Halloween is my and my sister’s favorite time of the year. The costumes, the scary movies, the candy — even though clowns freak me out. This is a great time for the kids in the neighborhood to dress up like their favorite superhero, a witch, Dracula and the like. This is also a time to be on top of safety. The dangers are not from ghosts and goblins, but from falls and cars.
A few things when picking out a Halloween costume regardless if you are 6 or 36:
- Make sure you can see and do not have an obstructed view.
- If you are going to be out at night, wear something that has a reflector on it.
- Especially for kids, the costume should be flame retardant.
When you are out trick-or-treating, be safe. If your neighborhood has nighttime trick-or-treating, carry a flashlight so you can see where you are walking. It is exciting and you want to run to the next house, but remember to watch for cars. Do not run out into the road. Never, ever go into strangers' houses even if they ask you to come in to get candy.
This time of year can freak out pets. With all the knocking, doorbell ringing and costumes, pets can become frightened. I know doorbells drive my dogs crazy! If you can, keep your pets inside until the trick-or-treating is over.
Once all the doorbells have been rung, it is time to dig into your candy, but wait! When you get home, check all of the candy before allowing children to eat any of it. Throw away all homemade or unwrapped treats. I know some people work hard on making great homemade treats. Remember most cases of kids' finding razor blades in their candy or popcorn ball is an urban legend. But in this day and age, it’s not worth the risk! If you find any homemade or unwrapped items, it's best to discard them — trust me, there will still be plenty of treats to go around afterwards!
Happy haunting!