4 Tips for a More Active and Safer Halloween

This year, Halloween signals the end of an era for me. No more homemade costumes. My son is four, and he’s not having it. In the past three years I outdid myself with Little Einstein, Captain RedBull (a nod to his insane sleep habits as an infant), Edgar Allen Poe, and Willie Nelson.  This year, my boy is carefully considering his options on the cartoon-character circuit, which means store-bought it is. Growing up is hard on a mom.

While my creative heart sighs in defeat at the costume situation, I can still be triumphant as a mom with healthy habits in mind. Notice I said “in mind.” I’m not into holiday makeovers, especially Halloween. That would be scarier than a neighbor dressed in a ghillie suit hiding in a bush on trick-or-treat night. (If you don’t know what a ghillie suit is, look it up; it’s not designed to be creepy, but it is, especially if you’re three.) We’ll still make cupcakes at home with bat and black cat toppers; we’ll collect candy from the neighbors; we’ll attend as many community events as possible—even on school nights.

I like to put my own stamp on things, holidays being no exception. Since I’ve been fired from costume duty, I’ll focus on other ways to make Halloween fit who we are as a family. If that sounds like something you’d like to try, read on. My version of a healthy Halloween isn’t complicated, nor will it have your kids in tears. With a few simple adjustments and choices, this year you’ll have a Hallowin!

4 Tips for a Healthy Halloween

1.    Assess your mess: The morning after the candy hangover, go through the loot and trim it down. Toss out duplicates or novelty items the kids might fight over if there aren’t enough to go around. That way you don’t have temptation looming longer than necessary.

2.    The family that carves together…: Like all holidays, Halloween provides extra incentive to spend time with loved ones. Pumpkin carving is an easy way to get in some family hang time away from the electronics.

3.    Put a light on it: We all know the sage advice about making kids visible while trick-or-treating. For decades, reflective tape was the thing, and it’s still a solid choice. A newer option is finger lights, or other fun glow in the dark accessories which make the visibility factor fun for the kids.

4.    Keep on movin’: Halloween has evolved over the years.  For many communities, trick-or-treat night is the culmination of family-friendly events throughout the month of October. Take advantage of these opportunities to be outdoors and to get your muscles moving. Every stretch and step counts!

How do you have a healthy and safe Halloween? Share with us in the comments below!