Spooktacular Halloween

Halloween is a holiday that is notoriously fun for both parents and kids. The weeks surrounding Oct. 31 are filled with pre-Halloween parties, candy corn (my favorite!), picking out spooktacular costumes (I know every DivaMom loves to look as FabULyss as her DivaTot), scary-themed crafts, and more. But, in order for Halloween to be as enjoyable and memorable as possible, it has to meet the safety-standards of every parent, especially in the crowded-and-bustling New York City. Halloween is meant to be spooky and full of pranks and laughs, but we as parents know that the wellbeing and security of our children is not funny or negotiable. As a fellow mom of two (with a third on the way), I would love to share with you a “lysst” of some absolutely vital Halloween safety tips for kids of all ages:

See and be seen

After dark, kids aren’t usually swarming the neighborhood. But on Halloween night, they are. That’s why kids need to watch out for cars and other traffic.

Be sure that your child’s mask or costume doesn’t cover his eyes or make it tough for him to see where he is going. You might think about using makeup instead of a mask. If your child does wear a mask, make sure the eye holes are big enough that he can see.

Kids also need to be seen on Halloween, so it’s a good idea to wear or carry something that glows in the dark. You might choose a glowing necklace, a glow-in-the-dark treat bag, or a flashlight. You can also apply reflective tape to the costume.

Don’t trip!

Kids want their costumes to look cool, but there’s nothing cool about tripping and stumbling all Halloween night. Make the costume trip-proof by:

• Making sure it’s not too long

• Wearing shoes that fit

• Avoiding swords, canes, and other props that can get in your way

Don’t go alone

It’s best for kids to trick-or-treat with family members or friends. And it’s also a good idea to have a grown-up with them. A cellphone can be another handy item to have along. That way, if you’re not on trick-or-treating duty, you can check in with your child, and, if need be, your child can call for help.

Talk it over when deciding where to trick-or-treat. Sticking close to home is great, because then children know many of the people and won’t get lost in unfamiliar neighborhoods. And people who already know him just might throw an extra treat in his bag!

Make sure your child knows that, when trick-or-treating, he should avoid going inside a stranger’s home. Sometimes a person might invite him in for a treat, but he can just say his mom or dad asked him not to go inside anyone’s house. (Likewise, never go up to or into a stranger’s car, even if the person offers a Halloween treat.)

And if a child is wondering about whether to go to a certain house, he should check if the porch light is on. If not, that’s usually a sign that they aren’t home or they don’t want any trick-or-treaters.

Let’s talk treats

Before eating the treats in a trick-or-treat bag, you’ll want to get a good look at them. When your child gets home, have him dump everything out and let you see what he has. You don’t want him to eat anything that’s loose or not in a wrapper. Anything unwrapped, including fresh fruit, should be thrown away. Without a wrapper, it’s hard to tell if food is clean and safe to eat.

Once you’ve looked over the treats, let your children dig in! But make sure they don’t overdo it to avoid tummy aches. Plus, if they don’t eat too much on Halloween, they’ll have leftovers to enjoy in the days and weeks to come. In other words, you can make Halloween a little sweeter by making it last a little longer!

Pumpkin carving

There are few things as much associated with Halloween as carving a pumpkin, but it can be extremely dangerous for younger children. As an alternative to carving, you can consider allowing your younger kids to use markers, paint, or a pumpkin-decorating kit without the risk of carving with a sharp blade. I love painting pumpkins with my boys. I have a feeling I will be painting a few characters from the movie “Monsters University” with my younger son.

Have a safe and ghoulishly fun Halloween!

Lyss Stern is the founder of DivaLysscious Moms (www.divamoms.com).