Halloween can be a real treat for the whole family. Parents get to relive their childhood memories of dressing up and bobbing for apples (how did that get started?). And kids bring their imaginations to life with their costumes and get to enjoy the magic of trick-or-treating with their siblings and friends. With all the spook-tacular fun to be had, parents should still take some precautions by following our and Teal Pumpkins Project Halloween safety tips.

Teal Pumpkins Project Halloween Safety Tips

• Map out a route for kids to follow and have them go before dark (most areas hold official trick-or-treating before dark)
• Create a check-in schedule with specific times they will text/call you
• Ask them to text you pictures of their favorite costumes or decorations to make the check-ins fun
• Set a specific time for them to be home

If you’re looking for even more assurance, keeping an eye on your kids is easier than ever with a number of apps that can help you keep track your child’s location:

• Google maps can turn your child’s phone into a GPS tracker
• Life360 has a private map feature as well as emergency signaling
• You can request a Glympse of your child’s location with real-time updates.
• The Family Tracker app also uses GPS location to update you in real-time.

The Best Treats To Hand Out according to Teal Pumpkins Project

With peace of mind that your kids are safely filling their buckets, parents can stay home and enjoy the excitement of handing out treats to everyone from the neighborhood. Treats can be so much more than just candy, however. Thanks to the “Teal Pumpkins Project”, an initiative to make Halloween more inclusive and safe for everyone, non-food options are becoming great alternatives to the traditional sweet treats.

By handing out treats that aren’t food, kids with food allergies can safely enjoy the thrills of trick-or-treating. For free resources about this awesome project, visit the Food Allergy Research & Education website.

This doesn’t mean you can’t hand out any food, just make sure to keep the food and non-food items in separate bowls. Here are some great ideas for healthy and safe options for your trick-or-treaters:

Healthier Treats

• Raisins
• Pretzels
• Mini water bottles
• Granola bars
• Sugar-free gum

Non-food Treats

• Glow sticks
• Themed pencils/erasers
• Stickers/temporary tattoos
• Bubbles
• chalk/crayons