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We accept most major insurance plans and all NJ Medicaid (NJ FamilyCare).

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Be Seen, Not Scared: Trick-or-Treat Safety Made Simple

Hans Nakdimen

29 minutes ago

4 min read

Part of the Family Safety Series, an initiative by Imagination ABA Therapy in partnership with WeeRsafe.

Halloween is one of the most exciting nights of the year for kids, and one of the most dangerous for them as pedestrians. Children are out after dark, in costumes that are hard to see, crossing streets while drivers are distracted. These Halloween safety tips cover what matters most for trick-or-treat safety: being seen by drivers, staying with a trusted adult, staying on the doorstep, and checking every piece of candy. For families in Lakewood and across New Jersey, a few simple choices turn a scary night into a safe one.

What can go wrong

Unsafe: child in a dark costume and mask stepping out between parked cars at dusk

Seven-year-old Mia is a ninja this year: black from head to toe, with a full mask that cuts off her side vision. She spots a house with a giant candy bowl across the street and darts out between two parked cars. The driver coming down the street sees only darkness until Mia is a few feet from the bumper.

The same moment, done right

Safe: child in a bright costume with reflective strips and a flashlight crossing at a crosswalk holding a parent's hand

Same street, same night. Mia's costume has reflective strips, she's wearing face paint instead of a mask, and she's carrying a flashlight. She walks to the corner with her mom and crosses at the crosswalk. The driver sees her from down the block, slows down and waits.

Be seen: reflectors matter most on dark streets

Many neighborhoods have only a few street lamps, long dark stretches between houses, or no sidewalks at all. On those streets, a driver's headlights are the only light your child will be seen by, and dark costumes simply disappear. If you're trick-or-treating after dark in a neighborhood with minimal street lighting, reflective gear is a must.

Put a reflector on the front and the back of your child: a reflective vest, slap bracelets, armbands, or reflective tape on the costume and treat bag.
Add reflectors low on the body too, like shoes or ankle bands, because headlights hit legs first.
Carry a flashlight or glow stick. Moving light catches a driver's eye, and it lights the path so kids don't trip on curbs.
Adults should wear reflectors too, so drivers see the whole group, not just the kids.
Where there's no sidewalk, walk on the far edge of the road facing traffic, in single file.

How it works

Reflective tape and reflectors bounce a car's headlights straight back toward the driver, so a child lights up in the dark.
A flashlight or glow stick moves as a child walks, and moving light catches a driver's eye.
Face paint keeps a child's full field of vision, so they can see cars coming from the side.
Crosswalks and corners are where drivers expect people to cross, and nothing blocks the view.

Why it works

A crash is a race against time. Even at 25 mph, a car needs a lot of road to react and stop. Every extra second that a driver can see a child is more distance to brake. Dark clothing between parked cars on an unlit street gives a driver almost no time; a reflective, lit-up child at a corner gives them plenty.

Kids trick-or-treat with an adult

Halloween safety for kids starts with supervision. Children should go trick-or-treating with a parent or another trusted adult who walks the whole route with them. Older kids and teens who go without a parent should stay in a group, follow a route you planned together, carry a charged phone, and check in at set times.

Stay on the doorstep: never go inside

Teach your child to stay on the porch or doorstep and take candy at the door. Kids should never go inside someone's house, garage, or car, even if they're invited in and the person seems friendly. Stick to well-lit homes with the porch light on, and skip any house that's dark.

Halloween candy safety: wrapped and sealed only

Hold off on eating until you're home and an adult has checked the bag in good light.

Keep only candy that's in its original, factory-sealed wrapper.
Throw out anything unwrapped, homemade (unless you know the family well), or with a wrapper that's torn, opened, has holes, or looks re-sealed.
Check for food allergens; many fun-size candies list ingredients only on the big bag.
Remove hard candy, gum, nuts and small toys for toddlers, since these are choking hazards.

Trick-or-treat safety checklist

Reflectors front and back (vest, armbands or reflective tape), plus a flashlight or glow stick, especially on streets with few street lamps
Face paint instead of masks; costumes hemmed so they don't drag
Every child goes with a parent or trusted adult; older kids in a group on a planned route
Stay on the doorstep and never go inside anyone's house or car
Cross at corners, never between parked cars; phones away while walking
Only eat candy that's wrapped with the seal unbroken, after an adult checks it at home
At home: light your walkway, clear tripping hazards and use battery candles in pumpkins

Halloween safety tips for children with autism

The busy, noisy, open-door nature of Halloween can raise the risk of wandering. Practice the costume and the route ahead of time, keep a recent photo of your child in costume on your phone, and make sure your own front door is secured while you're handing out candy. For more ideas, read Making Home Safe for Your Child with Autism.

How safe is your home? Take the free 2-minute WeeRsafe Free Safety Check to find out. Want help making your home safer year-round? Visit WeeRsafe.com to book a home safety assessment and childproofing visit.

A Safety Initiative by Imagination ABA Therapy

The Family Safety Series is an initiative by Imagination ABA Therapy, providing in-home ABA therapy to families across New Jersey. Keeping children safe at home, at school and in the community is part of everything we do, so we're sharing what we know with every family.

We're proud to promote WeeRsafe, the childproofing and home safety team with a special focus on families of children with autism. From door alarms and pool gates to anchoring furniture, WeeRsafe helps make every room safer.

More to come! New safety guides are on the way. Follow along so you don't miss the next one.