Spooky but safe! Tips for keeping trick or treating groups safe

Although trick or treating here in the UK isn’t as popular as it once was due to issues concerning safety and strangers, thousands of children enjoy dressing up and hitting the streets in search of sweet treats and other fiendish delights every Halloween.

As a parent, you’ll want them to enjoy the spooky celebrations, but safety must come first, so here’s some tips on how you can keep your little trick or treaters safe this Wednesday.

Don’t go it alone

Although your child might be going out trick or treating in a large group including older children, it's still a good idea to have an adult chaperoning them. Not only can you ensure that everyone is safe and the group stays together, but you can help them stay in an area that's familiar to them, where there are plenty of friendly neighbours and relatives.

Light them up

The dark nights and dark coloured costumes can make it tricky to keep your eye on everyone, so a few glow in the dark bands or reflective strips added to costumes can make sure that everyone stays visible.

There’s also plenty of glow in the dark spooky accessories that are available in supermarkets and shops, so take advantage of them.

Only go to houses you know

Many people do not enjoy the intrusion of dozens of children knocking on their doors at Halloween. Some older people who live alone actually find the experience quite frightening, so make sure that the houses you’ll be visiting on your route welcome spooky guests.

One of the best ways of doing this is to speak to family and friends before the event to check that they’re happy for your group to visit or even create a Facebook group for your area so that locals can give their permission for you to pop in with your group or ask not to be disturbed.

Easy ID

As a precaution, our child’s ID wristbands are great for extra peace of mind. Complete with colourful and cute pictures, the child’s name and their parents contact phone details, they are an excellent safeguard for small children who might accidentally wander off during all the excitement.

They’re also hardwearing and completely waterproof, so you can be sure that they’ll stay put even if the weather is less than perfect.

Have a back-up plan

If you do decide to brave the elements, talk to your group about some safety basics before you leave including only crossing a road with an adult present, not going into houses alone or what to do if they lose the rest of their group.

Excited children can occasionally get carried away, so its best to go through a basic safety checklist with them before you leave the house.

Tags: Child safety, ID wristbands for children, Halloween