If I had to choose a favourite holiday, Halloween would be at the top of my list. It’s one of the most fun-filled times of the year when kids and adults dress in imaginative costumes for an evening of outdoor and indoor family activities. For many adults, Halloween invokes memories of your carefree childhood, when candy and costumes were king.
Halloween isn’t just about dressing up and getting candy, it’s about your shared experiences with family and friends. Here are 5 tips to ensure that you and your loved ones have a fun and safe Halloween.
Choose the right Halloween costume
We all know just how excited young ones get at Halloween, but it’s important to remember a few basic safety tips before going out on your annual candy run. For example, masks that completely cover your child’s face can obstruct their view. Instead of using a mask, why not use face paint instead. This way your child will be able to see what’s going on around them without any obstructions.
As a rule of thumb, your Halloween costume should be bright, light-coloured and clearly visible to motorists. Simply adding a few strips of reflective tape to the front and back of your child’s costume. It’s just that easy! At our house we go one step further, by adding reflective tape to our trick-or-treat bags. You can never be too safe!
Additionally, if your child’s costume includes a large helmet, hat, or headpiece, make sure it is securely fastened so that it won’t come lose and obstruct your child’s vision. If you’re looking for a costume for your little one, Best Buy Canada has some frighteningly cute Halloween costumes for kids and babies.
Stay well-lit
We want everyone to have a fun and safe Halloween. So, it’s important that your child is able to see where he or she is walking. I recommend getting the Goal Zero Lighthouse Micro Flash USB rechargeable lantern for your little one. It’s small, light weight, waterproof, and lights the way.
Alternatively, the Intense Lighting Rechargeable LED Flashlight is rechargeable LED flashlight that offers a super-bright 1000 Lumen’s of light. With a portable source of light, you’ll avoid tripping or falling, and possibly serious injuries that would take all the fun out of Halloween.
Additionally, it’s important to keep your yard and entrances neat and tidy. I always make sure that my driveway, front yard and the direct pathway to my door are free of any obstacles. We don’t want anyone tripping or falling over toys, trash or garden hoses. Directly related, it’s very important to have all entrances and stairs well-lit for the little ghosts and goblins that come to your house.
Keep dry from the elements on Halloween night
As you may know, late October brings unpredictable weather for trick-or-treaters. Heck, we have even seen some parts of the country that have had snow in September! To ensure that your little ones have a fun and safe time, it’s important to be prepared for whatever the weather may bring.
My wife and I always carry an umbrella with us. This year, we have upgraded our umbrella to the BIOS Umbrella with LED Lights. Not only will you and your loved ones be kept dry from the elements, but will also increase your visibility and safety.
Set the Halloween mood with Bluetooth wireless speakers
Whether you’re throwing a Halloween party or just trying to set the mood for your trick-or-treaters, playing spooky Halloween music and eerie sound effects is crucial. My fondest memories of Halloween are of those houses in my neighbourhood that went the extra mile and were decked out with scary music and sound effects.
Recently, I picked up the Beats by Dr. Dre Pill+ Bluetooth wireless speaker. It provides excellent quality sound and has an amazing build quality. I’ve had absolutely no problems with it at all. It’s extremely easy to setup and very reliable. Alternatively, Bose offers a Bluetooth wireless speaker that is compact and is water resistant. The Bose SDLK II Black Splashproof Bluetooth wireless speaker connects in seconds to your smartphone and tablet and lasts for 8 hours on a single charge.
Either one of these Bluetooth speakers would be a great addition to your Halloween setup this year. I’ve already got a playlist filled with spooky music, and sound effects ready. I can hardly wait to see the reactions on the faces of my unsuspecting trick-or-treaters!
Capture the moment for ever
There is no better way to remember a moment than it is with a picture or video. One of my first memories as a little boy was getting my picture taken at Halloween. My sister and I would huddle together on the front porch along with our friends showing off our beautifully decorated costumes as my Dad snapped a picture.
In the later years, my Dad purchased a camcorder and along with the traditional Halloween picture, he took some home videos. As I grew older, I would look through the pictures and watch the videos reminiscing about the amount of candy that I had received that year. As Husband and a Father, I’ve learned that a picture and video can capture a moment so that it is never gone forever. It’s for these reasons, that I cherish these memories and enjoy sharing them with my children.
Luckily, today it’s easier than ever to capture those moments in time with the use of a DSLR camera. These cameras are lightweight, portable, easy to use, offer a better picture and video quality than most cellular phones, and are perfect for capturing those special moments. And, unlike when I was young, you can simply print your pictures off at home with a colour photo printer. My wife loves to print off the pictures and put them on the wall next year at Halloween. You should see the collection we have!
The big night is just around the corner. By using these five tips mentioned above you are sure to have a fun and safe Halloween.
