PARENTS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN:

BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME:

• Make sure your child eats dinner before setting out for an evening of trick or treating.
• Check with all children if they need to use the restroom before leaving home.
• Plan your route ahead of time.

FLASHLIGHTS:

• Make sure your child carries a flashlight or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars.
• Carry a flashlight to illuminate sidewalks, steps and paths. Check and or replace batteries before you leave the house.
• Glow Sticks can also be used along with flashlights.

COSTUMES:

• Have your child try on their costumes before Halloween to allow time for alterations.
• Check costumes are hemmed properly, so they don’t drag on the ground and are safe to prevent your child from tripping.
• Make sure your child wears comfortable walking shoes that fit properly. Make sure shoelaces are tied tight.
• When purchasing make-up, make sure it is hypoallergenic and non-toxic.

SAFETY RULES:

• If you can, try and go trick or treating during daylight hours.
• Encourage your kids to walk and not run.
• Stay on the Sidewalks. If there are no sidewalks, then walk on the left side of the road, single file and facing traffic.
• Obey all local traffic signals and only cross at corners holding hands.
• Make sure your child knows to never go into the home of a stranger or get into a stranger’s car; and to report any suspicious or criminal activity to an adult or the police.

HOMES:

• Only visit homes that have lights on, especially houses with Halloween decorations.
• Make sure kids don’t trample through grass lawns, flower beds and gardens.
• Teach children to respect other people and their property while trick or treating.

CANDY:

• Instruct children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be checked by you or another parent.
• Throw away any candy that has loose wrappers, is unwrapped, has puncture holes, or that is homemade.
• Have small children avoid hard candy, as it might be a choking hazard.
• Carry a spare Halloween bag just in case one breaks.

MANNERS:

• Teach your child to always be polite and to always say “Please” and “Thank You”.

PARENTS WITH OLDER KIDS:

• Make sure that your child or teen is responsible enough to go out on their own with friends.
• Choose a safe neighborhood so all parents know where their older kids will be.They should never cut through back alleys or fields, to always stay in populated and well lit areas.
• If they are going out to trick or treat without an adult, make sure they stay together as a group; and set a time for their return home.
• Remind kids to charge their cell phones before leaving the house.

HOMEOWNERS:

• Make sure your yard is clear of such things as debris, hoses, dog leashes and flowerpots that little ones can trip over.
• Pets get frightened on Halloween, put them away to protect them from cars or accidentally biting a trick-or-treater.
• Battery powered Jack O’lantern candles are preferable to a real flame.
• If you do use candles, place the pumpkin well away from where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.
• Make sure paper or cloth yard decorations won’t be blown into any candle flame.