Halloween Safety Tips for Preschoolers

This year will be many children’s first introduction to Halloween and trick-or-treating. A time to make new memories and have celebrations. New parents may ask, when is the right age for my child to begin treat-or-treating? SimplySmart Child Care Centre & Montessori suggests that between 3- 4 is a good age to help your child start trick or treating. Some children may not be ready and will depend on your family’s situation and the number of children you have. If your toddler is already enrolled in a daycare or preschool, they may have already had a brief introduction to Halloween preschool activities. If you plan on taking your child out for Halloween, here are some precautions and safety tips while trick-or-treating.

Daylight versus Evening

If possible, try to get an early start with your preschooler. We suggest starting between 5 and 6 pm. You may also want to reach out to your friends and neighbours to see what their plans are. Here’s why:

  • Children tend to have more energy during the day. Preschoolers prefer early evening to late evening.
  • It gets colder during the night.
  • Older children and teens go later at night and may try to scare your child as a joke.
  • Spooky decorations on the homes may intimate your child at night.

Preparing your Preschooler

Consider sitting down with your child beforehand to go over the evening’s plans. You’ll want to explain to them that the costumes and decorations that they will see and experience are just for fun and silly, nothing to be scared of. Making the night light-hearted can help take some of the edge off the experience for your toddler. Practicing knocking at your own front door and having one of your family members give them some treats will help them gain some confidence and they will see this as a rewarding game in assisting them for the big night ahead.

Ensure your Child’s Costume is Safe

When purchasing your toddler’s or preschooler’s costume, it’s imperative that you make sure it’s easy to walk in and breathe in and that they can see out of it. Choose accessories that aren’t going to be a safety hazard, like a pointy sword, or that are hard plastic. If you choose Halloween makeup over a mask, be sure that once you are done trick-or-treating, remove it before bedtime to avoid any skin irritation.

We suggest you place a piece of reflective tape on the back of your preschooler’s costume. This will ensure them being seen as the sun goes down.

Trick or Treat Safely

Practicing how your toddler or preschooler will go about trick-or-treating is equally as important as explaining to them the dos and don’ts while you are out and about. Here are a few to keep in mind:

  • When going from house to house, we walk and do not run. Cross at corners and look both ways before crossing.
  • If an adult is not available, an older sibling should be present.
  • Do not eat any candy unless it’s been inspected first by an adult/older sibling.
  • Avoid homemade treats and only eat the candy that has been wrapped. Due to questionable treats and allergies. (Unless you know the baker.)
  • Stay in the areas that you are familiar with.

On behalf of all the staff and children at SimplySmart Child Care Centre & Montessori, we wish everyone who is celebrating a Happy and safe Halloween!

If you want to join a community created to help parents, we would like you to consider thinking of SimplySmart Child Care Centre & Montessori for your child and family’s needs. To learn more about our Play-Based or Montessori programs, please visit https://simplysmartchildcare.com/play-based-or-montessori/.