Halloween is the official start to the holiday season, and it includes amazing food and treats. These Halloween Safety and Health Tips for Parents are all about helping keep your kiddos safe while heading out to parties or trick or treating, in this sponsored post opportunity with P&G. All opinions and photography are my own.
Remember, safety isn’t just about where they go, but what they do and even what they eat!
Halloween Safety and Health Tips for Parents
As you prepare costumes, treats, and party supplies for Halloween, remember to keep in mind many kids also need sensory friendly options. Health and safety during Halloween mean having options not just for the average trick or treater. Add some other options to your Halloween plans to accommodate those around you that may be just a little bit different.
My boys are now teens, so we are no longer dressing up in cute outfits that cost an arm and leg. However, they are now asking to go to teen Halloween parties, and if they do go out trick or treating, they want to do it with their friends. These tips I am sharing will apply to teens as well as the little kids.
Have a reminder talk about stranger danger
No matter how old or young your children are, strangers can be a danger. When you go to parties, events, or trick or treating in the neighborhood, you will meet new people. You don’t have to make your child afraid of everyone who is new, but you do want to remind them of dangers. The simple things like being polite without giving out unnecessary information. You also may want to remind about not getting into cars or going inside the homes of those you do not know. A quick chat with your kids on an age-appropriate level is a must.
Crest wants to ensure you and your kids have a safe and healthy Halloween. While we know our kids (and adults too) love candy, consume with care. Crest recently asked a group of school-age children to test out new healthy alternatives in a focus group. You can watch the video here (I’ve also shared it down below). It is quite funny because kids are going to give you 100% honesty all the time. And kids want candy, period.
Set rules about what they can eat
While the rumors of poisoned candy from the 1980’s were just that, it is still smart to check candy before eating. I follow the rule of no candy while out and about, and separating it when we get home. Any candy outside of packaging gets thrown away. Plus, this gives us a good chance to remove items with dyes or ingredients that the kids can’t have without reactions. You can always buy some candy to have on hand and give to the kids on your own throughout the evening, so they don’t feel left out. Most of what kids get when trick or treating is safe, but you want to double check.
Fact: Crest recently did a survey and found that 72.7% of mothers limit their children to a maximum of 10 pieces of candy on Halloween. Fathers set their child’s candy limit a bit higher, with over 60% setting limits between 11 – 31+.
Halloween safety is not just about who they might see or meet. It includes things like avoiding the stomach ache from eating too much or ingesting an unexpected allergen in candy. Safety first, fun later.
Swap your kids candy for something else
If you do not want your kids to have a ton of candy, try swapping their candy for something they would really want. Such as money, toys, video game accessory, a new shirt, etc. 23.59% of dads said they would offer to buy back their kids’ candy as a way to limit their children’s candy consumption. Only 8.95% used this tactic.
Don’t forget this important health tip
How much candy do you allow your kids to consume before going to bed? Did you know that about 70% of parents enforce stricter teeth brushing/routines on Halloween for their children? This is one thing I am adamant about making sure my boys brush their teeth well before heading off to bed. Another interesting fact from the Crest Survey was Seven in 10 parents enforce a stricter teeth brushing and flossing routine on Halloween, and 41% compensate for Halloween candy by serving a healthier dinner on the holiday itself or the next night.
Make sure older kids go out in pairs
Sometimes, as your kids get older, they don’t want mom and dad tagging along. Whether you have a tween walking around your own neighborhood, or teens going to parties you want to have safety in place. If you have an only child, you can ask other parents to find friends you trust for them to go out as a group with on Halloween. If your children are old enough, you can let them go out together. Set rules and make sure they have a phone or easy way to access you as needed.
Halloween safety tips like these are all about planning ahead. Take a few minutes before the holiday to set your children up for success this Halloween by giving them pointers and tips to keep them safe and healthy while out and about during this fun holiday.
And after you’ve allowed your kids to consume their share of candy, make sure they brush their teeth thoroughly with Crest Toothpaste. And, for those moms and dads that love to eat the kids’ candy after they go to bed (44% of parents admitted to eating more Halloween candy than their children), be sure you brush your teeth too!
Happy Halloween!
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