Give this handout of safety tips to parents as a way to ensure a protected and safe Halloween for everybody, especially this year during the pandemic.
Halloween Safety Tips for Kids
How to Safely Carve a Jack O'Lanterns
- Only an adult should do the actual carving; children can draw a face and scoop out the pumpkin.
- Only an adult should light the candle in the pumpkin.
- Make sure the candle is stable (won't tip over).
- Make sure the candle won't burn the pumpkin.
How to be Safe Trick or Treating
- It is especially important this year to accompany your children trick or treating to make sure they are wearing masks the entire time and are following social distancing measures!
- If older children go trick or treating without parent supervision, set a strict curfew and enforce it!
- Tell children to avoid even normally friendly neighborhood dogs, who can be startled by children they know in unfamiliar costumes.
- If your town allows outdoor trick or treating, start early but avoid the evening rush hour. It's harder for motorists to see clearly during twilight than any other time of day!
- Stay within specific neighborhood boundaries for trick or treating, or go only to homes and neighbors they know and only to houses with the lights on.
- Have children wear light-colored or reflective clothing by adding strips of reflective tape to the front and back of costumes to make them more visible.
- Give children flashlights to carry, never candles!
- Remind children to walk on sidewalks and be cautious when crossing streets.
- Tell children to turn down all invitations to enter homes. Period.
How to Choose Safe Halloween Costumes
- Make sure all facepaints, glues, and glitters are nontoxic. Be aware of children's allergic reactions to these products.
- Don't allow children to wear costumes that drag and could make them trip.
- Don't allow children to carry sharp objects.
- Check labels to see that all costumes and accessories are flame-resistant.
- Make sure children can see well and breathe easily through masks. Repurpose COVID masks by decorating them to match costumes. For more ideas for COVID-safe Halloween masks, click here.
How to Enjoy Halloween Candy Safely
- If your town allows outdoor trick or treating, warn children not to eat any treats before returning home (a filling dinner helps out!).
- Throw away any homemade treats or any treats with torn or unsealed wrapping.
- Wash all fruit and cut it open to check for foreign objects before eating.
