Scary costumes? Check.

Bags of candy? Check.

Halloween decorations? Check.

The countdown to Halloween is well underway but here are a few considerations for your checklist before you send your little ghosts and goblins out for the evening:

How safe is the costume? Many boys love dressing up as the Grim Reaper or some ghoul but be sure if their costume is all black that you put a few pieces of light-reflective tape on the front and back of their costume. (To make it “cool” you can design it as some symbol or wording) You can also purchase some glow bracelets or necklaces. Most schools won’t allow them to bring any weapon, spear or walking stick to school so find out first what’s permissible.

Try to use make-up rather than a mask for your kids. A mask can slip making it hard for them to see as they’re walking and also the rubber or plastic inside the mask can make it hard for them to breathe.

Be sure that if the costume is floor length that’s it’s not so long it and can cause them to trip. Check for loose cords or strings around their neck that could get caught on something as they’re walking.

Are they ready to go it alone? At some point it just won’t be cool to be out trick-or-treating with mom or dad. So how do you know if they’re ready to go out on their own? A lot depends on where they are going. An apartment building or housing community located on a cul-de-sac is much safer than a busy road or remote area where there’s little lighting and the homes are spread out. Consider driving them to a housing complex where you wait at the end of the street while they go trick-or-treating. Be sure you know their route, who they are going out with (always go in a group) and they have a cell phone in case of an emergency. Establish a curfew and a few times that they must check in with you.

Host a party – Rather than having them go out trick-or-treating, consider hosting a party. You’ll know where they are, who they’re with and can monitor what they eat.

Check the loot – Kids should be reminded to only eat candy that’s unopened and in its original wrapper. Children under five years of age should not be allowed to eat hard candy, caramels, popcorn or items with nuts as these are all choking hazards.

Most importantly, remind your child never to get into a car with someone they don’t know. If someone approaches them, and they feel at all uncomfortable, explain to them that they should go to the nearest well-lit home and ring the doorbell.

Posted by Alison Rhodes, also known as the The Safety Mom , has exploded onto the national scene as the preeminent voice on safety, wellness and healthy living. From environmental toxins and healthy eating to sports injuries and cyber bullying, The Safety Mom is always on the lookout for the issues facing children – newborns to teens – as well as the entire family.  Children, Family

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making and fire and life safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.