Halloween is a time for spooky thrills and imagination. But the holiday also brings some extra risks for children and teens.

Did you know that child pedestrian injuries are more likely on Halloween than on any other night of the year, for example? Help keep Halloween fun and safe for your family with these tips.

Safety on the trick-or-treat trail

Halloween street smarts

• Always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds. If trick-or-treating doesn't start until after dark where you live, consider checking with your town or park district for Halloween activities offered earlier in the day. Research shows that evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. are the riskiest times of day for child pedestrians. Earlier festivities also help you stick to your child's regular bedtime.
• If your older children are trick-or-treating alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home and get flashlights with batteries for everyone.
• Talk with kids about the risk of distracted walking. This includes text messaging, talking on or looking at their cell phone and listening to music.
• Cross the street as a group in established crosswalks. Most (62%) child pedestrian traffic fatalities occurred mid-block, rather than at intersections. Make sure kids know not to cross the street between parked cars or out of driveways or alleys.
• Don't assume cars will stop just because they have the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters.

Stay on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic. Only go to homes with a porch light on and, ideally, a well-lit pathway.

Source: healthychildren.org

Whether your family’s version of Halloween fun involves thrills and chills at one of the scariest haunted houses, trick-or-treating, pumpkin patches, or something in between, there’s one thing you can’t go without: a great costume.

Sure, everyone in the family could do their own thing, but why not wow the neighborhood with an epic group costume instead?

We’ve found a bunch of easy, DIY family Halloween costume ideas to make the most of this spooky season. Copy one of these great costumes, put your own twist on a classic, or take inspiration from your favorite book, movie and TV characters —either way, you can’t go wrong.

And, don’t worry if you can’t sew.  There are plenty of no-sew ideas on this list. Plus, plenty of budget-friendly options that can be made out of clothes you already own. Check out the links for each costume idea for easy how-to instructions.

Halloween is a great time to allow kids to express their creativity, get active, and learn responsibility. From a holistic health and wellness perspective, these are great attributes to help develop well-rounded and emotionally healthy little ones.

Source: partnersinpediatrics.com

This easy caramel apples recipe is a must-try! Coat crisp, tart apples with perfectly sweet, glossy from-scratch caramel for a festive fall treat or gift the whole family will love. (Plus, get ideas for how to decorate your caramel apples!)

It’s fall, and that means apple recipes galore in my house, whether I’m whipping up an apple dessert or decorating delicious caramel apples with the boys! With a few simple ingredients, basic tools, and a little time, you can make gourmet caramel apples right in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Unlike regular salted caramel sauce, the homemade caramel for this easy recipe is thick, buttery, and clings to the apples perfectly. The caramel for caramel apples needs to be sticky enough to hold on to the apple but soft enough to eat, which is why I add corn syrup to the caramel. It cannot be substituted here and is the simple trick for perfect homemade caramel apples.

Which apples are good for this?

Granny Smith apples are the best apple for caramel apples. They are very tart, which balances out the sweet caramel. Honeycrisp apples also taste really good! No matter the type of apple you use, make sure that it is firm, with no soft spots.

Equipment

Candy thermometer
Apple sticks
Silicone mats or parchment paper
Medium pot
Wooden spoon
Brush

Ingredients

10 Granny Smith Apples
2 cups packed light brown sugar (440g)
1½ cups heavy cream (360mL)
1 cup light corn syrup (240mL)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter (70g)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Apple Preparation:

Remove all stems from apples and wash them by rubbing the skin vigorously with a paper or kitchen towel in hot water to remove the wax coating. Dry well. Push an apple stick or wooden skewer into the stem end to create a handle. Refrigerate the apples for faster caramel setting.

For the Caramel:

In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, cream, corn syrup, butter, and salt. Place over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the butter has melted.

Once melted, brush down the side of the pot with a wet pastry brush. Cook without stirring while occasionally brushing the sides down until the temperature reaches between 235°F and 240°F on a candy thermometer.

Remove from heat. Stir in the vanilla then set aside to cool for 10 to 20 minutes. The caramel is ready for dipping once it’s cooled to about 190°F. You can always dip a test apple to see if it looks right.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, a silicone mat, or lightly grease the sheet with butter.

Dip an apple into the caramel, allow the excess to drip off then place on the baking sheet to cool. If desired you can add a drizzle of chocolate or roll in chopped nuts or sprinkles before the caramel sets. Refrigerate the apples until the caramel is set, 15 to 30 minutes.

Recipe/Image: preppykitchen.com