Kid safe Halloween

With just a little common sense Halloween can be the festive holiday is was intended to be. A little planning on the parents part can make it more enjoyable for all. Safety and fun don’t always seem to go hand in hand.

Explain to the children the behavior you expect from them when they are out. If you start early enough they might actually listen. Stick to your guns, let them know their night will end early if they don’t follow your simple directions.

Pick your children’s costumes carefully, make sure they fit the season or other clothing can be worn under them because it is not much fun trick or treating when your shivering or sweating. Test any make up in advance if possible. Not all brands are suitable for small children. Red faces the day after with itching will often keep a child home from school if halloween falls in the middle of the school week..

If your using a vehicle make sure you pull up to the curb. Everyone who is doing the same has the same worries you do and may not be paying enough attention to where they are in relation to your vehicle. If your children are very young get out and walk to the door with them. Watch for other children as your driving. There are parents out there who have not taught their very young children not to cross the street without looking both ways first, and children who have been taught who tend to forget especially on Halloween night.

Common sense says don’t drink and drive. Tests have proven it slows reaction time so it just makes sense not to do it before taking children trick or treating. Most mothers and fathers never drink anything at all and drive with their children in a vehicle. It is not recommended to walk with them after drinking either, especially if you are watching more than one child. It only takes a split second to change a life forever. This part was written for a friend who lost her 8 year old daughter. Her daughter was hit by a drunk driver. No one wants to outlive their children. From personal experience you never recover from the loss of a child.

Nine year old Kaylee adds this for other children “Stay close to mom and or dad” . “Only go where they say it is OK to go.” “If a stranger try’s to say more than a few words run to your parents”. “Even if you want to eat what people put in your bag, wait for mom and dad to check any candy before you eat it.” “You might not think it’s fun to do it this way but it is safer.” and “Never cross the street if your not with mom or dad”.

In reality not much has changed other than my language in the fifty years since I was nine. Our neighbors were mostly bilingual so understood "trick or treat." There are few if any cultures who have been exposed to American thinking which don’t let their children celebrate Halloween.

It was no different for us. My mother walked with us every year, we knew our neighbors but we were not allowed to accept unwrapped candy from anyone. At age nine there were nine children living in the home. They ranged in age from 10 to 2. We were not only expected to stay together we were told and knew our fun was over the first time someone strayed too far.

Even then no one touched whatever was put in our bags until they were checked. If anything was suspected it was just put in the trash and put to where no one was going to get anything out. There were a few places that offered to x ray candy even in those days. We as a family never used those services. It is up to you to choose if it’s available in your area.

Every child over the age of three looks forward to Halloween night. Do what you can to keep them as safe and happy as possible. Hold off on your adult fun until you return home. This doesn’t count enjoying the fun and laughter your children are sure to bring into your night as they are going from house to house.