Have a Frightful Night on Halloween this Year, but Keep Safety in Mind!

According to statistics, children are likely to be injured from falling accidents on Halloween night four times more than any other night. Stands to reason?improperly fitted costumes, masks that block vision and hearing, and children crowded together, pushing, in a hurry to get to the next house. There are basic safety tips that can insure your family has a safe Halloween night. And since Halloween is up there in the top five most magical and exciting holidays, it?s a good idea for parents to know what to say to their children about safety.

But don?t wait until Halloween night to spring all these safety tips on them. Because of the excitement of the night, the sugar they may have consumed before going out, and the natural ability of children to tune adults out, you may want to begin addressing this issue long before then. It?s easy to sneak in a safety tip here and there throughout the week before.

It Can Be Spooky Out There!

With a few simple rules, your children can be safe. A large variety of costume can be found online from Indiana Jones to a scary pirate!  Perhaps your trick-or-treater would like to be Tinkerbell or a Christmas Angel. Costumes are one leading cause of accidents during this holiday, which can be alleviated by making sure the costume doesn?t drag the ground. By allowing the child to wear the costume before the big night, you can check to see if it needs hemming. And above all else, check the label and make sure it?s either ?flame retardant,? or ?flame resistant.? Polyester is generally the best choice of material for the costume since cotton has a tendency to burn quickly.

Other safety measures include making sure your child?s mask is easy to see out of and there are no sharp items being carried that can cause injury when falling. Have your child carry a flashlight, even if you?re going out with them, or one of the many glow sticks available. By going with children you are insuring their safety, but when you can?t, always make sure children travel in a group and there is someone old enough to supervise.

It?s a Ghoulish Thought, But Accidents Happen.

Accidents can happen anytime, anywhere, but on Halloween night they are much more likely to happen for a variety of reasons. Shoes that match the costume are not always a good idea, especially if these shoes are hard to walk in, wobbly, or too elevated. A safe shoe to wear for tramping door to door on this dark and scary night would be tennis shoes.  Explain to the little Princess that she can wear her shiny high heels during play time around the house, or paint her white tennis shoes with sparkly glitter and other decorations.

Halloween etiquette?  It?s always a good idea to teach children proper etiquette, but for Halloween it?s a must, and it?s a good idea to discuss this with your children before Halloween night.  Remind them about sharing and making sure they don?t crowd to the front of the line and push fellow trick-or-treaters. Shoving causes accidents. Keep the excitement down by not allowing them sugar treats before they leave the house. And above all else: No candy consumed until they get home to have it inspected.

For older children who will be trick-or-treating without parents, make sure there is a curfew set, or better yet, make sure those older children check in with you periodically so you know their safe.

A Kick Off to the Holiday Season!

Some people look at Halloween as the kick off to the Holidays. Although the old fashioned Halloween consists of going door to door, in some towns around the country, it is becoming a celebration where streets are blocked off and trick-or-treaters go only to the merchants to get their loot. Merchants are open late and kids line the street in a parade of fashion, often having a photographer on hand to take pictures, and parents can feel better about knowing their kids are safe. More often than not, this merchant Halloween trend seems to be a growing craze, perhaps started due to the scares of earlier times; razor blazes in apples, and poison in candy. Granted there is some dark stuff out there, but for the most part, legends of the past are just that, legends. And as long as we know that are kids are safe, in the above mentioned ways, we can relax and observe it as what it is?a fun holiday!

Pumpkins Are Fun and have Smiling Faces.

What would Halloween be without carved pumpkins? It?s fun to sit down with the children, dig the guts out of a hand-picked pumpkin and carve the face of your choice. But remember, a candle-lit pumpkin on the porch, or dangerously placed, can be hazardous. Avoid these injuries. Place the lit pumpkin away from where the child will stand waiting for candy. A child walking up to the porch with a frilly outfit on will unlikely pay attention to a burning pumpkin and may get to near the fire. It?s probably best to burning candles in the house or high enough where it would be impossible for a child to come in contact with it. Talk to your kids about the hazards of burning jack-o-lanterns and lit up decorations.

Halloween Isn?t Just For Kids!

Adults and kids alike are drawn to the magic of ?All Hallows? Day,? or ?All Saints Day,? as it was called in the past. There is much history on this day, October 31st, and plenty of celebrations for young and old?such as hay rides, horror movies, haunted houses, and costume parties. Make up your own traditions and pass them on to your children.

Originally, Halloween began as a Pagan festival among the Celts of Ireland and Great Britain. There are many versions of the traditions of Halloween. But no matter how you celebrate it, keep it safe for yourself and your children. Remember the safety tips, and avoid injuries this Halloween season. This is a magical night to remember, one that can be free of injuries, but full of haunting memories that will stay with you.

Have a safe and healthy Halloween. Enjoy the night!

About the author:  Angela Lytle is a self-employed mother of four and publisher of Christmas Decorations Online, a website featuring holiday items from Artificial Christmas Trees for your home to Outdoor Christmas Lights  to brighten your season.