With the trick-or-treating season upon us, it's important to remember how to have a safe and healthy Halloween. From costumes to candy, learn how to best prepare your children for this Halloween season.
The statistics for the number of accidents on Halloween are scary. From crowded streets to visibility issues, trick-or-treating can pose a threat to both your children and motorists. As children go from one house to the other, intersections and road crossings can quickly be crowded with families. As a motorist, it's important to be extra aware of your surroundings, and avoid busy trick-or-treating areas if at all possible. As a parent, help your children have a safe Halloween by following these costume safety guidelines:
Additional costume safety tips include:
When the trick-or-treating has ended, your children will most likely be thrilled to start digging into their newfound candy stash. It's important to take some time to sort through their candy with them to point out what is safe to eat and what should be thrown away.
Follow these simple tips for safe candy:
While the trick-or-treating fun only lasts for a couple of days, your children's candy should last longer than that. The key to a healthy Halloween is to make sure your children are not overeating their sweets. Help them learn to properly portion out candy. You can even show them how much longer their candy will last when they have a little serving each time. This will keep your children from feeling sick and will lessen the toll too much sugar can take on the body.
Alternatives to candy: The Teal Pumpkin Project
The Teal Pumpkin Project is an effort to raise awareness about food allergens by providing trick-or-treating alternatives so that all can participate in the fun.
If you see a teal pumpkin, it is a good indication that the house is providing another option besides candy for trick-or-treaters. Alternative items can include non-food options like stickers, small toys, and pencils. Or it could include allergen-conscious food options like nut-free, gluten-free, and dairy- or soy-free treats.
Be the first in your neighborhood to participate in this global movement. Mark your porch with a teal pumpkin and provide alternatives to candy to help include those with allergen-restrictions while also limiting the excess amount of candy children receive.
It's important to have a safe and healthy Halloween, but it's also important to have fun too. Help prepare your children ahead of time with the tools and knowledge they need for a safe Halloween so they can enjoy trick-or-treating.