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education KIDS& NOVEMBER Treats without tricks: SAFETY AND NUTRITION TIPS FOR HALLOWEEN Halloween night is swiftly approaching and parents want children to stay safe while having fun. It’s easy to take the tricks out of trickor treating with simple Halloween safety and nutrition tips. As you prepare to send off your little ghouls and goblins for a night of fun, keep in mind these tips from Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals: Prepare for trick-or-treaters Before Halloween night begins, make sure your yard is safe and ready. Replacing burnt out light bulbs and turning on outdoor lighting will help prevent accidents as night sets in. Experts at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital recommend removing items from your yard that kids could trip over like sprinklers, hoses and rakes. They also encourage appropriately guarding pets to avoid potential injuries. Give out the goods Consider giving out healthier alternatives to your trick-or treaters this year. Health care professionals at Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation suggest handing out sugar-free gum, whole-grain crackers or raisins. Stickers and pencils make great giveaways as well. Let your kids shine Sending your kids out in the dark doesn’t have to be scary or unsafe. Adding refl ective tape to your children’s costumes or candy buckets helps them be seen in the evening hours. Doctors at Gillette Children’s Hospital recommend adding fl ashing buttons to your child’s costume. They also encourage attaching mini fl ashlights to your children’s wrists or candy buckets to allow them to see in poorly lit areas. Buddy up On average, twice as many child pedestrians are killed while walking on Halloween compared to other days of the year, according to SafeKids.org. Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital recommends children younger than 12 trick-ortreat and cross the street with an adult. Always walk facing traffi c on sidewalks or paths if available, and take advantage of all traffi c signals and crosswalks. Beware of tricks Getting home after a long night of treat collecting is exciting, but before your kids dig into their loot, do a quick inspection of their candy bag and look for any tampered treats. Throw away any candy that is unwrapped or has a torn or worn wrapper. Limit candy intake Discussing and setting expectations for how much candy your children are allowed to eat can limit overindulging. Specialists at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta encourage sending trick-or-treaters out after fi lling up on a healthy family dinner and letting kids choose three to fi ve pieces of candy to eat on Halloween night. To avoid a post-Halloween sugar surge, allow kids to choose their favorite candy and then offer to buy back or trade any leftover candy for money or a special prize. To learn more about your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital and ways you can help make kids healthier, visit CMNHospitals.org. Questions about your child meeting developmental milestones? Call us—it’s free and confidential. Our caring professionals know child development. 718-631-1110 or 888-239-0468 (Queens & Brooklyn) www.mksallc.com info@mksallc.com HASC subsidiary PEDIATRIC THERAPISTS WANTED! Apply at www.mksallc.com The Early Intervention Program is funded and regulated by the NYS Department of Health & the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Services are provided at no out-of-pocket cost to families for children birth to age 3 who meet eligibility guidelines. Courtesy BPT


SC10292015
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