Halloween falls on October 31, but the costume planning and costume selection process may take days, weeks or even months. It can certainly be a lot of fun seeing your children get excited and creative about costumes, and there are many opportunities for bonding and making memories that are sure to last a lifetime.
Of course, it is also important to keep safety in mind, so here are a few tips for selecting safe Halloween costumes.
Sturdy shoes
The shoes your child wears should be durable and comfortable, able to hold up well to a few hours worth of walking. So, if the costume you are looking at requires, say, clown shoes or something with heels, test them before heading out on Halloween night. One advantage of starting costume selection early is that you have time to make details such as footwear look great if something that comes with the original costume is not workable after all.
Breathable masks
When considering masks, look at those that make breathing easy for your child. That is, the mask fits properly and its ventilation allows for your child to breathe well. Eyeholes should also be large enough that your child can see out of the mask satisfactorily. Many cars are out and about on Halloween, and some drivers do not pay as much attention as they should to trick-or-treaters.
Working flashlights
Sunset will be about 5:54 p.m. in the Palm Springs area on October 31, 2017. That does not necessarily mean black costumes are out of the question, but if your child goes that route, be sure he or she has a flashlight on hand and that the batteries are fresh. Reflective tape also makes costumes more visible.
Electronic devices
You should also consider what you want to do about electronic devices. If your child will have a phone with him or her, then the pocket for the device should be easily accessible and not require, say, a lot of unzipping or unbuttoning that might lead to your child standing in the street while fumbling with the costume.