Have children draw a face on the outside of the pumpkin, then parents should do the cutting. Place lighted pumpkins away from curtains and other flammable objects, and do not leave lighted pumpkins unattended. Halloween poses special risks to young pedestrians. For example, most of the time children spend outdoors is typically during daylight hours. However, Halloween activities often occur after dark.
Many parents overestimate children's street-crossing skills.
The pedestrian skills of children are limited by several factors related to their physical size and developmental stage. For instance, young children may lack the physical ability to cross a street quickly, and their small size limits their visibility to drivers. Children are likely to choose the shortest rather than the safest route across streets, often darting out between parked cars. In addition, young children do not evaluate potential traffic threats effectively, cannot anticipate driver behavior, and process sensory information more slowly than adults. The AAP has tips for parents on Halloween safety.