Tips for safe Trick or Treating this Halloween
Happy Halloween! What a great time of year. Getting dressed up, waiting for dusk (or close enough), going out and running from house to house is one of the best memories from childhood. The costumes, the haul :), only a tree loaded with Christmas presents tops it.
While Trick or Treating is a fun time, it’s important to be safe. Here are a couple helpful tips for safe Halloween trick or treating a well as a couple myths debunked.
1. Go with the kids! – It seems like the simplest advice for young children but sometimes older kids want to venture out on their own. That’s cool and fine, but argue to at least have them let you be out on the street their on. You don’t need to go house to house with the trick-or-treaters, but if you are on the street and monitoring both them and other kids. You can both make sure your kids have a safe trick-or-treat this Halloween and also maybe help a few of the neighbors kids as well.
2. lights and reflectors – giving your children a flashlight will help them see better in poorly lit areas, but it will also help cars see them better. Add a reflector sticker to the back of their costume and it will be even easier for approaching cars to see the children trick or treating. Adding the reflector to the back of the costume will make the children feel much better about it because their costume won’t be ruined.
3. Map out a route – Let your child draw a map of your neighborhood. They can then write out a plan for where they want to go. This will be fun for them and you’ll also have an idea of where they are and where they’re headed. Having a plan and a course for trick or treating is an excellent way to stay safe. Most kids will stick to their plan rather than make poor decisions about what to do next.
4. set a time limit or curfew – for older kids it’s important to get them back before the streets start to become empty. Crowded streets and neighbors at their doors usually creates a safer environment. It also means you know when to expect the kids back. If they aren’t back by your deadline make a 50% candy fine and I’m sure they’ll be back on time :)
5. get a smaller candy bucket or trick or treat bag – if you get a small bag or bucket it will fill up quicker. It will look fuller and your kids will be more satisfied with the amount of candy they got. This may make them more likely to come home earlier or agree to come home earlier. A big bag with just a little bit of candy in it is just going to make them want to stay out and fill it up.
A common myth that I feel needs to be debunked:
the home-made trick or treat candies, apples, cookies etc. – If Mrs. Kennedy from down the street wants to poison the kids in the neighborhood, I’m sure she’ll find a more subtle way than Halloween. Home-made cookies and fresh fruit are so much better for your children than the high sugar and preservative loaded candies people buy at the local super-mart. Your children are much more likely to be harmed by the chemicals and high sugar than an angry neighbor.
Unfortunately the candy makers and Halloween companies have made everyone so paranoid regarding these that there probably isn’t a house around that does it any more. However, if there is, say thank you, encourage these people and maybe even offer to help next year to make more for your house to give out.
I hope these ideas help and that your kids and your family have a very safe and happy Halloween!