Trick-or-Treating Safety Tips: A Family Guide for a Fun, Safe Halloween
October 13, 2025
Halloween should be all about kids, costumes, candy, and great memories—not close calls. Below are simple, parent-approved trick-or-treat safety tips to help your crew stay visible, cross streets safely, and enjoy the night. And if you’re hosting at home, we’ve got you covered, too. At Sparks Insurance, we’re all about protecting what matters most—on Halloween and every day.
Plan the night and set ground rules.
Young children should trick-or-treat with an adult. For older kids heading out with friends, choose a well-lit route together, set a firm return time, and give everyone a flashlight with fresh batteries. Talk about “heads-up walking” (phones away near streets) and agree to stick to sidewalks and crosswalks. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, planning routes, setting curfews, and avoiding distracted walking can be key to a safe Halloween night.
Make costumes easy to see, and easy to move in.
Help kids “be seen” after dark. Safe Kids Worldwide recommends glow sticks or flashlights and reflective tape or stickers on costumes and treat bags. Light-colored costumes are easier for drivers to spot, too. If a mask blocks peripheral vision, consider non-toxic face paint instead. The National Safety Council also suggest checking that costumes, wigs, and accessories are flame-resistant and that makeup is removed before bed to prevent irritation.
Cross the street like a pro: slow, visible, predictable.
Most injuries on Halloween are preventable pedestrian crashes. Teach kids to cross at corners or crosswalks, make eye contact with drivers before stepping out, and keep scanning left-right-left while crossing. Safe Kids adds: walk—don’t run—and keep devices down near traffic.
Drivers: take it extra slow.
If you’re behind the wheel Halloween evening, slow down, scan for kids at intersections and between parked cars, and stay extra alert in neighborhoods. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reminds drivers to be on the lookout for excited trick-or-treaters who may dart into the street and to report suspected impaired driving.
Home and porch safety for hosts.
If you’re handing out candy, do a quick safety sweep. Clear walkways, secure cords, and place jack-o’-lanterns and décor away from steps and costumes. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommend using battery-operated candles/LEDs instead of real flames, checking decorative light strands for damage, and never overloading extension cords.
Candy, allergies, and when to call it a night.
Encourage kids to wait to eat treats until they’re home so an adult can spot choking hazards or check ingredient labels for allergies. The American Academy of Pediatrics also suggest agreeing on a “how much candy tonight” plan in advance and reminding kids to only visit homes with porch lights on.
Sparks Insurance wants you to celebrate safely this Halloween with coverage you can trust. From sidewalk mishaps to porch accidents, Halloween is a good reminder to review your homeowners and liability coverage. If you have questions about your policy or want to make sure your coverage fits your home and family, we’re here to help—contact us today!
REFERENCES:
American Academy of Pediatrics – Halloween Health & Safety Tips: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/all-around/Pages/Halloween-Safety-Tips.aspx
Safe Kids Worldwide – Halloween Safety: https://www.safekids.org/halloween and tip sheet: https://www.safekids.org/tip/halloween-safety-tips
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – Halloween Safety Tips: https://www.nhtsa.gov/halloween-safety-tips
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission – Halloween Safety: https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2013/Halloween-Safety-Tips-for-Selecting-Costumes-and-Decor and https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2012/CPSC-Provides-Three-Steps-to-a-Safe-Halloween-Celebration
National Safety Council – Halloween Safety: https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/seasonal-safety/autumn-safety/halloween
