Archive for October 23rd, 2009
Kids love Halloween. When else can they dress up, get goodies, and act spooky? But trick-or-treating makes many parents nervous. When I was working 80 hours a week, I never had time to think of halloween until about the day before. Now that I have a stay at home mom business, I am able to properly prepare. Dr. Alan Woolf, Director of the Massachusetts Poison Control Center, suggests these five safety tips to ensure your kids’ safety this Halloween season:
Jack O’Lanterns
Carving is for adults only. Let your kids participate by drawing the face on the pumpkin and scooping out its insides with a spoon.
Trick-or-Treating
No child should go trick-or-treating alone. Always accompany your younger children; older children can go in groups.
Allow children to go trick-or-treating early but avoid the evening rush hour. It’s harder for motorists to see clearly during twilight than at any other time of day.
Give children specific neighborhood boundaries for trick-or-treating. Set a firm curfew for your children.
Remind children to walk on sidewalks and be cautious when crossing streets.
Tell children to go only to homes and neighbors they know and only to houses with lights on.
Tell children to turn down all invitations to enter homes. Period.
Tell children to avoid even normally friendly neighborhood dogs, who can be startled by kids they know who are dressed in unfamiliar costumes.
Costumes Check labels to see that all costumes and accessories are flame-resistant. (This goes for wigs, masks, and beards, too.)
Put strips of reflective tape on the front and back of costumes to make them more visible to drivers.
Make sure all facepaints, glues, and glitters are nontoxic. Your child may be allergic!
Your child’s costume shouldn’t drag on the ground. It’s too easy to trip. Shoes should be well-fitting and sturdy. (Mom’s high heels are not a good idea for safe walking!)
Props Don’t allow children to carry sharp objects. Swords, knives, and any other accessories should be made of soft, flexible material.
If your child wears a mask, make sure it fits securely and has eyeholes large enough so that he can see.
Make sure that goody bags are light-colored for easy visibility. Decorate them with reflective tape (you can find it in hardware, bicycle, or sporting goods stores).
Goodies Warn kids not to eat any treats before returning home (a filling dinner can help).
Throw away any homemade treats or any treats with torn or unsealed wrapping.
source: http://fun.familyeducation.com/halloween/safety/35763.html?WT.mc_id=FE_Healthy-Moms_2009-10-23_email#