Halloween 2024: Here's how to have a safe and spooky time tonight

Oct 31, 2024

Beware! Ghosts, goblins, and ghouls will head to your home tonight in search of sweet treats from the mortal world.

Halloween this year is on Thursday night, which means trick-or-treaters will head out earlier since it's a school night. You want to make sure you and your kiddos are prepared.

Here are some tips from various health and safety organizations on how to have a fun, yet secure spooky time trick-or-treating.

Before the holiday festivities begin later in the evening, make sure your front entrance is good to go. Red Cross recommends those participating to clear out your porch and front yard of any obstacles someone could trip over.

As trick-or-treaters start to come out, turn your porch light on. Try to keep the area well-lit to help those see where to go. Restraint any pets so they don't jump or bite trick-or-treaters. (If you're not participating, keep your porch light off to discourage people knocking.)

The only thing on kids' minds is candy, obviously. But don't end up crashing before the night has even begun.

American Family Insurance gives parents the tip to feed kids their favorite, healthy meal before they go out so they’re less likely to pig out on candy when they come home.

It's almost game time, you're about to head out. Before you leave, make sure everyone's costumes are good to go.

Since it will be dark out, Safe Kids says to decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers to make them more visible. If possible, choose light colors. You can also bring glowsticks or flashlights to help light your path.

Other tips from the Red Cross include making sure the costume fits and using face makeup instead of masks which can make seeing difficult.

Do not let young children go out by themselves. Have a parent or trusted guardian stick with children throughout the night.

If you have older children going with friends, Healthy Children suggests planning and reviewing the route they will head to. Agree on a specific time when they should return home and have them check in throughout the night.

We know some neighborhoods are rumored to have full-size candy bars but be careful heading to unfamiliar places to go trick-or-treating. Try to only stick to routes you and your family know.

Don't assume cars will stop just because they have the right of way, as motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters. Go over crossing the street and road safety with children.

Healthy Kids recommends staying on well-lit streets and using the sidewalk. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.

Only go to homes with a porch light on and, ideally, a well-lit pathway.

It might seem adorable when toddlers don't exactly understand what trick-or-treating is and they attempt to walk into someone's home. But you don't want this to become the norm.

Caution kids to never enter a home or car for a treat. Notify law enforcement authorities immediately about any suspicious or unlawful activity.

Healthy Kids says to review with your child how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they ever have an emergency, get lost, or are prone to wander.

At a certain point in the night, you'll see fewer people walking around and porch lights starting to turn off. You don't want to be out by yourself in the dark.

Try to game plan a stopping point in the night and communicate it to the group. If you notice kids getting tired or worn out earlier, call it a night then.

You're finally home after an eventful night — time to gorge on candy, right? Not quite.

Several organizations recommend going through the goodie pile at the end of the night so your child doesn’t eat anything they shouldn’t. American Family Insurance suggests removing homemade treats and candy your child may be allergic to and any other questionable sweets.

Healthy Children also says to try rationing treats for the days and weeks following Halloween, instead of eating multiple sweets in one night.