PARENTING

FROM LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS TO COVID AND FAST DRIVERS AND DARES

KEEPING OUR CHILDREN SAFE THIS HALLOWEEN

WRITTEN BY SHANNON E. ROESGEN

Parenting can be scary. Can be? It is. Parenting is scary. Of course, it is also wonderful and amazing and miraculous and joyous. But let’s be honest, sometimes it can feel like Halloween 365 days a year.

From toddlers having no impulse control to teenagers on social media, we worry, we panic, and maybe we pray for the safety of our children. We are parents. Worrying is part of the gig.

Halloween is a holiday children enjoy. Amidst all of the glee and celebration, however, it is also a time when parents are increasingly worrying about keeping children safe. Sarah Moser is a mom of two teens (ages 17 and 14) and a youth and family administrative assistant for a local church. She has become habitual about thinking of children’s safety not only at home, but at work.

“Of course, all costumes should meet general safety requirements,” advises Moser. “Can the child easily see through the mask or makeup they are wearing? Can he or she walk without tripping in the costume? And are there reflectors or lights on it somewhere? We like to have our kids wear glow stick bracelets and necklaces while trick or treating to make them more visible to drivers.”

In addition, Moser believes “Children should be given instructions to never go inside anyone’s house on Halloween night, even people they know,” she says. “There can be so much chaos and confusion on such a busy night, and people might be hard to recognize in costumes. There is no reason for an adult to invite a child inside to get their treat!”

When to let your kids go solo … a slow and gradual transition

“As the kids got older, we started letting them go by themselves,”

says Moser. “At first, they could do one cul-de-sac or side of the street on their own with a group of friends, then they had to check in before going up the next street. They were given more freedom as they got older, and they carried a cell phone that allowed them to check in or let me track their location.”

Some great options for teenagers include opening up your home for snacks, dinner, a scary movie or a bonfire, “Whatever they need to have a fun and safe environment to celebrate Halloween and enjoy still being kids,” says Moser. However, if trick or treating is still desirable, “Teens who want to trick or treat should always be welcome; it’s an innocent activity that lets them be kids a little while longer.”

COVID Safety Ideas

During COVID, one can create “candy dispensers’’ to distribute candy to kids from a distance. “We used a ladder, a black tarp, large googly eyes, and a long PVC pipe to make a ‘candy monster’ through which we dropped candy from one side, and it landed in their bag on the other side. Kids got a big kick out of it!” says Moser.

Candy dispensers are a great way to be COVID-safe through social distancing this Halloween and still use all of the creative juices and have a ton of fun.

Teal Pumpkins

If someone displays a teal pumpkin on their doorstep, that means the home is participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project, which is a movement to offer non-food treats such as glow sticks or small toys. This is meant to promote inclusion for children with food allergies or other conditions.

Blue Pumpkin Buckets

If you see a child carrying a blue pumpkin bucket, that symbolizes that the child has autism and may be nonEven if a child is nonverbal, however, that does not mean the child cannot understand your speech. Please make sure to help nonverbal children feel seen and included. This can be accomplished by complimenting a child’s costume or talking to the child about what choices there are for treats. Play the role of narrator for the child. Form a connection through your speech, your eye contact, and your smile.

Be Safe and Have Fun

Being safe and having fun do not have to be mutually exclusive. As parents, we can create safe boundaries and clear guidelines for our children, and still have a wonderful Halloween, even in the midst of COVID.

Sending hope to all for a joyous and safe Halloween!

Proud to be providing board certified, compassionate pediatric dental care to KC and Johnson County since 2005.

Schedule an appointment at one of our four convenient locations today! for more information or to visit our blog, visit us online at www.kidsmilekc.com