Halloween Safety Tips for Your Preschooler
Halloween is a festive night of costumers, candy, and the thrill of being up past bedtime and after dark! While trick or treating and festivities can be a bowl of fun, especially with some simple safety tools ready to rock for the big night. Below are some easy-to-implement tips that can keep every little ghost and gummy bear in your crew safe.
We love getting into spooky season here at Crestwood Childcare and Learning Center. Schedule a tour to come by and see how we get in the spirit and to ask about the fun Fall plans we have scheduled for our students and their families!
1) See and Be Seen
The safest costume is one that allows your little on to see well and move freely in. Face paint or makeup over a full-face mask will keep things fun without impairing vision–the bonus being that you don’t have to keep track of a mask all night.
Making sure your kids can see well is huge, but making sure they can be seen is monumental. It’s amazing how quickly visibility goes down once the sun sets. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, children are more than twice as likely to be struck by a car on Halloween than any other night of the year. To help keep your little one visible, add reflective tape to their costume or even let them wear glow stick bracelets and necklaces. This can increase the fun AND keep them visible while hopping from house to house.
Safety is our number one priority here at Crestwood Childcare and Learning Center–and it should be at any reputable day care, childcare, or preschool program. Come for a tour here at CCLC and see our classrooms, outdoor play areas, and in order to ask how we pull out all of the stops when it comes to your child’s safety.
2) Candy Check!
Before tiny hands dig into bags and start devouring their spoils, do a candy check to discard any unwrapped, torn, or questionable pieces. This is a perfect time for parents of children with allergies to inspect labels and sort out any problem items. For toddlers, as always, be aware of small, hard candies that could pose a choking hazard. Halloween parties in a daycare of childcare classroom are exciting and will be mindful of children’s allergies–making it a lovely option for celebrating the holiday.
A pro tip from the Standford Children’s Health suggests eating a healthy meal or snack to keep kids satisfied while trick-or-treating and to dissuade them from digging in before candy has been inspected.
Call today to ask about our allergen policy and to get a peak at our school lunch menu! We are happy to share what we have cooking!
3) Festive Alternative Plans
Halloween does not need to be an all-nighter hitting up every house in the neighborhood. For little ones, choose a comfortable, warm costume and entertain the idea of only visiting a few houses or even having a peaceful yet, festive, night at home. A mini costume parade with friends and family, story time and themed sensory play can be excellent examples of gentle excitement for the smaller crowd.
According to a 2024 study published in the National Library of Medicine, consistent daily routines were linked to fewer behavior problems and stronger emotional regulation in young children. While making an exception on bedtime and routines can be fine every once in a while, it helps to remember that small children thrive with routine and predictability, and Halloween festivities can end at 7 PM instead of 11 PM.
Here at Crestwood Childcare and Learning Center we know that routines set the foundation for a productive day at daycare, preschool, childcare, or, anywhere with children. Call us today and schedule a tour! We would love to share our daily schedule with you and to introduce you to our lovely early childhood education professionals!
4) High Tech Gear
Air tags, Apple watches and other trackable items can easily be worn by children in the case of a Halloween-night emergency. Especially as visibility goes down, having a fail safe for locating a child might feel like over-protectiveness–until you need to use it and it’s suddenly the best decision you’ve ever made. The Washington Post has found that many parents are choosing to use Air Tags on their child’s person while in a busier public setting and that this is actually a secondary use of the product per the manufacturer. Some shoes are now built to have a small place to insert air tags under the sole for ease and ensuring it actually stays on.
Peace of mind that your child is safe and well cared for is important–whether your child is attending daycare, childcare, preschool, or a playdate at a neighbor’s house. Call us up here at Crestwood Childcare and Learning Center and see how we combine thoughtful supervision, up-to-date safety practices, and parent partnerships to create secure spaces for children to explore, learn, and thrive.
No Tricks, Just Treats for a Safe and Spooky Night
Halloween doesn’t have to be frightful to be filled with fun! By incorporating a few family rules and adding a couple glowsticks here and there, you can turn a spooky night into one of laughter, learning, and memories that last a lifetime.
At Crestwood Childcare and Learning Center, we are very intentional with child safety—whether it’s during classroom activities, playground adventures, or daily drop off and pickup. We are here to partner with your family not just to make Halloween a safe and candy-filled night, but to ensure that every day is wrapped in safety to give your little one a secure place to learn and grow. Schedule a tour today and let’s chat about how we can support your family to give your child a glowing early childhood education!
Wishing you a happy, safe, and treat filled Halloween from all of us here at CCLC!