Trick-or-Treat Tips

Here are 10 trick-or-treating tips that parents should know courtesy of ARM & HAMMER®:

• Kids should be illuminated. Make sure your kids can be seen. Glow bracelets, flashlights, light-up shoes, and flashing objects will help ensure your children are noticed.
• Map out their route beforehand. During the light of day, plan a route that is safe and easy to walk. Avoid potentially dangerous obstacles like damaged (or lack of) sidewalks, construction areas, busy streets, or unfamiliar neighborhoods.
• Kids should wear comfy shoes that fit well. Glamorous high heels and extra-large boots are great for costume parties, but when trick-or-treating kids need to take care of their feet to avoid foot pain or tripping, which can lead to injury.
• Only wear masks with good visibility and breathability. Kids should wear masks that provide proper airflow with large eye openings. Some masks have very tiny eyeholes and no openings for the nose and mouth. Feel free to snip out larger openings in their masks, so that you can breathe easy too.
• Walk. Never run! Also make sure your kids use crosswalks when crossing the street and that they don’t cut through driveways or lawns.
• Trick-or-treat at homes that have lights on. Visiting well lit homes keeps trick-or-treating safer and easier for your children. Some neighbors may also choose not to participate in Halloween and turn their lights off as a signal to visit the next home.
• Stay hydrated and dress appropriately for the weather conditions. Some regions of the country can still be quite warm in October, so consider avoiding hot costumes. Conversely, in very cold areas, you should stay away from costumes with little protection against the elements. Also, always make sure your kids have plenty of water on hand.
• Never allow kids to eat candy before an adult has inspected it. Opened candy should be thrown away immediately and unless you know the families who make homemade goodies, it is recommended that you dispose of homemade treats.
• Give kids a healthy meal beforehand. If your kids are filled up on a good meal before they trick-or-treat they will have more energy for the outing and be less tempted indulge in their Halloween candy before they get home.
• Candy without cavities. What's Halloween without candy? Let your kids brush away potential cavities and keep their smiles bright with an ARM & HAMMER® Spinbrush® battery-powered toothbrushes and ARM & HAMMER® toothpastes.