiers via care packages. There are other organizations out there, so check to see what’s in your area.

If you have any others tips for keeping your kids safe and healthy this Halloween, please share them in the comments below! I’d love to hear from you! Please stay safe and enjoy your Halloween!

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