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Follow these tips to help keep your kids safe and healthy as they go trick-or-treating this year.
If your kids eat a healthy, well-balanced meal before they head out the doors, they’ll be full and eat fewer pieces of candy afterward.
Give your kids a smaller bag or bucket when they go trick-or-treating to limit the amount of candy they’ll collect and eat. A good cover story: tell them it’s easier on their small hands.
Make sure an adult stays with younger kids on their neighborhood rounds. Encourage your older kids to trick-or-treat in a group. Set rules about how far they can go and by what time they need to be home.
Decorate your kids’ costumes with reflective tape or stickers so that they stay visible when it starts to get dark outside. You can also give them glow sticks, necklaces or bracelets to wear – a fun way to help them stay safe after dark.
When your kids get home from trick-or-treating talk to them about how much candy they can have per day or per week. Go through their candy with them and separate it into agreed upon serving sizes. If you hear some moaning, point out that the candy will last longer.
After Halloween is over, take the leftover candy from your kids and keep it in a hard-to-reach spot so that it’s out of sight. Your children will be less likely to ask for treats if they can’t see them.
The key to a healthy Halloween is to prevent your kids from overindulging. They can still enjoy some sweets and treats, but in moderation.
Have a happy, safe and healthy Halloween! What BOO-tiful costumes are your children wearing this year?
Blue Bear's got his.
Originally published October 27, 2014; Revised 2020
These are great tips! We have a dentist in town that will buy your candy for $1.00 a pound. My kids would rather have the money. It's a win win!