It’s that time of year again, the little ones get to be imaginative and stroll the streets in their best costumes! Halloween is one of our stranger traditions - it’s just about the only time we encourage our kids to ask strangers for candy. Nevertheless, your little ghosts and goblins are certainly more concerned about the candy they will collect than their safety.

Consider these tips to ensure the little ones have a fun (and safe) Halloween:

1. Choose a costume that is easy to see.

Make sure other drivers can see your child! If they opt for a dark ominous costume, deck it out with glow sticks or fun, light-up necklaces. Let them pick out what they want from the store to get them excited about wearing them.

2. Test cosmetic products on a small area before using them for the night.

Before trick-or-treating night, apply a small amount of makeup onto your child’s hand and wait to see if any skin irritation or redness appears. You could save them from a very itchy situation!

3. Prepare them for the spooky sights they may see.

Especially for young children, it will be important to explain what they might see before leaving for trick-or-treating. Explain the scary costumes they may encounter and reassure them that they are just kids behind masks. Be readily available if they happen to be frightened, and consider allowing them to bring their favorite toy or blanket along.

4. Speak with children beforehand about never entering a strangers house.

This is a common rule, but it should never be taken lightly. Even if they can see the candy bowl or other kids go in the house, make sure they know to always stay outside.

5. Look out for choking hazards.

Keep the sacks of candy with you on the drive home rather than letting your child dig in, that way you can double-check for candy or toys that may pose a choking hazard.

6. Read the labels and inspect.

We’ve all heard the horror stories of hazardous things being snuck into Halloween candy, you can never be too careful when it comes to looking for anything suspicious. Some signs of tampering include:

• Candy that’s repackaged into gift bags
• Small holes or tears in wrappers
• Wrapper discoloration or wear

If any of your trick-or-treaters have allergies it's also important to read their candy's labels and the candy of anybody they may share with.

7. Be cautious of homemade treats.

Generally, tell your children they should only accept homemade treats from people you all know well. They should politely decline homemade treats from strangers and move on to the next house.

8. Consider painting your pumpkins.

Pumpkin carving with a small child can be a bit nerve-racking. While carving pumpkins might be a fun tradition, it surely is a dangerous one. The knives and carving tool kits are surprisingly sharp, and lead to many ER visits every year. If your little one is stuck on a traditional jack-o-lantern, instruct them to draw their design with a marker and then have an adult carve it for them.

Has your family ever tried painting pumpkins? It’s actually very easy and stops the pumpkin from rotting so quickly.

9. Make a glowing jack-o-lantern.

By swapping out candles for glowsticks, not only do you add a unique flare to your jack-o-lantern, you eliminate the chances of an accident occurring due to an open flame.

10. Clear out the yard.

Even if you aren’t going to be home to hand out candy, make sure your yard and walkways are free of tripping hazards like extension cords and deep holes. If you’re not passing out candy, it’s still important to make sure your property is safe for the occasional trick-or-treater who may think you are.

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