Come Halloween, youngsters’ attentions are understandably focused on costumes and candy. Their parents, however, are likely more concerned with their kids’ safety.
Trick-or-treating kids might not pay much mind to safety. As a result, it can be hard for parents to get kids to grasp the importance of being safe on Halloween. The following strategies might make that task easier.
Discuss costumes well in advance of Halloween. Many kids are so enthusiastic about Halloween that they know which costumes they hope to wear long before October 31. Parents can discuss potential costumes well in advance of Halloween before kids even know what they want to wear. Doing so gives parents a chance to encourage kids to choose bright costumes that will make them more visible to drivers on Halloween night. Waiting to discuss costumes increases the likelihood that kids will already have an outfit in mind, making it harder for parents to convince them to choose something safe.
Explain that some tailoring might be necessary to make gathering all that candy a lot easier. Superman doesn’t trip on his cape in the movies, and youngsters dressed up as the Man of Steel shouldn’t trip on their capes, either. When kids
pick costumes, explain to them that you might need to do some tailoring before they go trick-or-treating. Explain to kids that costumes should be trip-proof so they can seamlessly go from house to house in search of their favorite goodies.
Create a bag or bucket design day. Depending on what kids will use to carry the candy they accumulate this Halloween, parents can plan a bag or bucket design day a few days in advance. Kids will enjoy this chance to get in the Halloween spirit, and parents can encourage youngsters to decorate their bags and buckets with reflective tape that will make them more visible to drivers.
Talk up trick-or-treating with friends. As Halloween approaches, parents can discuss how much fun kids will have going door-to-door with many of their friends. This is a good way to ensure kids trick-or-treat in large groups, making them more visible to drivers. In addition, kids trick-or-treating in large groups might be too busy joking with their friends to notice when one or two parents tag along as chaperones.
Parents can discuss Halloween safety with their children in ways that make it fun to be safe while trick-or-treating.
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Many images are symbolic of Halloween. Witches riding broomsticks and ghosts gallivanting about haunted mansions are two such images.
Cemeteries also play a prominent role in setting the Halloween scene.
Halloween fans and history buffs may wonder where the oldest cemetery in the United States happens to be. That distinction belongs to the Myles Standish Burial Ground. Located on a residential street in Duxbury, Massachusetts, the Myles Standish Burial Ground is actually the nation’s oldest maintained cemetery, a designation bestowed upon it by the American Cemetery Association in 1976.
The cemetery is named after Myles Standish, the military leader of the Plymouth Colony. In fact, many voyagers from the Mayflower are buried in this ground, which
began serving as a cemetery in 1638. Standish, who died in 1656, is among those laid to rest here. Exhumations in the late nineteenth century confirmed the site was home to Standish’s remains, and a memorial to him that’s still standing today was subsequently built over his gravesite. While it became a historic burial ground, the site was actually first used as Duxbury’s premier meeting house. Its use as cemetery lasted from 1638 to 1789. In fact, many of the burial markers were obscured for much of the nineteenth century. But an economic downturn sparked by the town’s loss of its shipbuilding industry led the town to rediscover its history. As a result, the Myles Standish Burial Ground became a focal point of efforts to attract tourists interested in colonial history. The ground continues to attract tourists today and is a must-see for Halloween and history enthusiasts alike.
Mysteries and the macabre take center stage come Halloween. Many people feel that lingering spirits may cling to hotel rooms, hospitals and old buildings. The following are some sites, courtesy of Conde Nast, Reader’s Digest and National Geographic, that may prove pleasing to those who like a taste of the paranormal each October.
Howard Street Cemetery, Salem, Mass.: The Salem Witch Trials were a shocking part of American history. Many different people were accused of witchcraft and sorcery and executed for their alleged crimes. Howard Street Cemetery, where Giles Corey, a convicted offender is buried, is said to host the paranormal.
Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, Pa.: This once strict enforcer of solitary confinement was built in 1829 and housed prisoners until 1970. Peals of disembodied laughter, pacing footsteps and shadowy figures have been reported on the premises.
Keg Mansion, Toronto, Ontario: The Keg Mansion was once the private residence of industrialist Hart Massey and his family. Legend states that, after the death of Massey’s daughter Lillian, her maid was so overcome with grief that she took her own life. A ghostly image of a maid hanging by her neck has frequently been reported at the property.
LaLaurie Mansion, New Orleans, La.: Marie Delphine LaLaurie was a Louisiana socialite who threw lavish parties. But she also had a dark and grisly side. When a fire broke out in the residence, police responded and
discovered mutilated slaves in the attic. LaLaurie fled New Orleans, but it is believed the phantom screams of her victims can still be heard at night.
Hotel Monte Vista, Flagstaff, Az.: This hotel is purportedly home to various spectors and paranormal guests. Room 210 was plagued by someone who hung raw meat from the chandelier. An infant’s wretching cries have sent people scurrying. And two women who were thrown from the third floor now haunt and try to smother male guests in their sleep.
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Alberta: This is the site of a number of terrifying ghost sitings, including an entire murdered family. Many believe a retired head bellman in uniform continues to haunt the hotel.
San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio, Texas: This is the oldest church in Texas and is stunning to behold. But during the nighttime, visitors may feel the hair on their necks stand on end. During renovations, workers unearthed bones, nails and military uniforms. Visitors report orbs and shadowy figures in photographs, as well as figures in hooded clothing.
RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach, Calif.: This luxury ship carried Hollywood celebrities before being repurposed into a World War II ship that transported troops. Eventually, the ship was permanently docked in California, and is reportedly haunted by those who died aboard, such as a young sailor crushed in the engine room.
Haunted places dot the globe and can make interesting travel locations for those who wish to discover what goes bump in the night.
A todo el mundo le encanta un buen susto en Halloween, pero no cuando se trata de la seguridad de sus hijos. Hay varios comportamientos sencillos y eficaces que los padres pueden compartir con los hijos para ayudar a reducir el riesgo de lesiones.
Source: SafeKids.org
TIP #13
Esté atento a los coches que están girando o haciendo marcha atrás. Enseñe a los niños a no salir disparados hacia la calle y a no cruzar entre los autos aparcados.
de que sea de la talla correcta para evitar tropezones y caídas. TIP #10
TIP #14
Camine siempre por las aceras o sendas. Si no hay aceras, camine de cara al tráfico, lo más pegado a la izquierda que sea posible.
Costume-clad kids, bags of candy and jack-o’-lanterns are some indelible images associated with Halloween. Those images may forever be linked to this beloved, fun-filled holiday, which boasts a rich history that varies depending on where in the world you might be.
Celebrations around the world may not mirror those in the United States, where trick-ortreating youngsters travel from house to house in search of candy. But true Halloween enthusiasts may be interested to learn the history of the holiday and how it has changed over the centuries.
In parts of Mexico and Latin America, El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) is celebrated each year in early November. The day is designed to honor the dead, who Day of the Dead celebrants believe return to their earthly homes each Halloween. Families may burn candles and incense in an effort to help their deceased relatives and ancestors find their way home.
For many years, England had reason to celebrate around October 31, but those celebrations did not mirror the Halloween festivities familiar to those across the pond. While recent years have witnessed more and more Brits adopting the Americanized celebration of Halloween, for many the true holiday this time of year will always be Guy Fawkes Day. Celebrated on November 5, Guy Fawkes Day is a commemoration of the foiled Gunpowder Plot. Smithsonian notes that this was a failed attempt by disgruntled Catholics to blow up the British Parliament building while King James I was inside. Fireworks, parades and bonfires marked Guy Fawkes Day celebrations, which in recent years have gradually begun to transform into something that more closely resembles American Halloween.
History.com notes that Halloween can trace its origins to Ireland. But those origins did not involve giggling youngsters carrying plastic pumpkins around in search of candy. Halloween’s origins can be traced to the Celtic
festival of Samhain. Samhain was considered the Celtic New Year and was sacred to the ancient Irish. The festival was celebrated as the days became shorter, and offerings were left for the dead, who celebrants believed could cross over into the land of the living at this time. However, they also believed demonic spirits could follow such a path during Samhain, giving the festival the taste of the macabre that many still enjoy imparting on their Halloween celebrations today.
Halloween has a rich and interesting history that gals and ghouls from all walks of life might find interesting.
Come the end of October, people across the country eagerly await the tricks and treats of Halloween. Plenty of fun is to be had on October 31, when hordes of costume-clad children and adults scour neighborhoods on the hunt for the best candy. But prior to Halloween comes the trickery, jokes and gags of Mischief Night.
Mischief Night also may be referred to as Cabbage Night, Goosey Night, Moving Night, Mat Night, or Devil’s Night. In parts of the United Kingdom, it’s known as Mischievous Night, Miggy Night, Corn Night, or Trick Night.
Mischief Night is October 30 (or November 4 in some areas of the UK) and began as an informal holiday when friends pranked one another. While Halloween is all about the treats, Mischief Night is more about the tricks.
The earliest references to Mischief Night date back to 1790s Britain. But back then the mischief occurred right before
May Day. During the Protestant Reformation, much of England set out to distance itself from the treat side of Halloween because it was connected to Catholic saints. Gags and pranks were transferred to the eve of Guy Fawkes Night, a
Ringing false alarms, covering trees in toilet paper, shaving cream fights, switching door mats or outdoor furniture, and ringing doorbells and running are some popular Mischief Night pranks. Much of the behavior consists of harmless fun, but Mischief Night has led to some unsavory acts, including more than 800 fires being lit in Detroit in 1984.
holiday that celebrates the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot to blow up British Parliament. However, in Ireland, Scotland and northern England, Halloween traditions — including good-natured pranks — were maintained. Immigrants from these areas ultimately brought these traditions with them to North America. By the 1930s and 1940s, Mischief Night became popular in the United States.
In order to curb destructive behavior, many communities will ban the sale of eggs and shaving cream to minors on Mischief Night. Others implement strict curfews. But that doesn’t mean people looking to engage in some good-natured mischief cannot have their fun. Neighbors can host backyard mischief parties in which kids contain their antics to one or two yards.
Mischief Night precedes Halloween and is still popular for many people. Keeping pranks fun and harmless ensures that this tradition can stick around for years to come.
Mischief Night falls on the evening before Halloween, bringing with it lots of tricks and pranks.
Children’s eye health is just as important as other aspects of their physical and mental well-being. According to a recent report from the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness, vision plays an important role in a child’s physical, cognitive and social development. And visual functioning is a strong predictor of academic performance in school-aged children. While there are certain risk factors that can affect eye health, come the autumn, fall sports and Halloween are two areas where parents may have to extend extra caution to protect their children’s vision. Fortunately, there are many things parents can do to prevent visual and other injuries from affecting their children.
Keep vision unobstructed. Choose costumes that do not have masks, wigs or accessories that impede the child’s ability to see. Tie any hats and scarves so they don’t slip down over the eyes.
Exercise caution with cosmetics. Read warnings on Halloween makeup to see which products are safe to use on the face and around the eyes, and which are not. Only buy hypoallergenic makeup, and remove it carefully when Halloween is done so it won’t get in the eyes. Purchase safe cosmetic contact lenses. Speak with an eye professional to purchase colored or novelty lenses. Improperly controlled contact lenses can cause eye injuries like sensitivity
to light and bacterial infections.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says decorative lenses purchased without a prescription may not fit properly, leaving eyes more susceptible to scratches on the outer layer of the eye. Decorative lenses also may contribute to ulcers, or open sores, on the cornea, which is the clear covering over the front of the eye. Discuss the safety of various lenses with your eye doctor and go over the proper handling of contact lenses.
Trick-or-treat in daylight. Visibility is better during daylight hours, and sunlights makes youngsters less vulnerable to tripping over obstacles in their paths.
Buy soft accessories. Particularly for younger children, avoid hard, plastic swords, staffs and other objects that can poke the eyes or cause bodily injury. Opt for bendable foam choices instead. Make kids as visible as possible. Use reflective tape, glow sticks and other tools to make kids more visible to drivers and pedestrians.
A few simple precautionary measures can make this Halloween safe and fun.
Choose Halloween masks and accessories that do not impair the ability to see clearly.
Literature and Hollywood have done much to villainize bats, which many people perceive to be dangerous, blood-sucking creatures that prey on unsuspecting victims. However, bats are far less menacing than that. While there are bats that feed on blood (vampire bats), they tend to stick to cows, pigs, horses, and birds for their meals. It is uncommon for vampire bats to bite humans for food. Vampire bats make a small cut with their teeth and then lap up the blood with their tongues, rather than “suck” the blood like they do in movies. These bats are native to Central and South America. Most other bats feed on fruit, fish or insects, particularly those that reside in North America. A single bat can eat up to 1,200 mosquito-sized insects every hour, and a bat will usually eat around 8,000 insects a night. In fact, it is beneficial to have bats around since they might serve as all-natural pesticides. Bats are nocturnal mammals that “see” in the dark using echolocation. Their eyesight is actually quite poor, but these echos serve as a form of sonar so that bats can find prey and steer clear of obstacles in their path. There are more than 1,000 different bat species. Some are solitary animals, while others thrive with hundreds of others in caves. Bats are nothing to fear — even around Halloween — and actually can be fascinating to study.
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