SAFETY AND HEALTH

Keeping your little Halloween spirits safe

Judith M. Taylor

It won't be long before your neighborhood becomes inhabited by young, scary creatures. They will come in many shapes, sizes and descriptions, but will all basically want one thing from you - treats! The chill in the air and the stacks of treats at local stores, are all pretty good indicators that Halloween is on its way. If you have young children at home, they have probably already begun to think about what type of costume they want to wear this year. As parents, you will also want to consider some of the ways you can help keep your children safe at Halloween time.

There are many costumes available through stores, or you may want work with your children to put together something at home. Regardless of where the costume comes from, one of the most important features is a proper fit. Ill-fitting costumes can cause your child to trip and fall, especially as they travel unfamiliar terrain. If the costume that your child decides on this year is dark colored, add reflective tape so that motorists can readily see them.

Masks can be dangerous for children if they cannot see well from behind them, or if it restricts their breathing. If your child insists on a mask, remind them to remove it as they travel from house to house and wear it only when they arrive at the next stop. Make-up and face paint are good alternatives to masks. Children often enjoy creating the "look" that they want, and can control that look much more with make-up and face paint. Face paint can be purchased or made using the following recipe.

Face Paint Recipe

1 teaspoon of cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon of water

1/2 teaspoon of cold creme a few drops of food coloring

A good flashlight is a 'must have' accessory for a Halloween costume. Carrying a small flashlight can help keep children from tripping over tree branches or buckled cement. When they arrive at a house, they can put the flashlight out of sight into their treat bag, or pocket if they feel it detracts from their costume.

An adult should accompany children when they go trick-or-treating. Adults can help children as they cross streets, and as they decide where to stop. Even though they are out to have fun - all of the usual street safety rules still apply. Remind children they are responsible for being respectful of other people and their property. As children get old enough to go by themselves, make sure they go with others and go only to homes of people they know.

One other important rule: do not eat treats until they are inspected at home. During the inspection throw away any opened treats, or things that look like they have been tampered with. You will probably also want to ration the sugary treats your child received so that they won't eat them all in one sitting. Halloween can be a fun holiday for everyone - just remember to keep it safe.

Judith M. Taylor is a Youth Development Educator for the University of Illinois Extension, Springfield Center, P.O. Box 8199, Springfield, IL 62791, (217) 782-6515, jmtaylor@ uiuc. edu