You’ve already made sure that the house is decorated, the candy is bought, and costumes are made/purchased/cleaned; it is never too late to discuss some tips with your kids on how to be safe while out Trick or Treating.
Here are few tips before the spooky fun begins:
- Always have a responsible adult accompany smaller children
- Older kids going alone should always Trick or treat in groups; never alone!
- Bring a flashlight with you; it gets dark earlier than you think this time of year!
- Have glow sticks and/or glow necklaces available to help see where kids are at night.
- Only visit well-lit houses.
- Discuss a familiar route and set a curfew for older kids
- Never enter a house you don’t know or don’t trust.
- Never get into a car with a stranger.
- Examine candy before it is eaten.
- If you see something, say something. Tell your parent and contact local authorities of anything suspicious or dangerous.
- For Kids with cell phones/smart devices make sure that tracking is on (i.e. Find my I phone)
For Homeowners:
- Make sure all walkways are properly lit, avoid candles or any flames
- Do not leave candy outside unattended
- Keep pets inside and away from windows and doors as Trick or Treaters arrive
- Only hand out wrapped candy and try to avoid major allergens if possible (i.e.: peanut butter, nuts)
Here are additional safety comments from Crime Stoppers
• Registered Sex offenders: You may have a few registered sex offenders in your neighborhood. If They should not have their front house lights on and should not be opening their door if a child knocks. Some cities host meetings for registered sex offenders on Halloween night to get them out of their house and account for them.
• Blue Halloween Buckets: blue Halloween buckets signify that the child might be non-verbal and therefore may not be capable of saying “trick-or-treat”. A mom of a non-verbal autistic child implemented this initiative to raise autism awareness.
• Food allergies: You may have kids with food allergies, the Teal Pumpkin Project encourages you to have a few non-food options available such as a small toy.