Halloween is one of my favourite holidays of the year. I love putting together the kid’s costumes and finding a costume for myself. We go trick-or-treating as a family every year, and we have a great time together handing out candy to the neighbourhood trick-or-treaters as well.

But with all of the Halloween excitement, it is important not to lose sight of the potential safety concerns that come with celebrating Halloween and going trick-or-treating at night with kids. Below are some tips to help you have a safe Halloween this year.

Costume Selection: When selecting this year’s Halloween costumes for your family be sure to pick brightly coloured costumes that can be clearly seen by motorists in the dark. You can always add reflective tape to the costumes to increase visibility.

Light The Way: Another tip is to carry flashlights to ensure that your path is well-lit. We use Duracell batteries in our flashlights because they are made to last and we want to ensure the flashlights are powered when needed.

Don’t Go Out Too Late: If you have infants or young toddlers and you want to go out and trick-or-treat or take in the ghoulish sights, don’t be afraid to head out early. Try talking to your neighbours and organizing a special event for wee ones before the real action begins. Also people with the scarier more adult costumes usually come out later at night so it is a good idea to go early to avoid little ones being afraid of the creepy masks and costumes.

Avoid Dangerous Décor: Instead of using candles in your jack-o-landers, try using a small flashlight or battery-powered candle inside. We do that every year and we don’t have to worry about it being a fire hazard.  

Plan Your Route: The temptation to collect as much candy as possible is understandable, but it is not a good idea. The safest option is to limit trick-or-treating to well-known neighbourhoods and to try to stay close to home if possible.

Check The Candy: Don’t allow children to eat the candy while they are trick-or-treating; always have an adult inspect the candy to see if it has been tampered with before allowing the kids to eat any.

Do you have any other safety tips for Halloween? Share your tips below!