Top Tip: Do not forget to prepare your camera for the event. Here are some great photography tips.

With the excitement surrounding Halloween it can be a hazard keeping your children safe. Try our simple steps to ensure a safe evening of fun and frolics.

• Helping children to pick their own costume so that they will be safe. If making a ghost costume ensure you make eye holes large enough to give them full vision, and that the gown is not too long.
• If you plan to use candles in or around your home ensure that they are positioned so that the children, particularly, young children and babies cannot gain access to them.
• If your child wishes to take a sword, pretend knife or other gruesome accessory with them make sure they are safely carried and kept away from younger children.
• If you want to carve out a pumpkin, which most children love to do, make sure your supervise the activity. Children love the creation of a pumpkin, allow them to draw the face to be cut on the pumpkin, and to scoop out the seeds, but only an adult should carve out the face.
• Give them a spooky tea before going out trick or treating. This way they get the excitement of Halloween but are less likely to fill up on sugary sweets and treats.
• Talk to your children about basic everyday safety such as dealing with strangers, not to get into cars, road safety, and if possible ensure they wear something flourescent or bright on their clothing. Young children should not be allowed out trick or treating unsupervised and where possible encourage your children to visit houses that you know the occupants to.
• Make sure your children understand that they are not to eat anything on their route of collection, but to return home with their goodies and for an adult to check the contents before feasting!
• Arm your children with a torch if they are going out at night (supervised). You can get lovely little torches in the shapes of cats, that are not very expensive but the children love and use them.

Top Tip: Do not forget to prepare your camera for the event. Here are some great photography tips.

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