Trick-or-Treating and Halloween for Illinois Families

October 29, 2024

Halloween is a fun time of year for many, but can pose challenges for many parents regarding what is most safe for their child. Safe Kids Worldwide asks parents to make sure kids wear costumes that are easily seen and that costumes don’t restrict vision. They also remind families to pay extra attention to walking and driving safety during trick-or-treating and Halloween night. Finally, safe candy consumption should be a part of the fun on Halloween and in the weeks that follow.

In this month’s Voices of Child Health Report, we discuss parents’ responses about trick-or-treating, candy, and safety on Halloween. We reached over 1,000 parents from all across the state of Illinois who answered the survey. Parents were from both urban and rural communities across the state.

Report Highlights

Eighty-four percent of parents across the state of Illinois said their children go trick-or-treating.
More than two in three parents set rules for how much candy their children can eat each day.
Almost half of parents said they were concerned about the effects of candy on their children's teeth.

Trick-or-treating in Illinois

We found that 84% of parents said their children go trick-or-treating, which can provide kids and families with a great opportunity to walk around and be active outdoors. Parents can check with their local city or town government or local news to find the dates and times for trick-or-treating. City and village websites often include schedules, routes and other information. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) also offers guidance for a spooky but safe Halloween that serves to keep Illinois trick-or-treaters and their families safe.

Parents’ concerns about candy and their child’s health

Our survey found that 67% of Illinois parents set rules for how much candy their child can eat each day. And 32% of parents feel concerned about the physical health effects of their child eating too much candy, such as weight gain. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests children 2 years old and up should eat no more than six teaspoons (or 25 grams) of added sugar each day — that's about two fun-size candy bars. About 36% of parents feel concerned about how eating too much candy affects their child’s behavior, and 46% of parents are concerned about the possible negative effects of candy on children’s teeth. It is a good idea to have children brush their teeth after eating candy to avoid cavities. More than half of parents (60%) said they check their children’s candy for safety.

Lastly, we found that 11% of parents are concerned that Halloween candy may contain an ingredient that their child is allergic to. In an effort to make Halloween more allergen-friendly, families who are giving out Halloween candy can place a teal pumpkin at their front door to indicate that they have non-food treats such as stickers available for children with food allergies.

What to do with leftover candy (and pumpkins)?

After Halloween, there is usually an abundance of candy and pumpkins. We found that 18% of parents said they donate leftover candy. Nonprofit organization Soldiers' Angels runs a Treats For Troops program that sends collected candy to military service members. Some dentist offices participate in a Halloween Candy Buy Back Program, which lets kids swap their candies for coupons or healthy items like toothbrushes and hygiene kits. Local food pantries may also accept donations, but it is important to ask in advance before sending donations their way.

Healthy and safe Halloween tips

There are many tips for parents that help to ensure families have a fun, healthy and safe Halloween. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following:

Plan costumes that are bright and reflective, and fit well without loose parts.
Consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives to masks.
Always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
If your older children are trick-or-treating alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you.
Cross the street as a group in established crosswalks.
Stay on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
Caution kids never to enter a home or car for a treat.
Review with your child how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they ever have an emergency, get lost or are prone to wander.
Remove tripping hazards to keep your home safe for visiting trick-or-treaters.
Consider using a battery-operated flameless candle, flashlight or glow stick instead of a candle to light your jack-o’-lantern.
Wait until children are home to sort and check treats before eating them, and also consider offering non-edible goodies to trick-or-treaters.