Halloween is a fun holiday! There’s dress-up, there are parties, and there’s candy- what’s not to love? Everyone should enjoy the day, but also keep in mind important safety factors. Here are some smart safety tips, many of them them recommended by the American Association of Pediatrics.

• Make sure that trick-or-treating kids have adult supervision. Kids who are old enough to get around by themselves should travel in groups and parents should know where they plan to be.
• Give kids a curfew. They should have cell phones and instructions to check in every hour.
• Tell kids not to ring bells at the homes of strangers. Make sure they know never to go into a car to get candy.
• Consider  bright or light-colored costumes because they’re easier to see at night. You might want to attach reflective tape to coats and costumes.
• Make sure that kids know crossing safety, and tell them to walk on sidewalks- not the middle of the street.
• Make sure the costumes are safe- not too long to be a tripping hazard. If your child is wearing a mask make sure the eye holes are large enough to see well out of. Even better- use face makeup instead.
• Accessories like swords should be soft.
• Give kids flashlights with working batteries to go around in the dark.
• Have your kids eat a meal before they go out trick-or-treating so they’ll be less likely to overdo it on the candy.
• Check treats at home for choking hazards and to make sure all packaging is sealed properly.
• Consider giving out non-food treats, such as stickers, or coloring kits.
• Keep you home safe for your visitors: Remove things people can trip over, sweep away wet leaves, and make sure the lights are on outside your house.

It might look like a long list, but there’s nothing hard here, and most of it’s common sense anyway. Take some precautions and have a safe and spooky Halloween!