Halloween is awesome; you get to dress in fun costumes, attend crazy parties, watch scary movies, and (best of all) score tons of free candy while trick-or-treating. Before you or your kids hit up the neighborhood in search of sweets this Halloween, be sure to check out our trick-or-treating safety tips!

  1. Discuss the route you're taking in advance. Talk to your kids about when and where you'll be trick-or-treating. If you're planning on going to a different neighborhood, drive or walk the route you'll be taking before Halloween so your children are less likely to get lost.
  2. Ensure your plans are crystal clear. If you have older kids, make sure you know where they're going. If they're attending a party, you need to know the details. If they plan on staying overnight at a friend's house, ask for the contact info of an adult in charge. If they're coming back home after the party, set a curfew and stick to it.
  3. Use technology to your advantage. If you're worried you might be separated from your kids while you're out trick-or-treating, consider letting them take a cell phone. Your kids will be able to call in case of an emergency, and there are plenty of awesome apps that enable you to use your phone's GPS to pinpoint your kids' location.
  4. Take a picture. You're going to want plenty of pics of your little ones in their adorable costumes, but make sure you keep a photo of your kids in their costumes on your phone. Should you be separated, you'll be able to show neighbors or first-responders what your kids look like AND what they're wearing.
  5. Brighter is better. Drivers have a hard time seeing people in the dark, especially those dressed in dark-colored costumes. Let your kids carry flashlights and glow sticks to help them stand out in the darkness. Most cities and towns suggest you trick-or-treat before nightfall as an added safety precaution.
  6. Watch those capes and wings! Capes, wings, mummy shroud shreds, or any dangling part of a costume could cause your kids to trip and require extra supervision around candle-lit jack-o-lanterns. Make sure your little one can move about easily in his or her costume and knows to steer clear of open flames.
  7. Remember the basics. Look both ways before crossing the street. Don't enter a stranger's home or car. Check trick-or-treat bags for defects or tears. Don't allow your kids to eat their trick-or-treat sweets until you've inspected the Halloween loot.
  8. Get your house ready for little visitors. If you don't plan on going out for Halloween, you need to make sure your house is well-lit Halloween night. Turn on your porch light and other outside lights to show you're handing out treats this year. Check your yard for any debris, and clean off your porch, steps, and sidewalks. Keep open flames (like your jack-o-lantern) away from the porch. If you have to leave your house, use extra caution--look around to make sure your driveway is clear of trick-or-treaters.
  9. Report any suspicious activity to your local authorities. If you see criminal activity, inform police as soon as possible. Do your part in keeping your neighborhood safe this Halloween.

 

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