The candy aisles are stocked and the jack-o’-lanterns illuminated, reminding that Halloween is just around the corner. While children plan their Halloween costumes, Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Midlands offers parents tips for a fun but safe Halloween.

Trick-or-Treating

  • Make sure your child eats dinner before setting out. Children will be less likely to eat too much candy and will have more energy for the fun ahead.
  • An adult should accompany children under age 12. 
  • Children ages 13 to 15 should travel in groups of at least three. 
  • Trick-or-treat in your neighborhood, where you know the neighbors. Consider going during daylight hours.
  • Only visit homes with decorations, outdoor lighting and porch lights illuminated.
  • Teach your child his or her phone number. An older child can carry a cellphone to check in while away from home, but remind the child about the dangers of distracted walking.
  • Instruct children never to enter a home or apartment building unless accompanied by an adult.
  • Remind children never to accept rides from strangers. 
  • Drivers should go slowly all evening. Adult Halloween party-goers should have a designated driver.
  • Children should be educated to obey all traffic rules.

Candy 

  • Insist that children show you all their goodies before they sample them. Inspect candy for tampering. Never eat fruit, unwrapped items, or candy not in its original wrapper.
  • A few days after Halloween, put the candy out of sight and out of mind. You can ration out the treats later.
  • If you want to provide non-candy alternatives for trick-or-treaters, consider packages of crackers, single-serve boxes of cereal, granola bars, packaged fruit rolls, mini-boxes of raisins and single-serve bags of chips or popcorn. Non-edible treats including pencils, stickers and erasers also are good alternatives. 

Costumes

  • Have children wear costumes with light, bright colors that will be clearly visible to motorists; attach reflective tape, glow sticks or glow-in-the-dark accessories to increase visibility at night.
  • Make sure that costumes—including wigs, masks and beards— are flame resistant, and remind children to stay away from open flames, candles and jack-o’-lanterns.
  • Make sure that masks do not impair vision.
  • Avoid costumes with big, baggy sleeves; billowing skirts; or long, dragging hems that could cause someone to trip. High-heels or oversized shoes also can cause accidents.
  • Make sure that swords, knives and other props are made of flexible material and do not have sharp edges.
  • Attach your child’s name, phone number (including area code) and address inside your child’s clothing in case the child gets separated from adults.