Scarily safe
Filed Under Tips & Tricks | October 27, 2007
This week was dedicated to all things scary and creepy to get you prepared for October 31st. We hit the high points of Halloween safety, updated you on spooky and appropriate events and we brought you some terrible tunes so you could create your own chilling soundtrack – “ “I Want Candy” anyone?
Creepy Costumes
Despite the preponderance of dark themes around Halloween, the costumes themselves should be brightly coloured and decorated with reflective tape. If your child has a flashlight to carry, that’s even better.
Keep kids cozy with costumes that are loose enough to be worn over warm clothing, but not so baggy or long that your little ghoul can trip over their outfit. Warmth is key to preventing whiny-witch syndrome, which doesn’t enhance anyone’s evening.
If you’re crafty then make sure your home-made costumes are made of fabrics that aren’t easily flammable, such as nylon and polyester. Store-bought costumes should be labeled “flame resistant”.
Accessorizing is always fun, but make sure piratical Halloween accessories such as knives and swords are made of soft, flexible material without sharp edges.
Opt for face paint and make-up over masks, which can hinder your pint-sized phantom’s vision and breathing.
Terrors of Trick or Treating
Always accompany little ones on their candy quest. Goblins should walk, not run, from house to house and stay on the sidewalk. Only target homes that have their outside lights on.
The smallest ghouls in your neighborhood start their hunting and gathering early, so be prepared for your bell to start ringing as soon as dusk begins to fall.
If you’re driving on the eve of All Hallows’ Eve be extra careful, drive slowly and be especially alert when entering and exiting driveways and alleyways.
Ghoulish Goodies
Let your terrorizing toddlers know that there will be no eating of treats until you’ve inspected them. Any treats that are unwrapped, in torn or loose packages, or have holes in the wrappers should be tossed. (Mini Mars Bars should be put aside for yourself.) Make sure any toys amongst your loot are age-appropriate.
You can try to instigate swapping a treat for something bigger and less sugary. Three candy bars for a packet of stickers or pencil crayons for example. It may help to get your child’s buy in by asking in advance what they’d be willing to trade for.
From our personal trick or treating experience with little ones, we know that you need to be ready to take the night in stride. A monster who rang our doorbell early in the evening last year meant our ghostly giraffe wouldn’t venture outside, not even for candy. For really small kids, targeting a few houses on your block provides more than enough excitement (and candy) to make their night.
Check Health Canada’s Halloween safety recommendations for a more detailed safety list.
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[...] ahead for Halloween? Check out last year’s article on Halloween safety. And if you have an event you think needs to be on this list don’t forget to send us all the [...]
[...] Keep them safe by arming them with a flashlight – battery-free if possible. We love this idea for turning your average flashlight into a lightsaber or spooking it up old-style. Just take blank paper and wrap it around the body of your flashlight like a tube, making sure it’s longer than your flashlight and hey presto, a lightsaber. You can also further accessorize it by cutting out silhouettes of witches, spiders or ghosts and gluing them onto the paper and taping it around the flashlight so it casts spooky patterns. For other Halloween safety ideas click here. [...]
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[...] talked Halloween safety on yoyomama before but we found these safety tips from BC Children’s Safe Start program and [...]
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