Guide on How to Spend Halloween with Your Kids

Is Halloween your kids’ favorite holiday with all the fun dressing up and of course all that candy? It can be a special time for you and your kids, especially if you plan it right. This year instead of just taking them trick or treating in the neighborhood before calling it quits, try to get the most out of the Halloween season.

Here’s your 2019 Guide on How to Spend Halloween with Your Kids:

Dress Up Together

You have seen them in the neighborhood before, the family all wearing themed costumes like for example all Wizard of Oz characters. Your kids will get a big kick out of seeing you in costume and being silly with them.

Find New Trick or Treat Haunts

Spice things up by finding new trick or treat haunts this year instead of just your regular neighborhood streets. Maybe go trick or treating with friends or family members near their home or just go out exploring on your own as a family. Look for areas that are well-lit and have cool decorations out.

Extend the Fun with Trick or Trunks

Many schools and community organizations hold trick or trunk events leading up the Halloween and they can be another opportunity to dress up and have fun as a family together. With these events, you also don’t have to worry about your kids wandering on the streets at night.

Participate or Attend Halloween Parades

This time of year, there are also a lot of different Halloween parades going on. Spend a fun afternoon together has a family participating or attending one. Your children will love having extra family time with you.

Get Your Scare on Together

If you have older kids and you all enjoy haunted houses and hayrides and all things horror, then carve out some time to visit one or two of your local haunting attractions together. What could be a better bonding experience, then being scared together?

Safety Tips for a Fun Halloween

No matter how you decide to celebrate Halloween this year, you will, of course, want to keep everyone safe and healthy as well as happy. Here are some safety tips from Safe Kids Worldwide to keep in mind:

• Make sure your kids are crossing the street at lights and at well-lit corners.
• Remind your older children not to walk around with their noses in their phones.
• Also remind them to watch out for cars pulling out of driveways when going up to houses to trick or treat.
• Avoid masks and hats that can limit your child’s ability to see.
• Check all costumes for tripping hazards.
• Decorate your children’s costumes with reflective tape so they can be seen in the dark better.
• Always check your children’s candy before they eat it.

What If Your Child Has Braces?

If this is your child’s first Halloween with braces, you might be worried about damages to their braces and they may be lamenting the loss of enjoying their favorite treats. To keep the fun in Halloween even with braces follow this tips:

• Keep Brace-Friendly Candy on Hand. While you can’t control what people in the neighborhood are giving out, you can make sure you have brace-friendly candy on hand at home that your child can enjoy worry free. Soft candy like chocolate and soft and chewy cookies are all good choices.
• Carefully Go Through Candy Bag. Remind your child not to eat out of their candy bag until you have a chance to go through it and then when they bring it home, pull out any hard candy or candy with nuts or caramel that can get stuck to the wires or between the braces. Also pull out any gum, blow pops and tootsie rolls too.
• Make Your Own Treats. If you are having a Halloween party for your kids or attending one as a family, consider making and bringing your own brace-friendly treats and also to have on hand at home for your child as a replacement for all the candy that will be dumped from their candy bag. Make ghoulish brownies or Halloween cupcakes that all your kids can enjoy.
• Monitor Your Child’s Brushing and Flossing. Halloween candy will most likely be in the house for weeks so it is important that you are monitoring your child’s brushing and flossing. Even with staying away from restricted types of candy, the extra sugar in your child’s diet at this time can lead to extra plaque – build up which can lead to cavities. Also, make sure your child is drinking a lot of water. That will help wash away the sugar so it doesn’t linger in the mouth.

If you child is wearing Invisalign teen, they won’t have any food restrictions because the aligners are removable, but they should make sure they brush and floss properly after all that candy.

The most important thing is to put the emphasis on what fun treats your child can eat instead of what they can’t have. Keep it as positive as possible so your child still has an enjoyable Halloween. For more Halloween tips for braces and how to spend Halloween with your kids, give us a call at Orthodontics Limited.