Many schools allow children to celebrate Halloween in the classroom. Festivities may include parades, classroom parties or trunk-or-treat fun in the school parking lot.

 

Creating a safe and festive atmosphere for kids to celebrate Halloween is of the utmost importance for parents and teachers. The following suggestions can help ensure kids enjoy a safe and fun Halloween this year.

 

Costumes

 

Expect some restrictions on children's costumes. Schools may request costumes be modest and age-appropriate. Some schools forbid certain costume props, such as swords or guns. For safety purposes, school personnel will want to see children's faces. Therefore, the school may request face paint rather than a mask that obscures a child's face. Schools may provide some Halloween instructions to ensure all students are in compliance and will not be left out.

 

Food

 

Schools, teachers and certain classrooms may have specific food limitations to avoid allergy issues. Many kids have peanut, tree nut and/or dairy allergies, so when parents volunteer to send in food for classroom parties, they may have to verify that it does not contain nuts or dairy. Fresh fruits, crackers or allergen-free baked goods make for safe Halloween treats.

 

Treats

 

To be fair, if a student plans on handing out a treat or trinket to other classmates, they should first get permission from school staff. Again, allergies can come into play. If goodie bags are allowed, always confirm the number of children in class so that no one feels left out. In a classroom setting, teachers may follow an "all or nothing" philosophy. Unless a child has enough to give out to everyone, he or she may not be permitted to hand out treats.

 

Safety

 

Schools today need to be extra diligent in their safety protocol. Visitors usually have to be announced at the front office, and long gone are the days that school doors are kept unlocked. Parents should be informed about how the school plans to handle security for Halloween events. Outdoor parades may be attended by the public, but classroom parties may be restricted to class parents or one or two volunteers. Adults should bring identification and be expected to wear a visitor tag. Students may not be allowed to leave early without prior notification and may need to be signed out through the office when they leave. Confirm any plans with school administrators.

 

School insurance plans typically cover only active students. As a result, younger siblings may not be allowed to come to classroom parties.

 

Many schools schedule Halloween fun for their students, and this fun may include parties, parades or assemblies. Those who follow the rules can make Halloween events run more smoothly. 

• 
•