Halloween Costumes: What’s Popular Also Has To Be Safe

It seems like stores are always early with the items they want to sell you.

Summer wear appears in February, when July heat still seems a long way off.

Winter apparel hits the shelves in August.

And it may not be your imagination that Christmas music seems to be piped through the speakers beginning sometime in September.

But of all the holidays and pseudo-celebrations that creep up on you, few seem to come sooner than Halloween.

The mad rush for candy and costumes has begun, but while what you shell out at the doorway is a choice you might base on price, doing the same for your kids’ costumes is a mistake.

Popular Halloween costumes change from year to year. This year’s crop of must haves include Hannah Montana for girls and The Dark Knight or The Joker for boys. Star Wars characters and Iron Man are also best sellers.

There’s no shortage of places that will sell you the masks and costumes. To see the some other creepy examples of ‘wear it’s at,’ check out Education Specialist Cynthia Mulligan report by clicking the video links above or read her blog here.

But before you decide ‘disguise the limit’ for your kids this year, remember to also look for ways to keep them safe out there. The Rogers Pumpkin Patrol will be on duty and on guard in a large number of neighbourhoods throughout the city.

But ensuring the costumes are safe will go along way to preventing any tricks among the treats.

Here’s a look at how to ensure that outfit you buy puts the ‘happy’ in Happy Halloween.

Line of sight

Your kids will have to go up steps, cross streets and navigate in the dark. Consider using make-up instead of a face covering to achieve the effect they’re going for.

If they insist on wearing a mask, make sure they can see perfectly out of it. Some cheap models have eyeholes that are no more than slits, and don’t provide an adequate field of vision.

The same goes for hats, buccaneers, wigs or other head coverings.

There are lots of things that go bump in the night. Your child shouldn’t be one of them.

Visibility

The October 31st night is dark and spooky, but you want that to be in spirit only. Make sure you child’s costume is reflective or carries some kind of light coloured material so it can be seen in the dark.

Flame proof

Costumes and Jack O’Lantern candles go hand in hand at this time of year. Make sure the costumes you buy your kids are flame retardant, to avoid one accidentally coming in contact with the other.

Most of those on sale in stores are required to be fireproof. But the ones you concoct in your home may not be.

Tripping Hazards

Long capes can be great for effect, but you don’t want your kids tripping on them. Remember, Dracula was supposed to suck blood – not draw his own from a split lip.

Make sure the costume you choose is short enough to avoid a tumble in the darkness. Tripping is the leading cause of injury during Halloween – even if most people think it’s that upset stomach from eating too much candy.

The Shoe Fits

It’s a similar tip to the one before. Clown shoes may make the outfit. But if your kids can’t walk in them, it won’t be funny.

Try to keep them in their regular footwear, where you can ensure they take all their night out steps in the right direction.