Halloween is fast approaching and kids across the country are gearing up for the big thrill of trick-or-treating. Here are some simple safety tips to help ensure your children have a safe and fun Halloween.



When selecting a costume, it's important to choose one that allows your child to see clearly. Instead of a mask, use face paint. It's also a good idea to pick out a bright-colored costume if your child will be trick-or-treating at night. This helps maximize visibility to motorists.

Encourage your child to walk on sidewalks and driveways and only visit houses where the lights are on. Younger children should always be accompanied by an adult and it's best to take the little goblins out earlier in the evening before the streets get too hectic.

If you feel your child is old enough to trick-or-treat without an adult, make sure you remind your child to stay with the group and set an agreed-upon time to be home. Instruct them to stick to familiar neighborhoods, avoid cutting across dark yards and never enter a stranger's home. It's a good idea to equip your child with a flashlight and a cell phone.

Now you may be wondering, how old is too old for trick-or-treating? Let's be frank here. Trick-or-treating adults are just plain creepy. Once you hit your late teens to early 20s, you'll probably start getting some strange looks, so it's best to enjoy the Halloween spirit in a different way. Instead of trick-or-treating, throw a costume party for you and your friends or check out a haunted house.

Planning to bring Fido along trick-or-treating? There are a few important safety tips for dogs as well. Bark Busters, the world's largest dog training company, says Halloween can be spooky and startling not just for you, but for your pup, too. In fact, Bark Busters trainers agree that they hear about more dogs dying or straying during Halloween than any other holiday.

If you do plan to take your dog trick-or-treating, be sure your dog's identification tags are secure and keep a firm grip on the leash. Also keep in mind that your dog may regard family members as strangers when dressed in costumes, so allow your dog to sniff the costumes before kids put them on.

Halloween candy can also pose a serious threat to your furry friend. Many candies, including those made with chocolate or the the artificial sweetener xylitol, are toxic to dogs. Children may try to share candy with the dog, so be sure they are informed of the dangers and told not to do so.