Tikinagan’s Trick or Treating Tips!
How to stay spooky & safe on Halloween
While Halloween is a spooktacular time to dress up, eat candy, and search for ghosts, it’s also important that we all work together to make Halloween a safe and inclusive space for everyone. Our service model, Mamow Obiki-Ahwahsoowin, means “everyone working together to raise our children,” which includes working together to keep our children safe.
According to the Children’s Safety Network, child pedestrians (18 and younger), are on average, twice as likely to be victims of hit and runs on Halloween. While we want to enjoy the moments of trick-or-treating, whether a parent, guardian, or trick-or-treater, safety is just as important as making sure we get to that one house that gives out full-sized candy bars.
To align with Mamow Obiki-Ahwahsoowin, we’ve decided to enlist the help of some of our favourite Halloween creatures into our Wee-chee-way-win Circle of Care to give us some tips to trick or treat safely!
While Vampires may take pride in their elegant yet spooky clothes, they also know how to make our costumes fun and safe.
Vampire Capes must not be too long, so you don’t trip and fall.
Add layers to stay warm.
Masks should be easy to see and breathe out of.
Polyester or Nylon costumes are the least likely to catch fire.
If you want to use makeup or face paint, do a patch test first to check if you are sensitive or allergic.
Reflector tape or wearing bright colours will increase visibility.
Ensure toy props are made of soft and flexible material.
Now that we have our costumes safely styled, it is time to meet up with our friend Werewolf to learn about road safety during trick or treating.
Werewolves love to travel in packs. Do not let a child trick or treat alone.
Even if old enough to go trick or treating without a parent, go with a group. Trick or treat with your pack.
Remember your child’s costume by taking a picture of them on your phone before trick or treating, just in case they get lost.
Even if they appear friendly, do not go into someone’s house or car to get candy.
Watch out for cars driving out of driveways.
Opt to walk on the sidewalk wherever there is one. If there isn’t one, walk along the side of the road facing traffic.
Look both ways before crossing the street to make sure no cars are coming.
First inspect the candy with a parent/guardian before eating.
As for where to go, Werewolf and Vampire love to go to Witch’s House for trick or treating because she makes her house fun and accessible to everyone.
Witches’ walkways should be highly visible for trick or treaters and not have hazards such as flames or sharp decorations in the way.
In addition to candy, consider adding non-edible treats such as stickers, pencils, crayons, and small toys for kids who do not eat candy due to allergies or disabilities where they cannot consume food orally.
Try your best to avoid strobe lights and high-pitched and sudden loud noises as those can make youth with sensory sensitivities uncomfortable.
Children do not communicate the same way and in some cases, may be non-verbal. Be patient and understanding.
Have your furry friends stay away from the front door so they do not startle trick or treaters or run away on their own.
There you have it! By remembering the names of our Halloween friends Vampire, Werewolf, and Witch, we can all find ways to make Halloween spooktacular not just for you, but for everyone in your circle of care 😊
To our Tikinagan Family and Friends, have a safe and happy Halloween!
-Tikinagan Child & Family Services Staff
