It’s time to review some safety tips for Saturday’s big day! Below are some tips and tricks to get you on the right track, regardless of how you plan to modify traditions.

First up: have fun while staying safe!

​​There are still ways to have fun and enjoy the day. Keep these things in mind to ensure safety:

• Avoid large gatherings
• Keep a distance of six feet from others
• Wear cloth face coverings
• Wash hands often

If you’re looking for alternatives to the traditional trick-or-treating, you might check out some of the ideas from the American Academy of Pediatrics. One of their suggestions is to do a virtual costume party or costume parade using video chat. This would work well and could include more distant relatives and elderly family that are staying home more.

Costume safety!

Even if you’re not going out trick-or-treating, costumes are just fun!

• All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant
• If children are allowed out after dark, use reflective tape to make them more visible or give the kids glow sticks
• When buying Halloween makeup, make sure it is nontoxic and always test it in a small area first
• Remove all makeup before children go to bed to prevent skin and eye irritation (The “old-lady” face cream, aka: Pond’s Cold Cream, takes off face paint in a snap! Believe me, my daughter was a green witch one year.)

Safety while out and about

• A responsible adult should accompany young children (You know your kids best. Just keep in mind that a child that walks up to the neighbor’s door alone on a bright, sunny day to deliver a piece of errant mail, might not be as comfortable doing so after dark with hobgoblins roaming nearby.)
• If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route acceptable to you and agree on the time when children should return home
• Teach your children never to enter a stranger’s home or car and to use well-lit areas and stick together
• Regardless of trick-or-treating activities, put electronic devices down and enjoy the day