Halloween with Children: Trick-or-Treating Safely

Halloween on 31 October is one of the highlights of the autumn for many children: costumes, carved pumpkins and, for lots of families, trick-or-treating. Whether you're happy for your children to go door to door or would rather do something different, a little planning keeps it fun and safe.

Where Halloween comes from

Children often enjoy knowing why we do what we do. The name comes from All Hallows' Eve, the night before All Saints' Day on 1 November. Many of the customs are thought to have roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest and the start of winter, when people believed the boundary with the spirit world was thin. Disguises may have been worn to avoid being recognised by spirits.

The "treat" side is often linked to older British and Irish customs such as souling and guising, where people went door to door offering songs or prayers in exchange for food. The phrase "trick or treat" itself became popular in North America in the twentieth century before spreading back to the UK. Historians debate the details, which makes it a good topic for curious children to research.

Trick-or-treating safely

• Go with an adult. Younger children should always be accompanied. If older children go with friends, agree a route, a group, a return time and how they'll keep in touch.
• Stick to familiar streets. Stay in well-lit areas you know, and use pavements and proper crossings.
• Only visit welcoming houses. A common convention is to call only where there's a pumpkin or Halloween decoration on display. Respect "no trick-or-treaters" signs and skip homes in darkness.
• Never go inside. Children should stay on the doorstep and never enter a stranger's home or car.
• Be seen. Add reflective tape, glow sticks or a torch to costumes and treat bags, especially on darker evenings.
• Check treats at home. Look over sweets before they're eaten, discard anything unwrapped or homemade from people you don't know, and watch for allergens if your child has a food allergy.

Costume safety

• Fire safety first. Keep children well away from candles and open flames, and use battery-powered lights in pumpkins instead of real candles. Buy costumes from reputable retailers, check they carry the appropriate UK safety marking, and remember that even a costume that meets safety standards can still catch fire. Wearing ordinary clothes underneath gives an extra layer.
• Good visibility. Face paint is often safer than a mask that restricts vision. Test face paint on a small patch of skin first.
• Trip hazards. Shorten long capes and hems, and choose comfortable shoes rather than costume footwear.
• Weather. Late October can be cold and wet. Plan a costume that fits over warm layers.

Good manners

Trick-or-treating works best when everyone is considerate. Encourage children to say please and thank you, take one or two treats rather than a handful, keep the noise down and leave gardens and decorations alone. Avoid calling on elderly or vulnerable neighbours who may find unexpected visitors after dark worrying.

Alternatives to trick-or-treating

Many families prefer not to go door to door, or want a mix of activities. Ideas include:

• a Halloween party at home with friends, fancy dress and spooky music;
• a treasure hunt or "treat trail" around the house or garden;
• pumpkin carving or decorating, with adults handling the knives;
• traditional games such as apple bobbing or wrapping each other as mummies with toilet roll;
• a spooky family film night or a board game with a Halloween twist;
• organised Halloween events at local farms, attractions or community centres;
• baking and decorating Halloween biscuits.

If you're going away over the October half term, many family attractions run Halloween-themed activities. See our holiday activities for kids for more ideas.

A fun, safe Halloween

Whether your children trick-or-treat or stay in for a party, the basics are the same: plan ahead, keep younger children supervised, put fire safety first and be considerate of neighbours. Then enjoy the costumes, the pumpkins and the excitement while it lasts.