Halloween is a super fun and exciting night, especially with school-aged children. No question though, it can also be dangerous — but it’s not scary candy I’m worried about. A study published last year in JAMA Pediatrics reports that between 1975 and 2016 there was a 43% increase in pedestrians who died on Halloween night compared to a regular fall night, 55 of them were children 4 to 8 years old. We have to be smart about how our children enjoy this fun day. I recommend putting flashing lights, reflectors or LED lights on your child’s costume. Keep an adult with children up until age 13 or 14, and after that review the risks of pedestrian vs. car accidents with teens!
Sidebar — my almost 13-year-old son let us know at the dinner table just last night, that he wants to trick-or-treat with his friends. Parenting heartbreak. Of course we will let him explore this newfound readiness to go with friends, but they will be accompanied by an adult. Also, the inflatable T-Rex pictured above was my 10 year-old’s costume choice and it has brought me so much joy.
If your children are 13+, consider letting them go out with friends, but have a route planned and a contract that they’ll call to check in every 1 hour or so – even if just with a quick text message.
I also have to give a shout out to FARE and their Teal Pumpkin Project. This was created to promote safety, community, and inclusion for children with food allergies. If you see a teal pumpkin (or a handy poster) outside someone’s home, it means they’re offering non-food treats for kids with allergies in addition to candy. What exactly is a non-food treat? Here are a few ideas: glow sticks or bracelets (kids and parents love these for the added safety they bring while walking along dark roads), stickers and pencils.
Hats off to FARE for going the extra mile to not only create awareness but creating a new, long-lasting, novel solution. This is the beginning of us doing an even better job of taking care of children with special medical needs, even during celebrations.
Go enjoy your Halloween and trick or treat safely! FUN FUN FUN.
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