FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CELEBRATE "HALLOWEEN AT THE YMCA" SAFELY WITH THESE COSTUME TIPS
CHICAGO, October 11, 2004 - Bring the whole family to your local YMCA to celebrate "Halloween at the YMCA" where there will be fun for kids and teens of all ages. For the sixth year in a row, YMCAs nationwide will host a variety of organized activities including costume parades, carnival games, face-painting demonstrations, fun houses and pumpkin-carving, so neighborhood youngsters can have fun in a safe, supervised environment.
Halloween is a day of fun, sweets, pumpkins and pranks. It's also a day for kids to use their imaginations by creating and wearing costumes. Barbara Roth, child care specialty consultant for YMCA of the USA advises parents to take advantage of the holiday and use the costume-selection process to get to know your children a little better. YMCA of the USA is the national resource office for America's 2,575 YMCAs.
"Take time to ask them why they think Spiderman is cooler than Batman, or what makes an angel more interesting than a princess," Roth said.
"Helping them choose their Halloween costumes provides an ideal way for parents to get to know their kids better. It offers a unique window of opportunity for them to learn more about the way their kids think and who their heroes are," she adds.
But whether your Halloween plans include costume parades at the local YMCA, or trick-or-treating in the neighborhood, YMCA experts suggests considering these precautions when creating costumes:
- Costumes should be short enough to walk freely without tripping.
- Small children should avoid masks, as they can easily slip and obstruct breathing. Use traditional cosmetics instead.
- If masks are worn by older children, they should have generous nose and mouth openings and large eye holes.
- If you're buying or renting a costume, it should be made of flame resistant materials like polyester, treated cotton or a nylon blend.
- When choosing your Halloween make-up, check for packages containing ingredients that are labeled "Made with U.S. Approved Color Additives," "Laboratory Tested," "Meets Federal Standards for Cosmetics," or "Non-Toxic." Follow manufacturer's instruction for application.
- When celebrating Halloween with very young children (toddlers and young pre-schoolers) who may have fearful reactions to masks and make-up, gradually build awareness by showing masks and playing with face-painting in the weeks leading up to Halloween.
"Halloween at the YMCA delivers the same spirited and traditional activities families look forward to every year, but in a safe, family-oriented setting," said Kenneth L. Gladish, Ph.D., national executive director, YMCA of the USA. "YMCAs collectively are the nation's largest provider of child care, and we're committed to strengthening and celebrating families on Halloween and every day."
Contact your local YMCA for more information about "Halloween at the YMCA" festivities. You can find the Y in your community at www.ymca.net or by calling 888-333-YMCA.
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For more information contact:
Media Relations Manager
YMCA of the USA
312-419-8418