October is creeping closer and closer and I know households are prepping for another exciting year of Halloween. What do people think of when it comes to Halloween? I bet it’s the color orange, pumpkins, loads of candy and a howling night of fun where kids roam the streets in their favorite costumes of ghosts, witches and monsters! What most people don’t take into consideration is the fact that safety is a huge part of Halloween as well. Sure you can have a wonderful time, but be mindful of everyone’s safety as well! Below are some safety tips that are eco-friendly (no brainer coming from Green Halloween) for Halloween this year.

General Safety Tips:

1. Hand-powered flashlights: Straight from the Green Halloween marketplace. These adorable animal-shaped flashlights are an absolute must when you head out to trick-or-treat with your loved ones. No batteries are necessary so it’s environmentally friendly. Plus you have a light to shine on dark places when necessary!
2. Drivers driving on the night of Halloween should pay more attention to the roads than normal. This is a night where kids roam the streets freely. Even though they are supervised, still pay extra care and drive slowly in neighborhood streets.
3. It’s important to have fun but it’s even more important to know where your kids are. Set a curfew if your older kids are trick-or-treating with a group of friends. Stay connected with them via phones throughout the night. If they do not have cellphones, give them sufficient amount of change so they can use public phones to call home if needed.
4. Set a designated area for your kids to trick-or-treat if you are not going with them. Go over the route before Halloween so they know where they can go and where they cannot go.
5. Tell your children about the basic rules of obeying traffic. Always walk on sidewalks, even if the streets are empty of cars. Make note to take heed of the roads, and always always double check at crossroads and intersections for incoming traffic.
6. Accompany your children while trick-or-treating. If you cannot make it, make other arrangements (older siblings, guardians, neighbors that you know) so your children can go along with adults they are familiar with.
7. Wear bright-colored or light-reflective costumes so you are easily spotted.
8. Make sure costumes are flame retardant.
9. Avoid masks that obstruct vision.
10. If there is no sidewalk, always walk on the left side of the road.
11. Avoid houses with no lights on.

Trick-or-Treating/Candy Safety Tips:

1. Always trick-or-treat at the front door. If children are unsupervised, make sure to tell them to not enter a stranger’s house for candy.
2. Tell your kids to bring all the candy they collected home so you, the parent, can inspect them before consumption. Also, inform them not to accept any candy that are not in wrappers.
3. Feed your kids a hearty and healthy meal prior to trick-or-treating activities so they won’t be tempted to eat the candy before checking for tampering. Plus they’ll need the energy!
4. When in doubt, throw it out!
5. Teach your children to eat 2-3 pieces of candy at a time in order to prevent tummy aches.

For more ideas and information regarding safety on Halloween, please click here for a very handy and comprehensive list of links and resources! If you have tips that you feel are missing from the list, please let us know by email or comments via this post. We’re eager to hear new ideas from our readers for a safe and fun Halloween!

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

I love finding new shops on the internet. It’s actually a full-time hobby of mine. So I thought to myself, why not share these with Green Halloween’s wonderful viewers?! These shops are all fabulous and not to mention carry eco-friendly, GREEN merchandise. What more can you ask for in a shop? Even better, some of the stores mentioned below sell Green Halloween® authorized gear!

EcoMom.com

Like the above banner mentioned, Ecomom® is partnering with Green Halloween® in selling costumes and other Halloween goodies on their website. If you’re still looking for costumes, we highly recommend heading over there and browse their wonderful selections!

Oeuf

According to Oeuf‘s website, the company “has believed in designing products that offer real value to consumers without ever compromising on quality, of the highest order” ad they were around before the green and eco movements became trendy. Their items reflect on their solid philosophy and not to mention, extremely extremely adorable and pleasing on the eyes!

Recycling is Cool

Recycling is Cool carries Green Halloween merchandise and is helping to spread the word of greening up your holidays! While you’re there check out their other store sections as well to find great green products.

Green Halloween® Marketplace

And lastly, we must mention our very own Green Halloween® marketplace! We have tons eek-o-fabulous ideas for costumes, treat & treasures, dECOr and more!

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

Looking for a bag that will bring pizzazz on Hallow’s Eve but don’t want to spend the money solely on one that you’ll use just for one occasion? Check out the wide selection of reusable totes available from ChicoBag. If you want to get festive, they have one specifically designed for Halloween as well!

Another option would be the delectable FEED trick-or-treat bag with a pumpkin motif. FEED bags are sturdy and stylish at the same time making it the perfect bag for various uses.

Although these reusable bags do cost more than…say your average plastic bag but keep in mind that they are reusable and will definitely save you money in the long run!

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

We have a lovely guest contributor, DeeAnna Soicher, this week about where to find perfect re-loved costumes from your local Goodwill!

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By shopping at the Goodwill this Halloween season you can support a wonderful organization and dress up in an amazing pre-loved costume.

This entire outfit came from a Goodwill store in the Denver area.

Adore the outfit…..Love the price!

• Long Sleeved Shirt-$4.99
• Yellow Floral Dress-$6.99
• Top Apron Dress (NWT)$6.99

I found all of the items in the women’s section.

Atticus Finch contemplates the fate of Tom Robinson…the jury deliberates.

He can wear this suit for any special occasion, and since kids seem to grow out of dress clothes after one wearing, re-donate to Goodwill and pick up another good looking outfit!

Laura Ingalls Wilder

My model loved the outfit so much she kept it to wear to school. She looks amazing!

Pair this outfit with cowboy boots for a casual look or dress shoes for a more formal look.

We wanted to showcase some “costumes” that can be worn again and again and then re-donated for the next lucky kid.

Think green this Halloween and re-love a costume from Goodwill!

www.ThriftingDenver.wordpress.com

www.ALittleJunkInMyTrunk.blogspot.com

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

We decided it’s time to share some pictures from the Green Halloween festivities last year at Tampa. This year we are gearing up for another amazing run of Green Halloween with over 20 cities hosting events nationwide. We’re all fabulously excited for all of these events launching and hope everyone attending will have a blast!

If you want to host a Green Halloween event, it is not too late! Check out our Get Started section on Green Halloween to find information and simple steps.

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.