Have you listened in on the conversations kids are having this week in Sharon, MA?
The excited talk is all about costumes and candy! For many 
children who live in Sharon, MA, dressing up for Halloween is one of the highlights of the year. There are lots of princesses with long, flowing skirts and feathery boas. Tiny white ghosts in oversized sheets dragging behind them. Kids running and twirling...full of energy even before the sugar high kicks in.
Many people who own a home in Sharon, MA are just as excited. There are lots of porches and steps decorated with pumpkins, spooky spider webs, with witches and ghosts hanging around the door. On Halloween night, 
some people will set out jack-o-lanterns glowing with candles, or paper bag lanterns with candles tucked inside. This is when the evening can get scary!
Yesterday, I saw a program on tv that showed how flammable children's costumes are, even though many are sold as "flame retardant". They demonstrated how quickly a princess outfit burned when it brushed against a flame. Since many costumes are made of polyester they melt as the burn. Children who are running up to your door may not pay attention to whether their skirts or capes brush against a lit pumpkin.
Keep kids safe by making sure you don't have open flames anywhere near where children will be. You can buy battery-operated flameless candles and tea lights that can be tucked inside a jack-o-lantern for a flickering candle effect. Some people also hang up strings of orange-colored, electric Halloween lights.
Whatever you choose for your decorations, make sure that the evening stays safe and fun for everyone!
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