For your little ghosts and goblins, Halloween can be an exciting night. After all, kids love to get dressed up in costumes and get free candy. But for all the fun that Halloween promises, hidden hazards can threaten your little ones’ feet, causing foot and ankle injuries like broken toes or sprained ankles. To make sure that your child’s Halloween stays enjoyable rather than frightening, follow these Halloween foot safety tips to keep their feet safe.
Halloween Foot Safety Tip #1: Make sure your child’s costume isn’t too long. Extra material on a princess gown or super-hero pants can cause your child to trip, fall and injure themselves. Hem up your child’s costume if it falls below the ankle to prevent foot and ankle injuries.
Halloween Foot Safety Tip #2: Apply reflective tape to your child’s costume to protect them from getting hit by a car. According to data from the U.S. Government, nationally, on average, five children get hit by cars on Halloween night compared to 2.6 kids on all other nights of the year. Drivers will see your child in the dark when reflective tape is applied to your child’s clothing.
Halloween Foot Safety Tip #3: Have your child wear face paint or a makeup instead of a mask. Masks can limit your child’s vision which puts them at risk for potential slips, trips, and falls. Additionally, masks can prevent your child from seeing oncoming cars and other potential dangers.
Photo credit: 123RF / Pablo Hidalgo
Halloween Foot Safety Tip #4: Skip the costume footwear. Make sure your child’s footwear fits and is suitable for outdoor wear. Costume footwear is usually made from cheap materials. Flimsy materials provide your child’s feet with little support and inadequate protection from injuries. Additionally, over-sized shoes can cause your child to trip and fall. Therefore, over-sized shoes should be avoided. Sandals and flip-flops also aren’t good shoe choices either. They expose your child’s feet to potential cuts and scrapes. Sneakers are a better choice for your child. Refer to the WalkEZStore’s Shoe Fitting Guide to make sure your child’s shoes fit well. Make sure your child’s footwear is waterproof if wet weather is predicted for Halloween. Also, have your little one wear warm socks to protect against frostbite.
Halloween Foot Safety Tip #5: Have your child carry a flashlight during nighttime trick-or-treating. When it’s dark outside, your little trick-or-treater can trip and fall from fallen branches or uneven pavement. However, arming your child with a flashlight will help them to see and be seen better.
Halloween Foot Safety Tip #6: Prohibit cell phone use for your ‘tweens and teens while trick-or-treating. Your child will not see potential obstacles, holes, cars and other kids if they’re texting, talking or taking photos while walking. For your child’s safety and well-being, tell them to not use their cell phones unless necessary.
Treat Your Child’s Feet to Better Support
littleSTEPS foot orthotics for kids
Foot pain is not normal for your child. Any foot complaint shouldn’t be taken lightly, because it could signal a potentially serious problem.
Development flatfoot and Sever’s disease are common foot conditions in children and teenagers. Take your child to the doctor for an accurate diagnosis and treatment if they complain of foot pain. Treatment may include balance and coordination exercises, as well as littleSTEPS® foot orthotics for kids. littleSTEPS® are pre-fabricated foot orthoses specifically made for kids to provide foot pain relief. Sizes range from toddlers 5 through youth/adult size 8.5. littleSTEPS® foot orthotics are designed to provide your child with proper arch support and better rearfoot control while realigning their Achilles tendon.
For more information about littleSTEPS® foot orthotics and to order, contact the WalkEZStore.
Because … when your feet feel good, you feel good.®
Cover photo credit: 123RF / Sean Locke
