Trick-or-treating is one of the most fun Halloween events for your kids (and adults too!). It can also be potentially dangerous since it happens in the evening. Here are some Halloween safety tips to make sure your kids come home safe and happy.  Happy Halloween!

1. Never go into a stranger’s house – Only get candy from houses that give it at the door. If someone invites them in, say “no, thanks” and leave immediately.
2. Use the buddy system – Kids should never go trick or treating without a sibling, friend, or parent. If they are going out without parents, make sure you know the area where they will be trick-or-treating.
3. Set a curfew – If you aren’t going trick or treating with your kids, set a time that they need to be home by or a time for them to check in with a phone call. That way, you know that they are safe.  Typical trick or treating hours are between 5:30-9:30pm.
4. Eat a snack / dinner before trick or treating – By eating something beforehand, your kids won’t be as tempted to eat their treats before they come home.  That leads us to the next tip…
5. Check candy before giving it to your child – Make sure none of the candy is open or looks like it was tampered with. If you have small children, make sure the candy is not a choking hazard.
6. Cross streets at intersections and walkways – Make sure your child knows how to cross a street and to only cross at designated intersections.  Also remind them not to be looking at the smartphones. Pay attention to cars in the street.  Sadly, on average, twice as many child pedestrians are killed on Halloween than any other day of the year.
7. Go on your local police website and search for sex offenders in your neighborhood – While this may seem overly precautious, you may want to steer clear of these houses or neighborhoods.
8. Wear something reflective in your costume or carry a flashlight – It’s going to be dark out by the time you go home, so make sure cars can see you at night. Put reflective tape on the costume and trick or treating bags.  These iron-on reflective patches got great reviews on Amazon.  Did you know that only 18% of parents put reflective tape on their kid’s costumes?
9. Create well fitting costumes – Kids will be running from house to house, so make sure their costume is suitable for running. Consider using face paint instead of masks so their view isn’t obstructed. Make sure capes are not too long to trip over. Ensure any swords or costume accessories are not too sharp. Have them wear gym shoes.
10. Choose flame resistant materials for costumes – Since there can be candles and other open flames at houses, choose a fire resistant material for costumes to avoid burn injuries.

Halloween is a fun holiday for both adults and children alike.  Follow these safety tips to make sure it stays that way!

Editor’s Note: This post has been updated from my original post on my ActiveRain blog at: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2571347/top-10-halloween-safety-tips