Don’t Get Spooked on Halloween

Halloween is such a fun time of the year for children (and some adults); but when children encounter tricks instead of treats, this holiday can become very scary – and not just because of the decorations and frightening costumes. Abductions, bullying, candy that has been compromised; these are all things that can make Halloween an extra scary holiday for children and parents alike.

In order to keep your kids safe this Halloween, educate them before they put on their costumes and start knocking on the neighbors doors. Here are 5 tips from American Family Martial Arts that can help keep those little ghosts and ghouls safe this – and every – Halloween.

Plan a Route #1. Before your kids hit the neighborhood to gather goodies, plan a route for them. It should be one that leads them through well-lit areas that are heavily populated. The lighter the area and the more people around, the less likely there will danger lurking. And as always-there is safety in numbers. Travel with a group.  Make sure to discuss the route with your kids beforehand. And if they are a bit “older,” maybe wait on a corner at the end of the street. They will still be independent but you are close enough to monitor.   

Give them a Cell Phone #2. You may not want your kids to have a cell phone on a regular basis, but on Halloween, you might want to make an exception. Pre-program the phone with emergency contact numbers so that if there is an emergency, your child will be able to easily call for help. Also, it will allow you to call and check up on your child at regular intervals. They’ll have the freedom to trick-or-treat by themselves, but you’ll still be able to keep a watchful eye, or ear, on them.

Talk to Your Child About Potential Dangers #3. Discuss possible scenarios that could occur that would be dangerous. For example, what they should do if someone tries to ask them to get into their car, or go into their house. Provide them with the right response so that they know how to react and so that they can avoid a potentially dangerous situation. . These are tips we practice often at American Family Martial Arts during our Stranger Danger classes.

Light them Up #4. Give you children flashlights or have them wear glow bracelets or necklaces while they are trick-or-treating. Doing so will allow them to not only see what is around them, but will allow others to easily see them. Cars can be a particular danger while walking on dark streets; lighting up your kids will make them more visible to drivers.

Don’t Eat Candy! #5 Of course, children are going to find it difficult to keep their goodies out of their mouths; however, you really need to stress the importance of waiting until they get home to eat their candy. Once they get home, you can inspect them to make sure they are safe. Spread the candy out and go through it together. Remove anything that is unwrapped or looks questionable. In reality, the pois

on candy or sharp objects are just urban myths. The one known poisoning incident was a father trying to poison his own children in 1974.  As for sharp objects, that’s more of adults playing stupid pranks on friends. (Wouldn’t want to be that person’s friend). And if you don’t want them eating too much candy, make a deal that they leave out extra candy for the “Great Pumpkin.”  Leave a non-candy gift and sprinkle some pumpkin seeds and glitter.

Your kids can have fun while being independent this Halloween. By following these 5 tips, you can ensure that they have plenty of treats and avoid any tricks.