Make Your Home Safe for Trick or Treating

Halloween is a fun time for kids. In addition to your kids visiting a lot of homes in the neighborhood, you may have quite a few people coming to your home. It is important to make your home safe for trick or treating. The last thing you want is an injury or law suit to ruin such a fun holiday. Here are a few tips to consider.

Lighting & Visibility

Make sure your walkways, steps, and front door are well lit. Lights are normally a sign that you welcome trick or treating, but not enough light could present a danger. Keep in mind that you will have kids of all ages approaching your home, so the approach to your front door should be safe for even small children.

Removing Hazards

Kids have a hard enough time getting around with their costumes. Make sure your property does not include any additional hazards. Move any items that children may trip over. Some kids will have a hard time looking down as they walk, so make it as safe as possible from your driveway to your front door. Also, avoid any open flames such as candles. Costumes nowadays can be quite flammable and you do not want to risk serious injury to your visitors. If you plan to light jack-o-lanterns and other items in the path of trick or treaters, consider using flameless or battery-operated candles.

Handing Out Safe Treats

You probably are in the habit of checking your children’s candy when they arrive home from trick or treating, but it’s important to also think about what treats you are handing out yourself. First and foremost, never hand out home made treats. You find joy in handing out something unique and special, but home made treats will likely be thrown away rather than eaten. Secondly, avoid buying candy with loose packaging. Many of the assorted candy packs include items such as lollipops and gumdrops covered in twisted paper. These are also likely to be thrown away and is therefore a waste of money. Choose items that are completely seals and will pass inspection by other parents.

Scary Scenes and Costumes at Your Home

If you like decorating your home or yard for trick or treaters, or wearing a scary costume when you open the door, your home is probably very popular on Halloween night. Most kids love a little scare. Here are a few things to keep in mind. First, younger children will probably be too scared. Consider the age of the kids before putting on that mask, just so you don’t traumatize the little ones and ruin the rest of their night. If older kids or adults are present, scaring them too much could earn you a punch in the face or result in property damage as they flee your home in terror. For haunted scenes, it is best to decorate outdoors instead of indoors. There is less potential for injury and/or property damage when outdoors. Also, some parents may not want their children entering a stranger’s home. Have some fun but always remember the risks involved with any scary stunts or haunted spaces on your property. Any injuries may result in a lawsuit against you and your homeowner’s insurance.

How to Make Your Home Safe for Trick or Treating

In summary, the best way to make your home safe for trick or treating is to provide sufficient lighting, remove any hazards such as items that children may trip over or flames that may catch their costumes on fire, hand out safe treats, and understand the risks of making your home too scary. Certainly have fun with this holiday but keep always keep safety in mind. From all of us at Gorman Insurance Agency, have a spooktacular Halloween!