15 Ways to Protect Your Kids, Home and Neighborhood

There’s a reason it’s called “Happy” Halloween. Just think about it. What kid doesn’t relish dressing up as a pretty-in-pink princess or brave super hero, then playing games and chowing down on a bunch of treats? However, we all know that times have changed since we were young and safety is just as important these days as picking out the perfect costume.

 

 

 

Approximately 36 million kids are headed out on this festive night. That’s a lot of kids out and about in the dark so well need to do our part when it comes to safety. Here are 15 tips from The National Crime Prevention Council that’ll help keep your kids, home and neighborhood as safe as they can be.

Home and Neighborhood Prep:

•Remove objects from your yard that might present a hazard to visitors.

•Light up your house and yard so trick-or-treaters feel welcomed and pranksters are deterred.

•Ask your Neighborhood Watch or citizen’s group to patrol the neighborhood

•Drive slowly and cautiously through your neighborhood. In the excitement of the night, kids may dart across the street without looking.

Make Costumes Safe:

•Costumes should allow free movement, good vision and drag the ground or kids may trip and fall.

•Choose costumes in light colors or add reflective tape so kids can be easily seen.

•Consider using makeup instead of masks. If wearing a mask, make sure your child can see toward the sides and bottom as well as straight ahead.

Trick-or-Treat Safety:

•Plan a safe route and designate an adult or responsible teen to walk with kids. No one goes out alone, period.

•Start to trick-or-treat while it’s still light outside. When it gets dark, carry a flashlight or glow stick to light the way and illuminate kids.

•Cross the street only at intersections and look both ways.

•Remind kinds not to enter a stranger’s house or car no matter what.

•Instruct kids not to eat treats until they get home and you can inspect them.

About Those Treats:

•Check out all treats in a well-lighted place. Look for any signs of tampering with the wrappers and don’t let kids eat homemade ones unless you know–and trust–the source.

•Remind kids not to eat everything at once. Agree on which goodies can be eaten and when.

•After treats have been inspected, hold a treat trade and let kids swap for their favorites.

Tagged as: Halloween | Halloween safety tips

Author: Carla Jordan

Editor & Writer, Celebrating Home
Carla Jordan is a nationally published design, food and entertaining writer whose work can be found in well-regarded design magazines and newspapers; as well as online. She resides in Dallas with two cute corgis (who rule the roost in true Brit style), lives on Diet Coke and hopes that Mr. Right will turn up someday soon (where is he?!) so he can mow the yard instead of her. Carla Jordan has written 27 articles for Celebrate Home.