Trick or Treating Safety Tips
Guest post by Kelsey
It’s almost that time of year when everyone dresses up as their favorite super hero or the prettiest princess! Trick or treating is an event that children look forward to every year, so to keep it a safe tradition follow these simple safety tips with your kiddos:
House rules: There are rules when it comes to visiting certain houses. Only go to houses that have their front porch lights on. If the lights are off, this often indicates the owner is not home or not participating in the festivities. If the house is dark, avoid it and move on to a house that the other children and parents are visiting.
Chaperone: Depending on your child’s age and maturity, they may trick or treat without an adult chaperone. It is entirely up to the parents to decide whether or not a chaperone is needed. A good rule of thumb to follow is, if your child is capable and responsible enough to say home alone for a few hours, then most likely they are able to trick or treat without an adult.
Location: Obviously choose neighborhoods that are well lit, kid friendly and safe. You may have to travel a bit to find the right neighborhood, but that is a risk worth taking. A neighborhood that your kids know well is always a good bet for trick or treating.
Costumes: Be sure that the children’s costumes are age appropriate and safe. Be wary of loose costumes that may cause tripping or catching on things. Avoid an all dark colored costume; this may be difficult for cars to see. If a dark costume is chosen, be sure to give them a flashlight to carry or place reflective tape on the back of their costume.
Timing: Typically trick or treating starts before dusk and carries on until about an hour or two after dark. Start early enough to use the daylight but late enough for families to arrive home from work. Two hours of trick of treating is plenty of time for your kid to collect a large stash of yummy candy.
Group size: You don’t want a group too large or a group too little. A large group of kids can be difficult to keep track of and one child can easily get left behind. A small group of 2 or 3 children is okay but there is always safety in numbers. A group of 3-5 kids is a good amount to aim for.
Candy: Remember to check the kids candy bags at the end of the night. Dump their loot on a table and go over the candy with them. Anything that is homemade, throw out unless you personally know the family that gave it out. Any candy that has lost its wrapper or seems to have been tampered with, throw away.
Author Byline:
Kelsey is the editor in chief for www.findananny.net/. She loves to write article and ideas that parents & nannies would be interested in hearing. She helps society on giving information about nannies through nanny services. She is a professional writer & loves writing on anything.
