From creepy decorations, sugary treats and children in scary costumes rushing about, Halloween celebrations can be chaotic, stirring up excitement and providing distractions all around.
Stay safe this spooky season by following the below tips:
- Travel in pairs – or more! Children should be supervised by trusted adults, and no child should ever be alone. Travel in groups of two or more to share in the fun together! If older children are practicing independence, ensure they are aware they must stay together.
- ID your child: Make sure that your child can easily find you if you become separated while out. It’s time to get creative! Write your name and phone number on the inside of your child’s costume, on a wristband, or a sticker. Perhaps you even have a sing-song way for your kids to remember your phone number! Think about ways you’ve seen others do this and decide which works best for you and your child.
- Charge your phones: If your child is trick or treating adult-free, ensure they have a phone to carry on them. Before leaving home, ensure that all phones are fully charged, and if you plan to be gone for a while, any portable charger packs too.
- Be Street Smart: Remind your children about the basic road safety rules:
– Walk, don’t run
–Â Favour road crossings
–Â Stick to the footpaths
–Â Check driveways for reversing cars
– Â Put electronic devices down and keep their eyes up when walking - Set them up for success: Prevent injury caused by lack of vision, and ensure your children can see cars and other objects clearly, by making sure that their vision isn’t impaired by their costume, or other things like face paint.
- Stay lit: Torches or bright, glow-in-the-dark accessories are a great touch to any costume! Remind your children to stay in well-lit areas. You can even place strips of reflective tape on the back and front of costumes, so that drivers can better see your child.
- Stay outside: Ensure children understand never to enter a house while trick or treating, nor go near a car that might stop to talk or offer treats. Children should only visit well-lit houses and those joining in the Halloween fun. Mark your house to show if you are participating in trick or treating or not.
- Food safety: Tell your children not to eat anything until their safe return home so you can check the ingredients. You can turn this into a fun game where you work together to count their stash! If your child is going with another adult, ensure they are aware of any allergies or food intolerances.
- Map it out: Most local neighbourhoods and community areas advise if they are participating in Halloween, so be sure to chat with your neighbours and folks living on your street. Children who are trick or treating should only go to houses that are marked as participants. Create a trick or treat route and only go to areas you are familiar with. You can even take a family walk to practice the path a few days before!
- Trick or Treat Safety: Talk with your children about trick-or-treating and the safety rules before the day, and remind them again so they understand the risks. Make sure they know what signs to look out for that indicate the house is participating or not. If in doubt, leave!
- Mark your house: Use one of our handy posters below to show your neighbourhood if you are or are not participating in trick or treating this year.
 
   
   
From Constable Care Foundation, we hope your family has a spooktacular day, that our tips help to keep your children safe, and that you get to enjoy a Halloween treat or two as well!
