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Halloween Guide - How to Keep Your Children Safe
 Halloween can be a scary time for kids, but it can be even scarier for parents! Some of the safety tips that come to my mind when I think of Halloween, are very easy to implement. If you have small children, please be sure that they are with an adult at all times. I am constantly amazed at the number of small children I see each Halloween, walking alone from house to house. Despite being in a group of children, young children do need to be supervised by adults.
Girls should wear dresses that are short enough so they don't trip -- I know how difficult it is to accomplish this! Girls just love dresses that drag along the floor. Unfortunately, this is a very unsafe practice, especially while walking in the street at night.
Costumes that have head coverings can add a lot to a costume, but they can also be dangerous - especially at night. The holes that are cut out for the eyes can become obstructed, or moved where the child will not be able to see where they are going. This can lead to a potentially dangerous situation. Try to purchase or design costumes where you can use face paint - you can create all sorts of great characters this way!
When you and your children go door to door (never let them go alone), be sure to only visit those you know in your neighborhood. Usually people will leave their outside lights on Halloween night to signify that visitors are welcome. If you approach a house that has all their lights off, encourage your child to pass it right by.
A great treat to give trick-or-treaters on Halloween, are those glow-in-the-dark necklaces -- besides being cool to wear, they give children extra protection at night. Consider putting these on your children before you allow them to go out at night.
When your child is finished trick-or-treating, before you allow them to eat all their candy, parents should inspect everything to be sure it is safe to eat. Be wary of candies that look like they have been opened, tampered with, or may pose an allergic reaction in your child.
Here are some tips from The American Association of Orthodontists: Do you know what kinds of candy your children should avoid to keep from damaging their braces this Halloween?
- If it's sticky, chewy, hard or crunchy, it's a food that anyone wearing braces or retainers should avoid," says Dr. James J. Caveney, president of the AAO.
- Some items to avoid: Caramel, Bubblegum, Taffy, Popcorn (including unpopped kernels), Peanuts, Hard pretzels, Taco chips, Ice
- Bobbing for apples is not recommended for braces.
- Plain chocolate candy is OK, provided you remember to brush and floss afterwards.
- A good treat that won't cause damage is thinly sliced apples, dipped in yogurt dip or creamy chocolate sauce.
Visit The American Association of Orthodontists' website for more great tips! The site also has Braces-Safe Halloween Recipes that are sure to keep big smiles on trick-or-treaters with braces. The disgustingly yummy treats include recipes for Creepy Cake, Goofy Brains and Spider Webs!
Below are more articles that deal with Halloween safety - we hope these important safety tips will help you keep your children safe this Halloween!
II. Halloween Safety Tips, from The National Safety Council.
III. 13 Halloween Safety Tips for Little Ghosts and Goblins, from The American Academy of Pediatrics.
IV. Novelty Makeup, from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration.
V. How to Take Great Halloween Photos, from the New York Institute of Photography.
VI. Print out our FREE Halloween Preparation Checklist, from PrintableChecklists.com.
Below are some books with a Halloween theme. Use Amazon.com's secure server to order:
Visit the following Internet sites for more information about Halloween and safety:
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