Make sure to have a fun and safe Halloween

Matti Daniels
Family and Consumer Sciences

The candy, the costumes, the frights … and did I mention the candy?

The fall is here again, and Halloween is once again upon us.

Here are some tips about your child’s costume:

• Your child’s costume should be made from flame retardant material. If it is a homemade costume, treat the fabric will a flame retardant spray.

• If possible, include a light reflector with your child’s costume. You may even consider sewing one if there is none on the costume already. Also make sure that your child has a flashlight when he or she goes out to trick or treat.

• If your child will be wearing a mask, you will want to make sure that he or she can see easily out of the holes for the eyes. This will help your child see where he or she is going and hopefully will prevent any trips and falls. Make sure to try it on before Halloween night.

• If you have more than one child, you may want to consider saving a costume for the next year.

Adding a prop or taking something off of the costume can give it a whole new look.

If you are going to be dressing up with your child, here are some tips for your costume:

• Make sure that your costume fits well and that it is comfortable since you will be wearing it for a few hours and could be running after your child.

• Make sure you have some type of reflective materials and or a flashlight with you.

• If you are wearing a mask, make sure you can breathe well when you have it on and that you do not have blocked vision.

• Make sure your child knows what costume you are wearing. This is important in case you and your child get separated. By knowing what you are wearing, it may help your child find you.

• Once you have the candy picked out, and the costumes ready and decorations up, be sure to talk to your child about being safe while he or she “Trick or Treats.”

• Watch out for cars and traffic – Remind your child to stay on the sidewalks as much as possible.

• Watch where your child is going – With masks and costumes it may be hard for your child to have the same eyesight that they would normally have.

Watch out for steps, cracks in the pavement and other ways that your child could trip and get hurt.