Halloween Costumes – Tips for a Fun and Safe Trick-or-Treating Adventure

Well, it’s that time of year again… the ghosts and goblins are just around the corner. Talk of “What are you going to be this year?” crept in at the dinner table as soon as our wannabe-monsters found the first costume catalog in our mailbox a few weeks ago. With pressure to actually order the costumes quickly crawling to the top of my to-do list, I thought it would be a good time to share some tips for dressing kids safely as you start to plan for your night of Halloween fun.

Top-10 Costume Safety Tips:

1. Choose flame resistant costumes and accessories. Nylon and polyester tend to be flame resistant; cotton is definitely not. Still, resistant does not mean flame-proof… See next tip.
2. No open flames! This used to be a tough one – paper lanterns and jack-o-lanterns are often an integral part of Halloween festivities. Now, there are many battery-operated faux candles on the market that work just as well and are far safer. Look for indications that the lights have been UL tested and follow manufacturer’s instructions. (I guess this is decorating tip, not really a costume tip, per se.)
3. Add reflective tape and/or glow-in-the dark accessories. This will help make your child visible to motorists, especially if the costume is dark in color. Kids love this stuff anyway.
4. Ditch the mask. If your child insists (even though you know you’ll be carrying it for him half-way around the block), make sure the mask has good visibility and ventilation. Try wearing it yourself around the house for while. If you feel claustrophobic after 30 minutes, or cannot see well enough to accomplish ordinary tasks, it’s probably not a good choice for your child. (Don’t mind the neighbors while you are testing said mask.)
5. Harmless Weapons? Now, If that’s not an oxymoron… I say, leave them at home but, much like the masks, that may be a losing battle. Just make sure that knives and such are soft and flexible, and anything that shoots, doesn’t really shoot while in a mass of people – even if the “bullets” are foam. We’re not really ghost hunting here.
6. Tennis Shoes! The smartest princesses always wear tennies with their gowns. If she’s not buying it, try glittery or glow-in-the-dark laces and a promise that she can romp around the house in her “fancy shoes” upon her safe return. Besides, she doesn’t want to be at a disadvantage while racing the other kids to the next house, does she?
7. Make sure hems do not touch the ground. Now that we have them equipped to scamper quickly in tennies, make sure their clothes don’t slow them down (like to a grinding halt on the sidewalk). Feet should be free to take that freakishly long stride to the next treat-stop.
8. Take a flashlight. Stairways are often in the shadows. It is also another great way to make sure drivers see you.
9. Have a meeting place and a plan in case you get separated. OK, another non-costume tip, but it’s important.  I was the one who got separated from my family last year and had to ask another parent to barrow his phone. (Stopped to chat with a neighbor and “poof” they were gone.) Which brings me to the last tip…
10. Make sure your child is wearing your phone number or a pre-programmed cell phone. Before the boys were old enough to memorize our cell phone numbers, we would make wristbands with our names and numbers on them using doubled-over masking tape and a permanent marker. Gives peace-of-mind in crowded places like amusement parks, too.

There you have it. Keep these tips in mind as you start to gather everything you need for that perfect costume. If you have more ideas, please share them in the comments section.

Happy Halloween Planning!