Safety Tips for a Boo-tiful Halloween!

Welcome back on this boo-tiful day! We are all getting into the Halloween spirit and preparing for a fun-filled, spooky day of tricks and treats. Whether your neighborhood has lots of kiddos that venture out for candy or just a few that stop by (leaving all the chocolate for you!), we want to make sure you're covered.

So, today we've got a few safety tips and last-minute Halloween ideas to ensure your little goblins and ghouls are prepared for the day.

Trick or Treating Safety

• Plan your route in advance. Prevent little ones from getting tired and cranky after walking too much, and make sure you're sticking to familiar areas. If your kids are older and go out with their friends, they should stick to your agreed-upon route and arrange a time to be home.
• Wear comfy shoes with costumes. Sneakers or other walking shoes should be worn. Avoid heels or ill-fitting costume shoes because they can cause tripping.
• Take flashlights or glow sticks to keep your path lit and help drivers see you walking. Bonus points if you can put reflective tape on kids' treat bags.
• Trick or Treat in a group. Parents can help keep an eye on all the kids and groups are usually easier to see as it gets dark outside. A trusted adult should always be nearby, and obviously kids should never go up to a strange house alone.
• Drivers need to slow down in residential areas even more than usual. Stay alert because kids are excited to be out trick or treating, and they often move and run around in unpredictable ways.
• When you get home, examine all treats before eating. Look for choking hazards, allergens or signs of tampering. Only eat candy that has been factory-sealed and toss homemade treats made by strangers.

Homeowner Tips

• Clear your lawn and sidewalks/driveway of debris to prevent tripping. 
• Keep your porch lights on to let trick or treaters know you're still "open for business".
• Put your pets in another room or in the backyard if they jump or bark to avoid scaring kids, especially little ones who may be out trick or treating for the first time.
• Consider offering treats that do not contain allergens. Food allergies are more common than many people realize, and other parents will appreciate your sensitivity. Here's a list of candies that are allergy-friendly. 
• If you prefer to offer an alternative to candy, try handing out festive coloring pages or fun, inedible trinkets. 

After Halloween is over, what do you do with your remaining loot of candy? There's only so much sugar the kids can handle, so consider trying these clever ideas to use leftover treats. 

• Locally, many dentists "buy back" leftover candy to send to our troops overseas. Check with your dental group to see if they participate in Operation Gratitude.

Finally, if you haven't finalized your costume decisions yet, here are a few easy, affordable DIY costumes that can be done over the weekend. We wish everyone a safe, fun and spoooooky Halloween!