{
  "slug": "trick-or-treating-safely-with-kids",
  "url": "https://checklists.org/c/trick-or-treating-safely-with-kids",
  "markdown": "https://checklists.org/c/trick-or-treating-safely-with-kids.md",
  "title": "Trick-or-Treating Safely With Kids",
  "description": "What to sort out before, during, and after a night of trick-or-treating so everyone gets home safe.",
  "category": "safety",
  "tags": [
    "halloween",
    "kids",
    "pedestrian-safety",
    "trick-or-treating"
  ],
  "version": "1.0",
  "updated": "2026-10-21",
  "sources": [
    {
      "name": "American Academy of Pediatrics Halloween Safety Tips (via Children's Physicians Medical Group)",
      "url": "https://physicians.cpmgsandiego.com/articles/halloween-safety-tips/"
    },
    {
      "name": "American Academy of Pediatrics Halloween Safety Tips (via Children's Mercy)",
      "url": "https://www.childrensmercy.org/parent-ish/2023/10/halloween-safety-tips/"
    },
    {
      "name": "The Must-Follow Trick-Or-Treat Safety Tips For Parents, According To The AAP",
      "url": "https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/trick-or-treat-safety-tips-for-parents"
    },
    {
      "name": "12 Halloween Safety Tips for a Fun and Injury-Free Night",
      "url": "https://www.solvhealth.com/health/6-halloween-tricks-and-how-to-treat-them"
    },
    {
      "name": "Halloween Safety Tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics",
      "url": "https://nuheights.com/halloween-safety-tips/"
    },
    {
      "name": "Halloween Safety Tips — Pediatric Care Center",
      "url": "https://pediatriccarectr.com/halloween-safety-tips/"
    },
    {
      "name": "Children Twice as Likely to Be Struck and Killed on Halloween",
      "url": "https://www.jgllaw.com/articles/children-twice-as-likely-to-be-struck-and-killed-on-halloween-heres-why/"
    },
    {
      "name": "Studies show pedestrian fatalities are much higher on Halloween — WPR",
      "url": "https://www.wpr.org/health/studies-show-pedestrian-fatalities-are-much-higher-halloween-especially-among-children"
    }
  ],
  "intro": "Halloween is genuinely more dangerous for child pedestrians than almost any other night of the year, but that doesn't mean you need to be anxious — it just means a few specific precautions matter more than the usual costume fretting. Here's what to actually do, in order.",
  "itemCount": 28,
  "essentialCount": 13,
  "sections": [
    {
      "title": "In the Weeks Before",
      "items": [
        {
          "id": "15yyuy4",
          "text": "Pick a costume in a bright color, or plan to add reflective elements to a dark one",
          "note": "Dark-colored costumes can make it difficult for drivers to see children crossing the road. You can increase visibility by using a glow-in-the-dark treat pail or adding small battery-powered lights to the bag or costume.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "l4jn2p",
          "text": "Choose makeup or a hat over a mask",
          "note": "Masks block peripheral vision and make it harder to see cars; makeup or decorative hats are a safer alternative."
        },
        {
          "id": "g7gn29",
          "text": "Test any face paint on a small patch of skin a day ahead",
          "note": "Test face paint on a small area of your child's wrist or cheek 24 hours in advance, and look for products labeled non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and FDA-approved for cosmetic use.",
          "when": "using-face-paint"
        },
        {
          "id": "1u3frh2",
          "text": "Skip decorative contact lenses entirely",
          "note": "Obtaining decorative contact lenses without a prescription is dangerous and illegal, and can cause pain, inflammation, and serious eye disorders including permanent vision loss.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "wy13ol",
          "text": "Buy costumes, wigs, and accessories labeled flame-resistant",
          "note": "Look for and purchase items with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "1tsptv2",
          "text": "Check that the costume is the right length and shoes fit well",
          "note": "So nobody trips on hems or stumbles in oversized shoes."
        },
        {
          "id": "1s84bv3",
          "text": "Swap any toy weapon or prop for something soft",
          "note": "A hard sword or realistic-looking prop can cause injury or alarm, or get mistaken for something worse."
        },
        {
          "id": "5nj371",
          "text": "Put a glow stick, flashlight, or light clip somewhere on every kid who'll be out past dusk",
          "note": "This is separate from the costume and is the single easiest visibility fix."
        },
        {
          "id": "1dexboz",
          "text": "Set out a non-candy option if you want food-allergic trick-or-treaters to stop at your house",
          "note": "The Teal Pumpkin Project suggests items such as glow sticks, bubbles, bouncy balls, finger puppets, whistles, or bookmarks.",
          "when": "handing-out-treats"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "The Day Of",
      "items": [
        {
          "id": "1dg997u",
          "text": "Walk or drive the route once beforehand if it's new to you",
          "note": "Look for broken streetlights, busy crossings, or construction you'd rather avoid in the dark."
        },
        {
          "id": "ggjaqr",
          "text": "Feed kids a real meal before heading out",
          "note": "So they're not trick-or-treating on an empty stomach and filling up on candy instead."
        },
        {
          "id": "139bkx6",
          "text": "Agree on a turnaround time and a plan if anyone gets separated",
          "note": "If older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you and agree on a specific time when they should return home.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "2hckkx",
          "text": "Give any solo-capable kid a charged phone",
          "note": "Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going, and remember a cellphone for quick communication.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "1m2lv6i",
          "text": "Line up an adult escort for anyone 12 or under",
          "note": "The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all children 12 and younger be accompanied by an adult while walking door-to-door.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "1jvwsuz",
          "text": "Grab a working flashlight for every adult and child in the group, not just one for the group",
          "note": "Have flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts."
        },
        {
          "id": "zl942w",
          "text": "Clear your own porch and yard if you're handing out candy",
          "note": "Remove anything a child could trip over, check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs, and sweep wet leaves or snow from sidewalks and steps.",
          "when": "handing-out-treats"
        },
        {
          "id": "zmywzj",
          "text": "Restrain or crate your dog if you're answering the door",
          "note": "Even a friendly dog can get spooked by a parade of costumed strangers and knock over or nip a small child.",
          "when": "handing-out-treats"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "On the Walk",
      "items": [
        {
          "id": "o49vhf",
          "text": "Stick to sidewalks, or walk facing traffic if there's no sidewalk",
          "note": "Walk on sidewalks, and if there are none, walk facing traffic.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "1avd0oc",
          "text": "Cross only at corners and crosswalks, as a group",
          "note": "Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks, and never cross between parked cars.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "cqyvij",
          "text": "Don't assume a stopped car means it's safe to cross",
          "note": "Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters — just because one car stops, doesn't mean others will.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "1jto2kn",
          "text": "Skip shortcuts through yards or alleys",
          "note": "Stay on the planned, lit route — never cut across yards or use alleys."
        },
        {
          "id": "1cr81zd",
          "text": "Only approach houses with a porch light on, and never go inside a house or get into a car for a treat",
          "note": "Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "vyxbvi",
          "text": "Be extra alert between 6 and 7 p.m.",
          "note": "The riskiest hour is between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. as the sun sets and increasing darkness overlaps with children being out on the street.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "o1313j",
          "text": "Report anything genuinely alarming to local law enforcement right away",
          "note": "Rather than handling it yourself — law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "After, Back Home",
      "items": [
        {
          "id": "m826yf",
          "text": "Sort and inspect all candy before anyone eats it",
          "note": "Wait until children are home to sort and check treats — a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped, or suspicious items.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "1qw9upm",
          "text": "Pull out choking hazards for toddlers and young kids",
          "note": "Babies and toddlers should not have hard candies, caramel apples, popcorn, gum, small candies, gummy candy, pumpkin seeds, or whole nuts — wrappers, stickers, small toys, or temporary tattoos can also be choking hazards.",
          "essential": true
        },
        {
          "id": "6sb0vt",
          "text": "Check ingredient labels against known allergies",
          "note": "Always read the ingredient label on any treat your child receives, since many popular Halloween candies contain common allergens.",
          "when": "child-has-food-allergy"
        },
        {
          "id": "1saevw7",
          "text": "Ration the stash over the following days",
          "note": "An easy way to avoid a sugar crash and a stomachache on November 1st."
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}