Trick or Treating Safety Tips?

Make 'em glow. We add glow sticks of lights of some sort to every costume now. When my son was three, he was Buzz Lightyear and my hubby made working lights on his wings...we could spot him anywhere and now we so it every year. Go with a friend or neighbor. The kids love it and it's more eyes on the little ones. I also bring a back pack for me. THe kids get tired of lugging candy and want to pass it off on me. It's easier to carry. Have fun!! Happy Halloween!

Grab a bunch of glow necklaces (hit the Dollar Store) and "tag" each kid with a color so you can see them in the dark. We do that to the kids at bon fires too. Flashlights are good things to have if you're in an area with little or no street lights.

Wear bright reflective clothes, stay in a neighbrohood you know. Better yet, look around your area for "Safe Treat" events (or the like). The college I went to sponsered trick-or-treating in the dorms where it was well lit and safe. Stay with the kids at all times. No unwrapped candy, fruit, or any treats for that matter. Have fun.

Wear bright clothing, bring flashlights, and inspect every treat before handing it to your child to eat!

Here is my advice:

Have a good flashlight
Keep together and have a meetup place if anyone gets lost
Buy those glow necklaces it helps--
Do not allow kids to eat candy until you check it and sort it at home
Only go to neighborhoods where you know people or know the area is relatively safe.
If a house feels supicious or you get weird vibes from the person--skip it!
Don't let your kids go to a house alone-always go behind them up the walkway to the door. Don't ever go in the house. No exceptions.

Those are some of mine--we tend to choose harvest parties to go to and spend most of halloween there and then choose a few neighbors houses to go to, grandparents etc. and then go home.

GL and have fun!

M

Not sure if they still do it but our local police would exray candy at our hospital to check for nasty things! This was the only time I ever thought that those back packs with the leash or what ever they are was acceptable! its freakshly crowded and dark. Stroller would be good. Churches host trunk or treat on halloween that is usually well organized and easy to hit each car trunk with either toys, candy or games.

I would see if your local mall is having a trick or treating event. That's where we take my son, it's safer then going door to door and its lots of fun.

~ Don't allow children to go without an adult, even next door. My cousin was raped when she left her home to go next door so they could see her costume. A man accosted her in the bushes between the homes and no one saw a thing.
~ Don't allow children to eat anything until it's been brought home and checked by an adult, tossing any opened packages.
~ Keep costumes safe by using makeup as much as possible rather than masks.
~ Keep costumes easy for a child to wear and get out of, no dragging parts to get caught up, or costumes too bulky to allow a child to move freely.
~ Have something reflective or lit up on each child so they can be seen in the dark. I bought some "glow necklaces" in the Dollar section at Target today, 2 in a package for $1 and they were available in several different colors.
~ Toss any homemade treats unless you know the person who handed them out well, or they're marked with their name, and address.
~ Stick to your city or town's Trick or Treating hours. Years ago my friend and her children were met at a door by a man in his BVD's, he said they were early (they were by 20 minutes) and he hadn't had time to put his pants on. My friend did call the police and they said 1) it was his home and he could answer the door however he chose, (!) and 2) they were early and shouldn't have been there.
~ Don't go into unlit areas.
~ Consider going to a block party or festival instead of trick or treating, they all hand out goodies as well ; )