Stay Safe and Sane This Halloween

October 24, 2018

Halloween is filled with spooks and scary stuff. But it should all be in fun, not fear for the safety of your children. You can stay sane and safe this Halloween by following these tips from McGuinn Hybrid Homes. Consider safety when choosing a costume. Some ideas seem great on paper but become hazardous when worn. Before you launch into creating or buying a costume, keep these Halloween safety tips in mind:

Black needs bright accessories. If your little witch or ghoul needs to be dressed in black, be sure to sneak in some glow-in-the-dark or reflective tape and give each one a supply of glow sticks.
Choose face paint over masks. Any mask could restrict the child’s view. At the very least, masks should be removed when walking and crossing the streets.
Test the make-up. Prevent allergic reactions to face paint or other make-up. Before applying any of it to a child, apply a small amount to their arm a few days in advance and watch for signs of a possible problem.
Avoid tripping hazards. The costume should fit properly. A long cape or flowing dress looks amazing but could cause a nasty fall.
Test the walkability factor. Be sure that any costume you choose makes it easy for the child to walk and bend over without difficulty. We’ve seen too many adorable robots who fall down and can’t get up without help or retrieve candy that they’ve dropped.

Plan a trick-or-treat route. Decide in advance where you and your family members will be hunting for treats.

Choose neighborhoods with street lights and sidewalks. Avoid any areas where pedestrians aren’t easy to see. If you live in a new home community or subdivision, share the fun by visiting your neighbors!
Stick to familiar places. Don’t stray beyond the areas where you know the people living there.
No short cuts allowed. If you have older children who are trick-or-treating with friends, make sure they know they must stick to the route. Detours could lead them off track, into areas where they don’t belong.
Choose a meet-up place. If you want to let some of your older children move on ahead, tell them when and where to meet you. Make sure they have a cell phone so they can check the time and stay in contact. And never allow anyone to trick-or-treat alone!

The bag stops here. Your trick-or-treaters come home and immediately empty their bag of goodies. Before they launch into a sugar rush, follow some basic rules.

Ration the rewards. It’s probably past bedtime, and the last thing you want is a child fueled with a sugar overdose. Give them each their choice of one or two pieces before bedtime.
No goodies in the bedroom. As much as they might want to sneak away and horde their haul, this is a bad practice. First of all, kids should learn sharing. There are probably many items in that bag that they won’t want. Encourage swapping and sharing with other household members (of all ages). Secondly, a child with a candy cache in their room can be a dietary nightmare. They’ll eat it whenever they want, spoil their appetite, and likely leave bits and pieces where they become a melted, dust-covered mess.
Inspect the treats. Examine every piece in the bag, looking for any opening in the wrappers that could signal the treat has been tampered with, or potentially contain germs. Also, discard all homemade treats, unless you know for sure who made them.

We love seeing everyone dress up at Halloween, including grown-up kids. We also want you to stay safe while enjoying the spirit of the holiday. To all of our friends and family of homeowners, McGuinn Hybrid Homes wishes you a fun-filled Halloween!