Halloween can be a very fun, festive time of the year. It’s like a kick-off for the holiday season with Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza and then the New Year just around the corner.
If you have a baby or toddler, you may be excited but tentative to participate in Halloween activities. We have five tips for a fun, stress-free and most importantly safe Halloween.
Keep it Light
Halloween can be fun, but it can also be scary. Try to keep it light for your little ones until they are old enough to understand that scary aspects of Halloween are just pretend. If you go trick-or-treating, skip houses that have scary decorations out. If you attend festivals and local events, skip the haunted hayride.
You may usually enjoy dressing up in dark or scary costumes as an adult, but now is the time to pass on that for a couple of years. Instead, choose a lighthearted costume or fun character that your child likes.
Dress Weather-Ready
Be sure to check the weather report before you head out for the day/evening. If it tends to be cold where you live, put leggings and long shirts underneath costumes and bring a jacket to wear just in case. Of course, this may not be the most fun for your little one, but it’s better to be comfortable!
You may also live where it tends to still be pretty warm during Halloween. If that’s the case, try to pass on costumes that are thick or heavy. Your little one won’t have as much fun if she gets hot and overheated. Ideally, you should consider the weather when you purchase your costumes, but we know that the universe doesn’t always align just the way you want – so be prepared!
Find Healthy Events
If you’re concerned about the amount of candy your little one will receive during Halloween, seek out healthy events. Many times hospitals and nonprofits will host aptly named “Healthy Halloween” events for kids. Instead of candy, they’ll get fruit, play games and focus on other fun aspects besides sugary sweets.
Even if you DO want to partake in the trick-or-treating for candy, attending a healthy event is a great way to provide balance for you little ones. Plus, it shows them that Halloween can be fun with or without candy.
Skip Door-to-Door Trick-or-Treating
One of our most important tips is to consider skipping door-to-door Trick-or-Treating. It’s not as safe to walk up to strangers’ homes and take candy. Even though many of us don’t want to think about the negative possibilities, you don’t know what could be in the candy, how it’s been stored, etc. If you have a handful of neighbors you know, stop by their houses and maybe even take treats of your own to them!
And you can still get the Trick-or-Treat experience away from your neighborhood. So many churches and organizations put on fantastic festivals and trunk-or-treat events. You’ll be safer, and while you’ll still have to check your child’s candy, you’ll have a little more peace of mind about where it’s coming from. Plus, most festivals have games, food and other activities to participate in besides just collecting candy.
Stay Home and Celebrate Indoors
If you’re not into Trick-or-Treating and festivals, you can stay home and have just as much fun. Play dress-up all evening, buy your favorite candy and treats to enjoy, pop popcorn, watch a movie, and carve pumpkins together. Just remember to turn off your porch light and put a note over your doorbell if you don’t plan on handing out candy.
Halloween is whatever you make of it. No matter what your tastes are, there is something for everyone! Your kids will appreciate having fun as a family no matter what you decide to do. It’s all about the memories you make together.
