- Bring an adult. Trick-or-treating may for kids, but that doesn't mean they're old enough to do it alone.
- Eat! Having a well-balanced dinner before trick-or-treating helps prevent filling up on candy (and feeling ill).
- Safety is in numbers. If your kids are, in fact, old enough to go it without an adult, then tell them to stay in a group.
- Map it out. Designate a route before your kids begin trick-or-treating, and make sure they stick to it.
- No Shortcuts. Instead of taking short-cuts through secluded areas like parking lots and alleys, have your kids trick-or-treat where there are lots of people around.
- Trick-or-treating Zones. Ensure your kids only visit houses with lights on and Halloween decorations (or other trick-or-treaters).
- Stay outside. Make sure your kids don’t go inside someone’s house. They can get their candy from the porch.
- Remain visible. Dress your kids in a bright costume so others can see them. If their costume is dark, have your kids wear reflective strips or carry a glow stick or flashlight. Everybody loves glow sticks!
- Shorter = safer. Long costumes are easy to trip over, so try to stick to shorter costumes. If not, then be sure to hem the costume.
- Don't cover the face. Instead of masks, have your kids wear make-up so they can see better.
Prepare your costume. Other costume considerations include: flame retardant costumes (nylon and polyester are fairly flame-resistant), hypo-allergenic makeup, comfortable shoes, and fake weapons that truly are harmless.- Quality-check treats. Check your kids’ candy before they eat it. Throw out any candy that is not in its original wrapper or looks like it has been tampered with.
- Say "no" to strangers. Tell your kids to never accept a ride or go anywhere with a stranger. Similarly, do not approach unfamiliar pets or animals.
- Watch your step. Be careful to look out for tree roots and curbs, and by all means, do not trample on someone's flower beds.
- Set a curfew. This prevents mucho worrying.
- Call me. Bring a cell phone for easy communication, or some change to use a pay phone.
- What do you say? Thank you. And don't forget it at each house you go to!
- Party on, dude. Consider throwing a Halloween party instead of trick-or-treating. This eliminates many of the common dangers of Halloween.
- Obey the law. Encourage your kids to follow all the regular rules for walking around. That includes looking both ways before crossing, obeying all traffic laws and using cross walks and crossing lights where available.
Sandy Hayden
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