If your family celebrates Halloween, it’s important to remember to stay safe and respectful of others in your neighborhood, while also having fun! With a little planning, it’s easy to create a balance between enjoying the festivities and keeping safety a top priority. Read on for some tips and tricks, so that you can better enjoy the treats! 

Tips for Trick-or-Treating

• October in Florida doesn’t always mean nice, crisp weather- be prepared for heat and rain by bringing raincoats, umbrellas, and lots of water while trick-or-treating. Lightweight costumes are more comfortable in the heat.

• Bring an extra treat bag or two, in case the one your child is carrying breaks, rips, or gets too heavy.

• Have your child practice saying, “Trick or treat!” and “Thank you!” as they go door to door.

• Make sure your children walk on sidewalks, instead of on the street, unless your neighborhood closes them to traffic.

• Look for houses with their lights on. Those with lights off might mean that family is not celebrating Halloween, and it’s important to respect that different families do different things.

• Remind your child not to take more candy than what they’re offered, to ensure there is enough candy for everyone in the neighborhood. 

Staying Safe

• When selecting your child’s costume, make sure it is the right size to avoid trips and falls.

• As it starts getting darker earlier, be sure that your family stays visible to both cars on the road, and to the rest of your group. A fun option is to give everyone glow sticks to carry or wear! You can also bring a flashlight or wear reflective clothing.

• Cross the street at traffic signals and stick to well-lit areas and sidewalks.

• Make sure an adult always stays with your child and their group.

• Remind your child not to enter someone’s house without permission (unless they’re having a walkthrough haunted house, of course)!

Activities For the Home

• Pumpkin carving is a classic Halloween tradition, but it can get messy. In our home, we enjoy painting pumpkins or decorating them with stickers and markers. Have your child create their own jack-o’-lantern with different materials!

• Play fun Halloween music and have a dance party in the living room! Some of my favorites include “Monster Mash,” “Ghostbusters,” and “Thriller.”

• Tell your child some not-so-scary stories- you can borrow some from the library or tell your own. Create a spooky atmosphere by dimming the lights, or for your young kids, making props with friendly ghosts and silly witches.

• See if your town offers free Halloween activities such as pumpkin patches or trunk or treats- these can be fun, organized alternatives or added activities to traditional trick-or-treating.



Halloween can be a fun and memorable time for families with just a few safety precautions. Whether you’ll be out trick-or-treating, attending a Halloween event, or simply enjoying activities at home, the important thing is to make sure your kids feel safe and comfortable, and that everyone has a good time. More safety tips can be found at https://www.safekids.org/halloween. Happy Halloween!