As a rehabilitation clinic, we care strongly about the wellbeing of our patients and their families. And with Halloween only hours away, we figured we’d take this opportunity to share some last minute trick-or-treating tips for the whole family to ensure everyone gets home safely and gets to enjoy their candy.
Continue reading below for a list of tips for a safer trick-or-treating experience.
ADD LIGHT-COLOURED CLOTHING TO COSTUMES
Trick-or-treating is a nighttime activity, and as it gets darker and darker, it can make it tough to see kids in dark-coloured costumes. If possible, we suggest adding a last minute light-coloured piece of clothing to your child’s costume to make them easier to see by people and vehicles.
We get that not every costume will have an opportunity to do this. It’s not like ninjas or witches wear bright colours, right? If this is the case with your child’s costume, we suggest giving them a bright-coloured pillowcase or bag to carry their candy in. This way, it doesn’t take away from their costume, but they’re still visible to everyone around them.
DRESS IN LAYERS
The days are getting shorter, but they’re also getting colder too. And this year, it looks like there’s some cool weather in store for trick-or-treaters. We suggest dressing your child in layers before they head out. This way they’re plenty warm, but if need be can ditch a layer into their treat bag if they find themselves too warm. By dressing in layers, you also eliminate the need for a jacket that would otherwise ruin the perfect costume. In most cases, you can add sweaters, sweatpants, long sleeve shirts and thick socks underneath costumes where they’re practically unnoticeable.
Some costumes may also present an opportunity to swap thin, cheap fabric for something a little bit thicker and warmer. Now’s the time to get creative.
Some clothing swaps ideas that come to mind are:
- Ninjas can swap thin costume facemasks for thicker, balaclava-style ski masks
- Swap costume gloves for winter gloves
- Winter boots work great for construction-inspired costumes
WEAR PROPER FOOTWEAR
We’re all for doing whatever it takes to have the perfect costume, but with that being said, we’re more for the safety and wellbeing of everybody. Sure, those dress shoes perfect for completing your child’s princess costume at the class party, but when it comes time to trick-or-treat, consider swapping them for proper running shoes or boots. Leaves are damp at this time of year and can make things quite dangerous for anyone not wearing proper footwear. Not to mention, nobody wants to walk block after block in uncomfortable shoes.
ADD REFLECTIVE TAPE TO COSTUMES
If light-coloured treat bags or costume clothing aren’t an option, run out to the store and grab some reflective safety tape. You can add it directly to costumes without ruining anything and can make sure you and your child are highly visible. The more you add, the safer you’ll be.
MAKE SURE LOOSE ITEMS AREN’T TRIPPING HAZARDS
Capes, dresses, tails, you name it, whatever your child’s costume is, make sure loose items aren’t going to be tripping hazards walking from house to house. When it comes to capes and dresses, you can roll them up inside and secure them using safety pins or tape. And when it comes to tails, you can do the same or use a straightened metal coat hanger to give the tail some structure and bend it up out of the way. And even if you think your child won’t trip on his or her costume, we still recommend shortening any costume accessory that drags on the ground. It may not be your child that trips on their costume but could be someone else walking by or standing next to them at the door.
CARRY A FLASHLIGHT
Most neighbourhoods in the Guelph and surrounding area are well-lit with plenty of street lights. With this being said, we still suggest sending your child out with a flashlight of their own. It stores safely in a pocket and can come in handy when houses are set back off the road. Every home is different and can pose many different tripping hazards, including:
- Inadequate light
- Uneven walkways
- Unmaintained walkways
- Stairs
- Etc.
STICK TO PATHWAYS
When it comes to candy, every child moves like Flash. And even though cutting across the lawn may help them get to the candy quicker, sticking to the pathway can limit the risk of injury. At this time of year, leaves and grass are wet and can make it quite easy to slip, trip or fall on if not careful. By sticking to the pathway, you ensure your child safely gets their candy. Not to mention, nobody likes their lawn being torn up.
Our team would like to wish you and your family a safe evening of trick-or-treating and remind you that no candy is worth risking injury. By following the tips we shared above, you can minimize the risk without minimizing the fun. If you have any last minute questions, we encourage you to call us, and we will try and answer them as best we can.
And mom and dad, if in the event you slip or trip while out with your little goblin or ghoul, get in touch with us or your health care professional of choice so that we can get you back feeling pain-free as quickly as possible.
