Halloween is a magical time of the year for children, but kids in foster care may struggle to fit in around the holidays. In the United States, about 35% of children in foster care move homes two or more times per year. With such frequent uprooting, it can be easy to feel excluded from the fun and family traditions so heavily associated with holidays. By creating lasting positive memories, foster families can help redeem past hurts. This list of Halloween safety tips for foster parents includes practical advice as well as guidance on how to make a child feel happy and secure.
Tips for Halloween Safety in Foster Care
Making Halloween a positive experience for children in foster care can leave lasting, happy memories. During a tumultuous and often traumatic time, fun activities help them take their minds off any challenges they may face. It’s an excellent opportunity for them to simply enjoy being a child.
Choose Safe and Comfortable Costumes
Selecting the right costume is the first step to a safe Halloween. Consider things like:
- Fit and mobility: Ensure costumes fit well to prevent tripping or restricted movement.
- Visibility: Use reflective materials on costumes and treat bags to increase visibility in low light.
- Masks vs. face paint: Consider using face paint instead of masks, which can obstruct vision.
- Flame-resistant materials: Choose costumes made from flame-resistant fabrics.
- No sharp objects: Avoid costumes with sharp accessories. If your child insists, ensure they are soft and flexible.
- Consider a group costume: A family costume is a great way to show children in foster care that they belong.
Prepare for Trick-or-Treating
Trick-or-treat is the highlight of Halloween, but it also presents various safety challenges. Navigate these challenges by:
- Planning your route around familiar areas: Stick to neighborhoods you know and plan your route in advance.
- Using safe paths: Use sidewalks and crosswalks, and avoid busy streets and shortcuts through alleys.
- Organizing supervision: Young children should always be accompanied by an adult. Older children should go in groups and have a set curfew.
- Establishing communication channels: Equip children with a phone or walkie-talkie, and agree on regular check-in times.
- Create a plan if your child gets lost: Choose a familiar spot to meet, or instruct them to seek help from a nearby adult with children.
Candy Safety
Candy is a huge part of Halloween, but it’s crucial to ensure the treats your children receive are safe to eat.
- Inspect all treats: Discard any homemade or unwrapped treats from unknown or untrustworthy sources. Inspect candy for signs of tampering, such as unusual packaging or discoloration.
- Check for allergens: Be mindful of any food allergies and read ingredient labels carefully.
Communication and Reassurance
For children in foster care, Halloween can be an overwhelming experience. Open communication and reassurance are key Halloween safety tips for foster parents, as they help children feel safe and secure.
- Explain traditions: If they’re unfamiliar with Halloween traditions, explain what to expect.
- Set boundaries: Discuss boundaries and safety rules beforehand.
- Be patient and accommodating: Understand that some children may have fears or anxieties related to Halloween.
- Provide emotional support: Offer comfort and reassurance to help them enjoy the festivities.
- Include children in preparations: Let kids help with decorating the house, carving pumpkins, and other pre-Halloween activities. Choose costumes together, allowing children to pick out their own. This gives children in foster care a particularly beneficial sense of agency and security.
Halloween Safety Tips for Foster Parents at Home
Ensuring your home is safe for Halloween visitors is just as important as protecting the children in your care. Decorate and prepare safely by:
- Avoiding hazards: Keep walkways clear of obstacles like decorations, garden hoses, or other potential tripping hazards.
- Using good lighting: Ensure your porch and yard are well-lit to prevent falls.
- Securing pets: Keep pets in a separate room to avoid them getting frightened or escaping when the door opens.
By following these Halloween safety tips, foster parents help their children have a fun and safe holiday.
Why Holidays Matter in Foster Care
From choosing the right costume to planning a trick-or-treat route, Halloween creates a memorable experience for children in foster care. Fun activities in a safe and loving environment provide a refuge in times of uncertainty. Additionally, it provides a sense of belonging. Children in foster care experience such frequent instability that it can be difficult to feel secure. Including them in your family’s holiday traditions shows them that they are welcome, valued, and appreciated.
Foster dad Jarod saw this firsthand when “E”, a four-year-old girl, was placed in this family’s home. She celebrated Halloween for the first time, joining in their holiday traditions. The memories of that night became symbolic of E’s years-long journey to feeling safe and loved.
“She’d never trick-or-treated,” Jarod says, “but really, she’d never had a family.”
Read their story here:
