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Enjoy a Safe and Happy Halloween

Halloween Safety Tips

Nashville, Ark. - Soon it will be the night of scary ghosts and goblins when kids put on their favorite costume and hit the streets in search of treats. No matter what age, Halloween is a favorite holiday for many people. However, you celebrate the holiday, make sure it is safe.

  • Wear brightly colored costumes that feature reflective materials for visibility at night.
  • Allow your child freedom of expression with their costume but be careful about outfits that are too long or that cover the face. Masks can make it difficult for kids to see and breathe, but if a mask is worn, it should be removed while walking from house to house.
  • Avoid high-heeled shoes, as well as baggy skirts, pants or sleeves that could cause your child to catch on to something or fall. Make sure that any props your child carries, such as wands or swords, are flexible.
  • Make sure you know the neighborhood you are trick-or-treating in. Avoid neighborhoods where you do not know the people who live there.
  • Caution children about running through dark yards that could cause them to trip over obstructions. Homeowners can help by clearing their yards of obstructions. Always carry a flashlight or glow stick and walk (don’t run) on the left-hand side of the street, facing the traffic.
  • More experienced kids may be able to strike out on their own, but they need a specific route. If they’re unaccompanied by an adult, ensure that they have a watch and perhaps a cell phone. Designate a return time.
  • Consider using a glow stick in your jack-o-lantern as a safer alternative to open flames. But if you use candles, place the lit pumpkin away from walkways and decorations that might blow into the path of a flame.

Treats are another big part of Halloween fun, but they don’t always have to be sticky candy. Nutrition and Halloween aren’t two words that normally go together, but it’s possible to promote healthy eating habits even during the Halloween season.

Think beyond the traditional candy bars, suckers, and gum. Great treat offerings include Halloween magnets, erasers, pencils, temporary tattoos and rubber spiders or insect jewelry. Offering non-food treats is healthier for the trick-or-treater.

If you do choose edible treats consider handing out packages of peanut butter or cheese and crackers, sugar-free gum, small packages of raisins or other dried fruits. You might consider giving out bite-sized versions of larger candy items or granola bars. Individual packages of popcorn are also great for older children.

If you want to have a party at your home, you can hold a pumpkin party for your child and their friends a few days before Halloween. That way, their pumpkin creations can be enjoyed in advance before the big day.

For more information on pumpkins or alternative treats, contact the Howard County Extension Office at 870-845-7517 or visit our office located on the second floor of the courthouse.

Recipe of the Week - Reese'sPieces Chocolate Cookies

Need a quick-and-easy cookie recipe for Halloween parties and beyond? This recipe was made and served at the recent EHC Crocktober event. Several people who attended requested it. Thank you to all who purchased a ticket and supported educational programming in Howard County.

  • 1 Milk Chocolate cake mix

  • ½ cup melted butter or canola oil (we used canola oil)

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1 ½ cups Reese’s pieces

  1. Combine cake mix, eggs, and oil in large mixing bowl, and beat well.

  2. Stir in candy pieces with a spoon.

  3. Chill dough in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

  4. After dough has chilled, drop onto ungreased non-stick cookie sheet in rounded balls.

  5. Preheat oven to 350°F.

  6. Bake cookies for approximately 7-9 minutes. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes before removing to cooling tray to finish cooling.

  7. Yield: 3 dozen cookies

    Note: Use parchment paper on cookie sheet for easy clean up!

 

By Jean Ince
County Extension Agent - Staff Chair
The Cooperative Extension Service
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Media Contact: Jean Ince
County Extension Agent - Staff Chair
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
421 N. Main St, Nashville AR 71852
(870) 845-7517
jince@uada.edu

 

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact your County Extension office (or other appropriate office) as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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