Halloween is many kids’ favorite holiday! They get to stay up late, indulge in handfuls of candy, and dress up as their favorite superhero, television character, or animal. The only thing about Halloween that is somewhat of a bummer is that there are multiple dangerous situations that can happen. One of those situations is candy being tampered with. While this is extremely rare because it is not easy to do, it does happen, and in some cases the result can be fatal. That doesn’t mean do not let you and your family celebrate this fun holiday, it just means you need to take extra safety precautions before you like your child dive into their bucket of candies, such as checking their candy before they eat it!
Wait Until Home
Some parents may find it extremely time consuming to go through candy, especially when you have more than one child. Some will try and check candy as the child receives it to save them a late night and a ton of time. This is a very ineffective way to ensure your child’s safety. It is too dark outside to thoroughly check the candy, it can be a party pooper if your child is not allowed to hold up their bucket at the door. It can also cause lines at the house and take up so much time. Though it takes time when you are home to dump the bucket and check, you’re better off safe then sorry.
What to Look For
- An unusual appearance or discoloration
- Tiny pinholes or tears in wrappers
- Spoiled or unwrapped items
- Homemade items or baked goods should be discarded unless you personally know who gave them
A good rule of thumb is, when in doubt, throw it out!
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Other Tips
- Tell children not to accept – and, especially, not to eat anything that isn’t commercially wrapped
- Parents of young children should also remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies and small toys
- Try to apportion treats for the days following Halloween.
- Although sharing is encouraged, make sure items that can cause choking
(such as hard candies), are given only to those of an appropriate age.
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