6 Ways to Be Safe & Healthy and Have Fun on Halloween
- Make sure kids can be seen in the dark.
Cinderella’s gown might not have included a reflective light band, but your princess’s costume should. Reflective bands – the kind worn by cyclists around their legs or arms – are cheap and easily available at local bike shops, Target, Wal-Mart, and online at Amazon. Wrap one around your child’s arm so they can be easily seen even as the sun goes down.
And slow down when you’re driving through neighborhoods on Halloween! Remember that children aren’t always aware of their surroundings or potential danger – so we need to be aware of them.
- Avoid face masks.
Encourage your children to choose a costume without a face mask, which has a risk of suffocation. A full mask may also make it harder for a child to see, causing lesser injuries like bumps and bruises from tripping and falling.
Opt for a hat, crown, or face paint instead. Easy to use face paint can be found on the costume aisle or at a craft store.
- Get to know your neighbors.
Throwing an old-fashioned block party lets your kids – and you! – have fun while finding safety in numbers. Invite neighbors to bring treats for all to share and throw some apples for bobbing in a large basin of water, and you have a party. Don’t forget to set out safety cones or “watch for children” signs to remind passing drivers to be extra careful in your neighborhood.
If your neighbors aren’t up for a party, find one at a local community center or church. In Charlottesville, you can join the popular Trick or Treating on the UVA Lawn , where UVA undergraduates living on the Lawn pass out candy. Several University groups also set up games and prizes at the end of the Lawn. If you’re worried about all the candy piling up in your child’s bucket, stop by the Department of Family Medicine’s booth, where they pass out books.
- Be aware of the limits of “fun scariness.”
Dressing up for Halloween gives children of all ages an opportunity to use our imaginations to be creative and have fun. For children in particular, the scary elements of Halloween can help them face fear in a controlled way, giving them a sense of power over it. For younger or very sensitive children, however, the scariness can become overwhelming. If your child seems anxious about all skeletons, scary masks, and faux headstones popping up in October, read her or him books about Halloween or being scared that have positive messages, such as The I’m Not Scared Book . You may also explain the how behind scary things: How does that skeleton move? Is it alive? No, it’s blowing in the wind!
Most importantly, just listen to your children and let them know that however they feel is ok, and you are there to protect them – and help them choose a non-scary costume!
- Donate some of your candy to care packages for overseas military.
Many dental offices have begun collecting excess Halloween candy, which they then send to military personnel serving abroad. Some dentists offer incentives in return. The Halloween Candy Buyback website allows you to input your zip code and find a dentist near you who is participating. Platinum dental participants are offering xylitol-based sweets in return. The Halloween Candy Buyback is also donating toothbrushes to overseas military.
- Recover from your race for candy.
All parents know that by the third or fourth block of trick or treating, there’s a decent chance you’ll be carrying a Minion or a Tinkerbell who is too tired to walk back home. Between that and staying up late the night before to make enough monster cupcakes for your kid’s class, you may be feeling drained come November 1.
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