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A chill is in the air and the leaves
are beginning to fall from the trees.
Children are back in school, but there's
only one thing on their minds....Halloween
is coming. "What am I going to be this
year?" they wonder.
As usual, parents will be dragged to
the mall to check out all the latest and
greatest in Halloween costumes. Some
will opt to make their own. In either
case, here are some costume tips to help
make your child's Halloween safe and fun.
===Costume Safety Tips===
* If purchasing a costume from a store,
make sure the label states that it is
made from a fire-retardent material. If
you're making your own costume, be sure
to pick materials that are also fire-
resistant.
* Costumes should be loose enough around
the body so that warm clothing can be
worn beneath it without it being too
loose that it snags on items.
* Have your child try the costume on
a few days before wearing. Make sure
that it does not drag on the ground.
Pants and robes should be hemmed up
so that your child's feet are showing.
Tripping and falling is the leading
cause of accidental injuries on Halloween.
* As much as we'd love our children to
wear light-colored clothing, some costume
themes (vampire, witch, etc.) just
wouldn't look right in florescent yellow.
Instead, add strips of reflective tape
to the front and back of all costumes,
including their trick or treat bag.
Remember, children don't drive cars,
therefore they do not have any idea on
how long it takes a driver to stop a
car after they see the child. The sooner
a driver can see your child, the safer
your child will be.
* Make sure the costume is easy to get
out of. Preferably, it should close
with snaps or velcro strips. If you
must use zippers or buttons, make sure
they are located in front of the costume
and easily reached by your child.
* Children should wear well-fitting,
flat shoes, not high heels.
* Wigs and beards should fit properly
and should not cover ears, nose or mouth.
* Use makeup instead of a mask. Masks
obstruct vision and children find it
hard to breath when wearing them.
* If your child insists on wearing a
mask, make sure it has large eye openings
(cut them bigger if you have to), and
openings for the nose and mouth.
* When purchasing makeup, make sure it
is labelled non-toxic. However, some
children (and adults) break out in a
rash with the heavy petroleum-based
makeups on the market. So, I've included
some homemade recipes below for those of
you who would like to create their own
Halloween makeup.
* Props and accessories should be made
of a flexible material. They should not
be rigid, sharp or overly heavy.
* Sew a name tag into your child's
costume, giving their name, address
and phone number.
* Remove makeup with shortening, cold
cream or baby oil and tissues. Thoroughly
wash face with soap and water after removal.
===Halloween Makeup Recipes===
Corn Syrup Blood
Mix the ingredients together and voila
- blood. Remove the washing up liquid
if you want to make edible blood. Adding
condensed milk makes it less transparent
and more like real blood. The blood is
extremely sticky and can stain skin and
clothes so makes sure its washed off
quickly. Use a stain remover on clothes.
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Face Paint Recipe
Mix ingredients and apply.
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Clown Make-up
Mix together the shortening, corn
starch and flour. Add 3 to 4 drops
of glycerin to make the mixture
creamier. Apply.
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