10 Tips For Keeping Your Kids Safe on Halloween Night

Updated on 10/24/2018 at 12:55 PM

Halloween is known as a time for scary fun, but it doesn't have to be frightening for parents who worry about their kids' safety. Kids, especially tweens and teens who go trick-or-treating with their friends, should be especially careful and aware of their surroundings on a night that can also be potentially dangerous. In addition to pedestrian accidents and injuries, Halloween can also bring about potential "stranger danger," scary pranks, and more. In order to make sure your kids have a good time and stay safe, use the following 10 tips. You'll have peace of mind and they'll be able to have a night out with their friends. And if you still decide to dress up in a costume to spy on them for a few blocks around the neighborhood, just make sure they don't recognize you!

Ditch the Mask

Because masks can limit or block eyesight (and if multiple people wear the same thing, it can be hard to find your child), consider nontoxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives for costumes. Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes. Makeup should be tested ahead of time on a small patch of skin to ensure there are no unpleasant surprise reactions on the big day.

Add Reflective Tape to Costumes

Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.

Make Sure Costumes Pass a Safety Test

Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. And make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement, or contact with flame.

Stay in a Group — and Approach the Right Homes

Make sure your trick-or-treater stays with a group of friends all night. Also make sure the group knows to only go to homes with a porch light on (and never enter a home or car for a treat).

Plan an Appropriate Halloween Route

If your older children are going out with friends and not an adult, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. And agree on a specific time when they should return home.

Stay on the Right Streets

Tell your kids to remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk. If no sidewalk is available, kids should walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.

Bring a Flashlight

Make sure all children — and their escorts — bring along flashlights when out trick-or-treating. And make sure to put fresh batteries in, too.

Use Crosswalks

Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, remind trick-or-treaters to only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks. Trick-or-treaters should never cross between parked cars or out driveways.

Bring a Cell Phone

Make sure your kids bring a cell phone with them so you can quickly communicate with them. They will especially be grateful to have it if they get lost in an unknown neighborhood or lose their group of friends.

Keep a Close Eye on Candy

Food tampering is fairly rare on Halloween, but kids — and adults — should still take a close look at all the scored goodies from trick-or-treating. Make sure to closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped, or suspicious items.