Please feel free to excerpt these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics or use them in their entirety for any print or broadcast story, with acknowledgement of source. Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids, and we can all make sure that children have a safe holiday with the following tips. If a child wears makeup, parents should look for non-toxic, hypoallergenic kits. Costumes should be flame-retardant and fit properly. Avoid oversized shoes, high heels and long skirts or pants that could cause a child to fall.
Children can draw a face with markers, then parents can do the cutting.
Under parents' supervision, children ages 5 to 10 can carve with pumpkin cutters equipped with safety bars. Votive candles are safest for candlelit pumpkins. Lighted pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects and should never be left unattended. Give them colorful pencils, stickers, large erasers, or decorative shoelaces. Set a number of days candy can remain in the house before it gets thrown out.