Sep 28

Tips and tricks for a fun and safe Halloween!

Halloween is an exciting time of year for children of all ages. On October 31, Halloween night, children and families dress up in costume and go door-to-door “trick or treating.” Traditionally, Halloween – or All Hallows Eve – was a time of year to remember the dead. We now celebrate with treats and spooky costumes.

Please see the tips below to ensure your family has a safe and enjoyable Halloween night.

  1. Go trick or treating with your child and make it a family event so that children are not left trick or treating alone.
  2. Dress your child warmly. If they are trick or treating inside (such as a mall) this is not a problem but if they will be trick or treating outside it can get wet and cold.
  1. Give your child a bag to put their treats in. They will need to be able to open and close it when receiving their treats. Many families use pillow cases if a bag is not available!
  2. Bring a flashlight if trick or treating outside, and be sure to carry your cell phone if you have one.
  3. If choosing between your child wearing a mask or face paint – choose face paint. This way children won’t have a hard time seeing and breathing.
  4. Consider using reflective tape or material if you and your child will be out after dark.
  5. If you are driving on Halloween night, please be extra careful. There are many children out on this night and they may not be watching out for cars.
  6. Watch out! There may be firecrackers on Halloween night. This is a part of Halloween that many people enjoy, but can be very frightening for children and pets.
  7. Don’t let your child eat anything until you have checked their candy. It is best to spread it out on a table to look at each item. If something looks suspicious or is unwrapped – throw it away. And remember that gum and hard candies can be a choking risk for small children.
  8. If you do not want children knocking on your door, turn off the lights in the front of your house and close your curtains. If you are handing out candy, you can do this when you run out of candy. Sometimes a sign can be helpful too.

For safe and fun trick or treating events in the Victoria area, please visit: http://www.tourismvictoria.com/events/halloween/events/