With Halloween fast approaching, families across Devon are being encouraged to enjoy the celebrations safely, consider others in their communities and make choices that help reduce waste.
Whether you’re choosing a costume, carving a pumpkin, heading out trick-or-treating or welcoming children to your door, a little planning can help make Halloween safe and enjoyable for everyone.
Choose costumes and decorations carefully
Our Trading Standards team is reminding parents and carers to be aware when buying costumes, decorations and novelty items.
Choose well-fitting costumes made from thicker, flame-resistant materials and avoid outfits with trailing fabric or cords, particularly for younger children. Look for the CE or UKCA mark and check that costumes include the manufacturer’s details and appropriate age warnings. Buying from a reputable retailer can also help ensure products are made to an appropriate standard.
Candles, lanterns and sparklers can also pose risks to children if used unsupervised. Torches or glow sticks can be a safer alternative when out and about with younger children.
Other things to check include:
- button batteries in toys and decorations are in secure compartments
- masks allow clear vision and can be removed easily
- costumes don’t contain billowing, layered or trailing fabric
- children can be easily seen in the dark, for example by adding reflective material to clothing or costumes.
Swap, share and reuse costumes
Before buying something new, consider giving a pre-loved costume another outing. This October, Halloween Costume Swaps are taking place at 22 libraries across Devon. Families can donate clean, wearable costumes and accessories, or simply browse the swap rail and take a costume home for free. You do not need to donate an item to take part.
Check the dates, times and details for your nearest participating library in our Halloween Costume Swap story.
Stay safe when trick-or-treating
If you’re heading out trick-or-treating, make sure children are appropriately supervised and can be easily seen by drivers and other road users.
Encourage children to take extra care when crossing roads, use well-lit routes where possible and avoid distractions when walking near traffic.
Be considerate of others
Halloween can be great fun, but not everyone celebrates it or feels comfortable answering their door to unexpected visitors.
Encourage children to only approach homes where it appears that trick-or-treaters are welcome and to respect people’s decisions not to take part.
Try to keep noise to a reasonable level, particularly later in the evening, and be considerate of older or vulnerable neighbours and anyone who may find repeated knocking at the door unsettling.
If someone doesn’t answer the door or doesn’t want to take part, simply move on.
Making Halloween more inclusive
Halloween can also be an overwhelming experience for some children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
For some autistic people, unexpected changes and sensitivities to noise, touch and light can make Halloween difficult, while unfamiliar treats and costumes can also be challenging. The National Autistic Society recommends planning ahead and recognising that every autistic person is different.
Families may choose to celebrate in different ways, such as visiting a smaller number of familiar homes, choosing a comfortable costume, celebrating at home or simply taking part in the aspects of Halloween their child enjoys.
We can all help make Halloween more inclusive. Children may communicate or take part in different ways, so be patient and welcoming and don’t put pressure on them to respond in a particular way.
Think about your treats too
If you’re buying treats for Halloween, you could consider offering a mixture of choices, including non-food alternatives where appropriate.
If you’d like to make a more ethical choice when buying chocolate, you could also look for products carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark. The Fairtrade Foundation has rounded up five frightfully good options for your Halloween haul.
Rescue your pumpkin from going to waste
Pumpkins are edible, including those sold as ‘carving pumpkins’. The flesh can be used in soups, stews and curries, while the seeds can be roasted for a snack or added to soups and salads.
Once Halloween is over, put any remaining pumpkin in your food waste container if your local authority provides a collection, or chop it up and add it to a home compost bin. Find more ideas and tips in Recycle Devon’s pumpkin advice.
Remember, never feed your carved pumpkins to livestock as they are classified as kitchen scraps and could spread disease.
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