Tricks to Make Halloween Treats Safer for Our Kids

Here are a few simple tricks to help your children enjoy their Halloween treats.

Prioritizing Halloween Safety

Halloween is an exciting time for kids. They eagerly anticipate their costumes and the delicious treats they'll collect during their trick-or-treating activities.

However, as parents, it's crucial to ensure that this fun-filled holiday remains safe for our “costumed wonders.” In this article, we'll share some tricks to help your children enjoy their Halloween treats while prioritizing their safety.

Halloween should be fun and safe.

Children are understandably excited about their costumes and the treats they’ll collect. Safety is probably not their first concern. Help keep your kids safe this Halloween by discussing the following tips before they begin their adventure.

1. Snacking While Trick-or-Treating.
   Children's excitement during trick-or-treating can lead them to sneak a snack from their goody bags, but it's essential to discourage this practice. Here are some things you can do:
   • Ensure your children don't go out on an empty stomach. Give them a light meal or snack before heading out.
   • Set Clear Rules: Specify they should only eat treats after returning home and having them checked by a parent.
   • Explain why it's important to wait and inspect their treats. Discuss the potential risks of consuming treats that have not been inspected for safety, such as allergies or tampering.
2. Checking Treats for Safety.
   Safety should always come first, especially when it comes to the treats our children receive. Follow these guidelines:
   • Instruct children not to accept or consume anything that isn't commercially wrapped and sealed.
   • Explain the potential consequences of eating treats that are not safe, such as getting sick or having an allergic reaction.
   • Examine commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as unusual appearance, discoloration, odors, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers.
   • Dispose of anything that looks suspicious or damaged.
   • Let your children actively participate in the inspection by checking their candies under your supervision.
3. Be Extra Cautious About Food Allergies.
   If your child has food allergies, it's vital to take extra precautions to ensure their safety:
   • Check the labels on treats to ensure they don't contain any allergens your child is sensitive to.
   • Do not allow your children to consume homemade goods unless you are familiar with the source and ingredients.
   • Confirm that the treats are free from anything that might trigger your child's allergies.
4. Watch Out for Choking Hazards
   For parents of young children, it's important to remove potential choking hazards from their goody bags. Specifically, you should remove items such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys that could pose choking risks.

Alternatives to trick-or-treating

Going out trick-or-treating is fun, but it isn’t the only way to enjoy Halloween! If you choose to refrain from trick-or-treating this year, your child can still have a fun-filled holiday with some of the following activities:

1. Slumber parties
2. Games
3. Candy trades
4. Costume contests with prizes
5. Supervised activities (Church, school, parent-sponsored)
6. Pizza parties
7. Movie nights

The options are plentiful, increasingly common, and can also be scheduled at a time more convenient for you and your family. You can start some new traditions that may be safer for your children. Additional safety tips can be found here.

The Moultrie County Health Department encourages everyone to have a safe and enjoyable Halloween. Check your local newspaper and websites for trick-or-treat nights or other locally sponsored activities in area communities.