It’s finally here, Halloween Night! The costumes are on and the kids are just hoppin’ to trick o’ treat and collect candy. Here’s a handy parent survival guide as shared with Live Kelly & Mark as we waxed poetically about Halloween in the 70s!

Feed a protein-packed dinner. This will fill up kids and adults bellies alike, and perhaps leave you a little less hungry for over-indulging in sweets.

Take your trash with you: take small paper garbage bags so that you can collect candy wrappers as candy is consumed. Have kids help you decorate the bags: use washable markers to add jack o’ lantern faces to the paper bags or I used construction paper and a glue stick to make a simple ghost or Frankenstein face…just to make it festive, and this is something you can do last minute! Create a contest with the kids to pick up litter along your route!

Prep a warm drink: The kids will clamor around your thermos when they see you have cocoa and cups! I love salted caramel hot chocolate or a similar and fun fall flavor.

Ghost Marshmallows for the cocoa: draw on eyes and mouth with an edible baking pen. Keep these in a separate bag until it’s time to serve. When they melt in the hot chocolate, the faces eerily stretch!

Mini First Aid Kit: bandaids, bandaids, bandaids. If kids are wearing new shoes for a costume, they will likely get blisters. If you don’t have comfortable shoes, you as a parent are likely to get blisters too. Also, I like to carry a stash of safety pins for any costume calamities for a quick pin and fix.

Keep it clean: hand sanitizer to dollop on hands before eating candies or anything and a small packet of baby wipes for when costume makeup—like Dracula’s face—starts to melt or get messy.

Pack a wagon: with all of the items I’m suggesting you haul, your wagon on wheels is like your Formula 1 car of Halloween Night!

Be the light: have flashlights or headlamps packed with fresh batteries so you can see in the dark, the latter enables kids to be hands-free. Also outfit kids with glow-in-the-dark necklaces and bracelets, which kids like to wear so you can keep track of them in the dark too!

Stay hydrated: Reusable Water Bottles Everyone gets thirsty. You’d be surprised how many people want water. If there are mini reusable water bottles, those would be smart.
Prep for a cold night: gloves, beanies, warm boots, comfortable and thick socks, puffer jacket. A Blanket scarf, so you can literally wrap yourself up in warmth where you need it as you walk!

Stay toasted: Handwarmers and HEATED beanies

Stash healthy snacks: Kids will need a break from eating sweets. Adults can enjoy too to keep them fueled when walking…and to try and avoid eating candy!
Be ready for rain: ponchos, umbrellas, waterproof shoes, costume-saving domed umbrellas.

To watch these tips in action, check out the LIVE segment!