Flocks of fairies, pirates, zombies and princesses will scamper from house to house. They’ll be laughter, shouts of excitement and maybe even some tears. It’s a magical time when children are able to dress as their favorite characters and let their imaginations run wild. Costume ideas range from the mundane to the extraordinary. You never know what creatures may decide to visit your home on this spooky holiday. Heck, you may even get to meet some of your favorite super heroes!

Even though you may be an old hand at the timeless tradition of trick-or-treating, we thought we’d offer you some Halloween safety tips and even share some new trends! Sometimes it’s easy to overlook the simple things when you’re busy preparing for all the big stuff. We know because we’ve done it too, which is why we thought we’d provide you with a few last minute suggestions.

How to Protect Your Little Ones

Have children carry flashlights or wear glow sticks so they’re easily visible to drivers and other trick-or-treaters. In fact, you might even want to consider adding reflective tape to their costumes and candy bags!

Remind your children to walk from house to house. It’s an easy way to avoid them tripping and falling over hidden objects.

If your children are under 12, then they should be accompanied by yourself, a trusted adult or responsible teenager. Always walk have someone accompany children to the door when they receive treats. Never let them enter a home unless you are with them.

Avoid vehicles, occupied or not and remind your children to shout for help if someone tries to get them to go somewhere and tell them to do everything they can to get away from the individual.

When wearing a mask, make sure your children are able to clearly see straight ahead and peripherally. If the eye holes are too large and they’re worried about looking silly, then darken the area around their eyes with hypoallergenic face paint.

If some of your children are over 12 and you’re permitting them to go trick-or-treating on their own, then make sure you plan and review an acceptable route. Make sure they know when they need to be home. Ensure they have a cell phone and inform them they should call you if they encounter any problems. In fact, if you still want to keep an eye on them without them knowing you can download a free tacking app for Android and iPhone. For example, there’s a free application called Life360 that allows family members to keep track of each others’ location.

Too Much Candy?

Upset tummies are a common occurrence during the weeks following Halloween. If your kids come home with too much candy, then you might consider implementing the “Switch Witch” and avoid candy overload. You can learn more about the switch witch here! There’s even a book available for parents interested in creating a Halloween tradition that teaches children moderation and how to make good choices.

Trunk-0r-Treating

Lately there’s been a slew of signs adorning the front lawns of churches and local community centers proclaiming, “Trunk-or-Treat.” If you’ve never heard of this new trend, then you’re probably not sure if it’s something you want to participate in. Well, trunk-or-treating is the perfect solution if you’re not too interested in taking your little ones from house to house and driving through congested neighborhoods. It’s actually pretty simple. In fact, some people refer to it as “Halloween tailgating.” It’s typically geared toward children who are toddlers or preschoolers. Learn more here!

Whether you’re sticking to the traditional trick-or-treating or decide to try the more modern trunk-or-treating, we hope you have a happy and safe Halloween!!

Check out these websites for more helpful Halloween safety tips:

American Academy of Pediatrics

Spoonful