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 dealing with Halloween safety. 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. Small children should never carve pumpkins.
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. Parents should check treats at home. Watch for signs of tampering, such as small pinholes in wrappers and torn or loose packages.