Countywide : Hospital Suggests Holiday Safety Tips

For a safe--and not too scary--Halloween for kids, psychologists at Children’s Hospital of Orange County have issued some advice for parents.

Grade-school children love the make-believe of Halloween, psychologists said. But preschoolers may have trouble distinguishing fantasy from reality and can be frightened by Halloween, so they should be treated with care, they said.

There are simple ways to get smaller children into the spirit of the evening without prompting nightmares, they said. Reading books and stories about Halloween can help, as can talking about the difference between what is real and what is pretend. Also helpful is establishing family traditions, like decorating the house together, carving pumpkins and planning costumes.

Let children choose their own costumes--but set limits, the psychologists said. Some costumes may be too expensive or too frightening.

Never surprise a toddler by wearing a scary mask, they warned. And if you have something frightening in the house, explain that it is make-believe. Also, do not allow a school-aged child to wear a costume that will terrify a younger sibling. And if a youngster seems tired or frightened by trick-or-treating, call it a night.

Safety suggestions recommended by the hospital include:

* Parents or a teen-age sibling should accompany all youngsters on their trick-or-treating haunts.

* Do not give hard candy, nuts or popcorn to children under age 5 because they might choke on such items.

* Consider skipping trick-or-treating in favor of organized parties and “haunted” houses. Teen-agers could attend chaperoned parties or be put in charge of handing out the goodies.

* Trick-or-treaters should travel in groups.

* All children should carry flashlights. Illuminate pumpkins with flashlights or glow sticks, not candles.

* Make costumes more visible by attaching adhesive reflective strips.

* Wear face makeup, not a mask, so a child’s vision is not blocked.

* Keep children from tripping by making sure their costumes don’t drag on the ground.

* Examine all treats before children eat them.