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Last Halloween, I almost had a disaster on my hands. A little princess in a flowing costume nearly tripped on my uneven garden path while approaching my front door for candy. Her parents caught her just in time, but it was a wake-up call for me. I had not thought about how my everyday yard hazards could become serious problems on a night when excited kids are rushing around in costumes with limited visibility.
Halloween is supposed to be spooky, not dangerous. As homeowners, we have a responsibility to make sure our properties are safe for the little ghosts and goblins who will be visiting. I am not trying to be the fun police here just sharing some practical advice I have learned over years of Halloween hosting.
Create a Well-Lit Path for Halloween Visitors
Learn how to create well-lit paths, remove hazards, and make Halloween night safe for all visitors. Darkness might add to the Halloween atmosphere, but it is also a recipe for accidents. I learned this the hard way when my nephew twisted his ankle stepping into a hole in my yard that was hidden by shadows. Now I make sure to illuminate the entire path from the sidewalk to my front door.
Solar pathway lights are your best friends for Halloween safety. They are easy to install, require no electrical knowledge, and can be placed anywhere around your yard. I bought mine three seasons ago, and they still work perfectly. You do not have to transform your yard into a landing strip, but having enough light so everyone can see where they are stepping is crucial.
Clear Walkways of Halloween Trip Hazards
Look at your walkway through the eyes of an excited 6-year-old in a mask. That garden hose you always step over? That slightly raised paving stone? The low decorative fence? All potential trip hazards for trick-or-treaters.
I spent about an hour last Halloween afternoon walking around my property and was shocked at how many potential problems I found. Extension cords from decorations, fallen branches from the recent wind storm, and even my welcome mat with a curled-up corner all needed attention.
One thing I do now is creating a single, obvious path to my door. I use decorations like pumpkins or lanterns to line the route, making it clear where little feet should go. This keeps kids from cutting across the lawn where holes or sprinkler heads might be hiding.
Secure Your Halloween Pets
My dog Rusty is the sweetest animal alive to me. But when strangers keep ringing the doorbell and children in strange costumes appear? He gets anxious and protective. Now he spends Halloween evening in the back bedroom with his favorite treats and a white noise machine to block the doorbell.
Not only can pets become stressed and possibly aggressive on Halloween, but they might also slip out the constantly opening door. Even if your pet is friendly, remember that some children are afraid of animals or might have allergies. And costumed animals at the door might frighten some younger trick-or-treaters.
Consider Allergen-Free Halloween Treats
Speaking of allergies, did you know that one in thirteen children has a food allergy? I never realized how stressful Halloween can be for these kids and their parents until my friend’s daughter developed a severe nut allergy.
Now I always offer some non-food treats as alternatives. Glow sticks, stickers, small toys, or pencils are all hits with kids. If you do this, you can place a teal pumpkin outside your house it is the signal for food-allergy families that you have safe options available. I learned about the Teal Pumpkin Project a few years ago and have participated ever since.
Choose Halloween Decorations Wisely
I love going all-out with decorations, but I have learned to be more thoughtful about placement. Decorations that block the walkway, have parts that could trip someone, or might frighten very young children are best placed away from the main path.
Also, consider using flameless candles or glow sticks instead of real candles in your jack-o’-lanterns. Last year, a trick-or-treater’s flowing ghost costume nearly caught fire on my neighbor’s pumpkin candle. Luckily someone noticed in time, but it could have been a serious accident.
Halloween should be a magical night for everyone in the neighborhood. With just a little preparation and awareness, we can make sure it is safe as well as spooky.
Reference
Cunningham, R. M., & Carter, P. M. (2022). Holiday-related injuries among children and adolescents: A systematic review. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 36(4), 395–403.
Chen, L., & Baker, S. P. (2021). Epidemiology of pedestrian injuries on Halloween. American Journal of Public Health, 111(7), 1394–1400.
Fleischer, D. M., & Sampson, H. A. (2023). The impact of food allergies on holiday participation among children. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 34(5), 1021–1029.
Nelson, K. L., & Garcia, M. T. (2022). Home safety modifications to reduce fall risk: A community-based intervention study. Journal of Community Health, 47(3), 512–519.