Halloween has become an increasingly significant date in the calendar across Britain nowadays, and why not, as it’s so much fun, and really is the epitome of autumn. After all, it’s a great excuse to dress up in silly costumes and decorate the house – not forgetting all those sweets the children will invariably need help eating after their trick-or-treating expeditions!
Sadly, there can also be a dark side to Halloween, and we’re not talking about goblins, ghosts or monsters. Halloween activities can potentially lead to accidents, so follow our guide on how to stay safe this Halloween:
Costumes
Halloween costumes are often made from flammable materials such as nylon, polyester and acrylic. Every year numerous children will end up having to make a trip to the hospital. Therefore it’s essential to check that any outfits you purchase meet all British safety standard requirements and have a CE mark on the label.
Always ensure that you stay with your child at all times and that you accompany them to the door to make sure that they are safe around any lit pumpkins, candles or other items that may cause a fire.
Trick or treating
Trick or treating can be very hectic, and it’s easy to lose each other in the excitement, or forget about the rules for crossing the road. It also doesn’t help that it’s dark and often raining. You will need to stay aware of what is happening around you at all times, especially keeping an eye out for cars.
Plan your route and stick to the proposed area so the children can find you if they run off. Also, it’s best to visit the better lit streets so that you can keep track of each other.
To ensure that everyone can be spotted easily in the dark, make certain that each costume has a light-reflective part; this can be part of the costume or an additional attached strip.
As for the actual sweets that your children collect, you need to make sure that nothing is eaten en route, and that everyone waits until they get home to examine all the sweets collected in a well-lit area. Unfortunately, there have been cases – albeit extremely rare - of people tampering with the sweets they hand out. Look over your children’s sweets and start by throwing away any homemade items (with unknown provenance), then continue by checking the integrity of the wrapper seals – there should be no signs of tampering, such as having been opened or punctured in any way.
Pumpkin carving
Pumpkin carving has become a popular activity, but a lack of care and attention can ruin all the fun in seconds. It is always best to leave the pumpkin carving to a responsible adult, but if your children really insist on getting involved, make sure they are always supervised. Knives supplied in pumpkin carving kits are the safest, and it’s recommended to always carve in a well-lit room, on a non-slip surface, ensuring the pumpkin is dry, so that it cannot slip.
At Greycoat Lumleys we have a wide range of permanent and temporary childcare staff who are experts at navigating Halloween - and every day in between.
If you’re looking for new childcare staff, or for a new childcare role, please do get in touch. We have over 20 years’ experience in childcare recruitment, and would love to help!
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