Halloween is a controversial holiday. While parents are buying record numbers of children’s costumes , other parents object to Halloween. Despite concerns of stranger danger, candy safety, religious issues and the fear factor, more parents are celebrating Halloween with their kids. Here are facts about how parents and children participate in Halloween.
More parents are allowing children to participate in Halloween activities, including scary events, for 2011.
69 percent of parents will allow children to participate in Halloween. This number is up from last year when only 65 percent of children and families participated. The number of parents who will allow children to visit a Haunted house is up, too.
More parents are taking children trick-or-treating.
In 2010, only 30 percent of parents took children trick-or-treating. 32.9 percent will take a child trick-or-treating in 2011. This may reflect a growing parental concern over trick-or-treating safety. Children who trick-or-treat alone are at risk. Motorists may not see them. Weather conditions create physical hazards. Even Halloween costumes can be unsafe. Wearing a mask makes it difficult for children to see properly. Some props can injure children. Unsupervised children may be victimized also.
Over 90 percent of parents feel their neighborhood is safe.
Although the number is down from 2009, the U.S. Census revealed that 92 percent of parents believe that their neighborhood is safe for trick-or-treaters. 78 percent said they would feel comfortable taking children to homes in a one mile radius around their own homes.
Parents are spending more on children’s Halloween costumes and candy.
Despite high unemployment and rising costs, parents are spending more on kids for Halloween than ever before. An estimated $1 billion will be spent on children’s costumes. That’s up from about $880 million in 2009. Parents will spend approximately $72.31 per child on Halloween in 2011. This figure is up from 2010 and 2009 Halloween spending. In 2010, parents spent $ 66.28 per child and in 2009, $56.31 was the average spending. This could reflect the increasing Consumer Price Index (CPI). Parents are paying more for everything.
Parents spend the most on costumes, followed by candy and decorations.
Children’s costumes account for slightly over one third of the total Halloween spending. An average of $26.52 will be spent this year creating a child’s costume. Candy accounts for a little less than one third and the other third is spent on decorations, including pumpkins, and greeting cards for kids. Parents are concerned about the rising costs, too. Surveys show that 18.9 percent of people will make costumes for their children, as a way to save money.
Traditional costumes are still a parent’s preferred dress-up for Halloween.
Celebrities and cartoon characters come and go, but Halloween costume tastes remain constant. For 2011, the top children’s costumes are, in order: princess, witch, Spiderman, pirate and pumpkin. Captain America is another hottie. Other Halloween costume favorites include: Disney’s Cinderella and Little Mermaid, and for boys, Star Wars characters and Smurfs are predicted to be popular.