Child Proof Your Yard for Trick-or-Treaters

Halloween is upon us. Whether you have participating children or not, you’ll likely have some little monsters on your doorstep asking for candy. Here are some tips to ensure your yard is a safe place for the goblins to gather this year.

Scan the Yard

Do a little walk of your front yard in the daylight. Make sure there’s a clear path to the door and sweep it to eliminate any nails, broken glass, twigs or other debris. Since many children will cut through the yard instead of using your walkway, clear the lawn of sticks, fill any holes and trim back or cover spiky plants. Make sure tools and lawn equipment are stowed away. And scan the yard for other trip hazards – anything shorter than your knee is a trip hazard and should be removed or fenced for the night.

Clean up After Pets

This step needs no elaboration.

Light up the Front

If you’ve been considering a purchase of landscape lighting, now’s the time to buy it. Be certain your area is as well-lit as possible. If you have only a porch light, use it – but also light up the front rooms of your home and open the drapes to emit more light from your windows.

Secure Vehicles and Supervise

Keep your overhead garage door closed and cars parked out of the way of children.

Finally, the best way to keep your yard safe is to supervise it. Consider sitting out on the porch to hand out candy while you enjoy the emerging fall weather. An adult presence can go a long way to encourage safety among little ones.

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