Halloween Safety Tips

A Safe Halloween is a Happy Halloween!

Dressing up in a costume to go ask for free candy from anybody with a porch light on is a kids dream!  With these easy to follow tips and guidelines, having Halloween turn into a nightmare will be the farthest thing from everybody's mind. Talk to your kids about safety before they go out Trick or Treating and remind them that the best way to stay out of danger is to be aware of their surroundings! 

Here's our list of things to consider to make sure that everybody has a fun time and makes it home safely:

  • Eat before your Trick or Treat!
    • If your child is Trick or Treating on a full stomach, they will be less tempted to eat the candy in their bag before you can inspect it!
  • Kids should never approach a stranger's house unless accompanied by an adult.
  • Younger Kids should Trick or Treat with an adult and remain within line of sight of that adult.
  • Do not allow children to enter someone's home unless accompanied by an adult.
  • Do not approach a home unless it is lit inside and out.
  • Increase your child's visibility at night:
    • Carry a flashlight, light stick or lantern to make yourself more visible.
    • Use Reflective Tape on their costume
  • Inspect your child's costume:
    • Make sure your child can breath through their mask without obstruction.
    • Make sure your child's view is unobstructed by their costume
    • Mobility:
      • WALK. Costumes are fun, but not all are made for running around.
      • Make sure that that any accessories that go with the costume do not drag on the ground.
      • Costumes should fit well and pant cuffs should not create a tripping hazard
      • Footwear is crucial. kids should wear shoes that provide maximum stability.
    • Swords, knives and other faux weapons should be made of plastic, cardboard or soft foam.
  • Make note of the houses where you trick or treat.
  • Take extra caution crossing the street, looking both ways and obeying the signals at crosswalks
  • Keep kids away from candle lit pumpkins to avoid fire hazard.
  • Keep candle lit pumpkins away from flammable materials including buildings, stacks of firewood, corn stalks and bales of hay.
  • Treat Inspection
    • Talk to your child about the necessity of inspecting the loot they bring home - make sure they understand it's for their own safety and that candy should not be eaten until it is brought home and inspected by a parent.
    • When in doubt, throw it out!
    • Throw away any candy that is not wrapped in a sealed wrapper.
    • Inspect baked goods: if they are unlabeled or you do not know which house they came from, throw it out.
    • Fruit - we've all heard about razor blades and pins in apples, and they're true, but you need to read this before you start freaking out about the apple in your kid's loot.
      • Fruit should be washed and cut into small pieces or slices before eating.
    • Make sure the candy your child received does not contain alcohol.
  • Older kids should trick or treat on the buddy system - or in groups.
    • Parents should know who is in the group and the planned route of Trick or Treating. 
    • Review the planned stops and admonish your children to stay away from the houses you want them to avoid.
    • Kids should avoid shortcuts and isolated areas.
  • Teens out in groups should notify parents where they are going and when they are expected home.
  • Remind teens that vandalism is still illegal on Halloween, and avoiding trouble is the best way to stay out of it.
  • Consider an alternative to trick or treating - host or attend a neighborhood party, have a party at school or other community center.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Summerquest Camp for kids aed 5-14 at the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Teen Naturalist Club at IRWS: Spring/Summer Series

Join Mass Audubon for their Teen Naturalist Club at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield Massachusetts!
Explore a variety of local ecosystems, learn more about a wide range of natural history topics, and do real wildlife data collection and conservation projects in this exciting club for teens!
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Music Together - Saturday

Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...
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Nice n' Easy Hike at Breakheart Reservation

Nice and Easy winter hike at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus Massachusetts
Join the Park Interpreter for this weekly guided hike! Each trip will highlight natural and historic features unique to Breakheart. Hikes are moderately paced and range from 2-3 miles over sometimes uneven and rocky terrain. Best for ages 8 years and up. Meet at the Visitor Center.
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Little Sprouts in the Garden: Kids Terrarium Workshop

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CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike

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Come explore the lesser-visited corners of Castle Hill and its surroundings with us this season. This hike is a CraneOutdoors guide favorite because it’s got a little bit of all the things that make the Crane Estate such a special place…
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Wenham Museum Spring/Summer Sports Sale

Spring & Summer Sports Sale at Wenham Musseum in Massachusetts
Back by popular demand! After a successful inaugural sale in 2024, Wenham Museum’s Spring & Summer Sports Sale returns for its second year. In keeping with the Museum’s former Attic Treasures Sale tradition, the Spring & Summer Sports Sale brings the community together for a fun and...
10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Family Program: Creature Sculptures at CAM

Family Program: Creature Sculptures at Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts
Inspired by the exhibition on view, Portrait of a Sculptor: Walker Hancock & Michael Lafferty. Create your own animal or fantastic creature with air-dry clay, inspired by the artist Katharine Lane Weems. Recommended ages 3 and up.
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LEGO Club at Salem Public Library

Come to the Salem Massachusetts Public Library for an afternoon of LEGO and fun!
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10:30 am to 11:30 am

Befriend the Barnyard

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Sunday, March 30

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Parker River NWR Beach Cleanup

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9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Wenham Museum Spring/Summer Sports Sale

Spring & Summer Sports Sale at Wenham Musseum in Massachusetts
Back by popular demand! After a successful inaugural sale in 2024, Wenham Museum’s Spring & Summer Sports Sale returns for its second year. In keeping with the Museum’s former Attic Treasures Sale tradition, the Spring & Summer Sports Sale brings the community together for a fun and...
10:00 am to 6:00 pm

CraneOutdoors: King Tide Hike

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This high tide is royalty! Here’s your chance to see the king….tide that is. Join us for a hike to learn about extreme high tides, known as king tides, which are happening more often due to environmental change. These extreme tides have a variety of impacts on coastal infrastructure, including...
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CraneOutdoors: Family Winter Wildlife Walk

Come explore the dunes on Castle Neck and Crane Beach in Ipswich Massachusetts to learn about winter wildlife.
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Monday, March 31

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Wenham Museum Spring/Summer Sports Sale

Spring & Summer Sports Sale at Wenham Musseum in Massachusetts
Back by popular demand! After a successful inaugural sale in 2024, Wenham Museum’s Spring & Summer Sports Sale returns for its second year. In keeping with the Museum’s former Attic Treasures Sale tradition, the Spring & Summer Sports Sale brings the community together for a fun and...
10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Pajama Story Time at Danvers Public Library

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Wear your jammies and join us for some stories and rhymes! Ages 0-7 with a parent or caregiver.
6:30 pm to 7:00 pm

Tuesday, April 1

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Wenham Museum Spring/Summer Sports Sale

Spring & Summer Sports Sale at Wenham Musseum in Massachusetts
Back by popular demand! After a successful inaugural sale in 2024, Wenham Museum’s Spring & Summer Sports Sale returns for its second year. In keeping with the Museum’s former Attic Treasures Sale tradition, the Spring & Summer Sports Sale brings the community together for a fun and...
10:00 am to 6:00 pm