Published October 25, 2026

Whether your family is strolling through your local neighborhoods or catching your last few trunk-or-treats of the season, here are some tips to stay safe this Halloween.

1. Costumes: Function Over Fashion

Costumes might look fantastic standing in your living room, but they also need to function out on the sidewalk. Make these simple adjustments to ensure your kid’s costume doesn’t put them in danger:

• Light up the night: If your costume doesn’t already have it, add reflective tape to costume hems, treat bags, or jackets. Hand out glow sticks, glow necklaces, or clip-on LED bike lights so kids are easy for drivers to spot from a distance.
• Dress for the weather: Living in Michigan means sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate with an end-of-October outdoor event. If it’s particularly cold this year, be sure to dress in layers. Yes, even if it doesn’t go as well with the little princess or pirate costume that your kid has planned. A slightly bulkier costume still beats calling it a night because no one can feel their fingers.
• Prioritize face paint over masks: Full-face masks can slip, fog up, and severely impair peripheral vision. Non-toxic face paint or makeup lets kids see curbs, steps, and cracked sidewalks perfectly.
• Remove tripping hazards: Long capes, trailing dresses, or oversized shoes are prime tripping hazards in the dark. Hem or pin garments so they sit safely above ankles and ensure footwear is able to endure a long evening walk.
• Choose flame-resistant materials: Check tags for flame-resistant fabrics (polyester, nylon, etc.) and remind kids to stay a few feet back from lit jack-o’-lanterns.

2. Navigating Your Neighborhood

The biggest hazard on Halloween night is traffic. While you can’t control other drivers on the road, it’s important to go over these safety rules with your kids before walking out the door:

• Stick to sidewalks: Always walk on sidewalks for well-lit paths. If you do indeed find Where the Sidewalk Ends (where are my fellow millennial kids at?), be sure to walk facing oncoming traffic as far to the left edge as possible. This will give you the ability to see what cars are coming toward you in case you need to move quickly.
• Cross at corners and crosswalks: Avoid darting between parked cars or cutting across mid-block. Stop, look both ways, and make eye contact with drivers before crossing
• Put your phone down: This applies to both you and your kids. Keep phones or other devices tucked into pockets while walking so heads stay up and eyes stay aware of your surroundings. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of pictures before or after trick-or-treating.

3. Strategize Your Candy Attack

A little organization goes a long way toward keeping everyone together and safe:

• Travel in packs: Younger kids should always be accompanied by a trusted adult. For older kids who are trick-or-treating with friends, establish a firm buddy system, an agreed upon neighborhood route, and a specific curfew.
• Only visit well-lit homes: Stick to houses with porch lights turned on and clear walkways. Never enter a home or unfamiliar car, no matter how big the candy bar is.
• Prep contact info: For younger trick-or-treaters, slip a card with your phone number into their pocket. Better yet, write it inside their costume, on their arm, or on a silicone wristband in case they get separated. Practice talking about who they should look for (I typically recommend another mom with kids) and what to say in the event that they get lost.

4. Candy Checks and Food Allergy Awareness

A quick safety routine before digging in keeps treat-eating smooth and stress free:

• Save snacking for at home: Make sure everyone gets a hearty dinner before heading out so your kids aren’t ravenous on the sidewalk. If you’re able, bring a snack for the walk just in case.
• Inspect the stash: After you take your parent-tax candy, throw away anything that is unwrapped, torn, loose in a ziploc, or expired.
• Watch for the Teal Pumpkins: If your child has food allergies, keep an eye out for homes that have teal pumpkins. The Teal Pumpkin Project indicates houses offering non-food treats like glow sticks, stickers, bouncy balls, and other small toys.

5. Homeowner Prep

If you plan on handing out goodies this year, take ten minutes before dinner to prep your entryway:

• Clear the walkway: Sweep away leaves, put away the garden hose, and move low decorations or cords away from steps and railings.
• Turn on bright lights: Ensure your porch light and walkway lights are fully illuminated to guide little feet safely.
• Switch to flameless candles: Swap real candles inside carved pumpkins for battery-operated LED tea lights or glow sticks to eliminate fire hazards around fluttering costumes.
• Keep pets inside: Even friendly pets can get startled and overwhelmed by strange costumes and repeated doorbells. Keep your critters in a quiet, secure room.

With a flashlight in hand and a quick walk-through of the rules before heading out, Halloween can be just as safe as it is fun. Enjoy the night and make memories with your kids that they’ll never forget!

Story by Lyndsey Brownfield for BlueWaterParent.com