Children Grow Up and Trick or Treat on Their Own
Keep Children Safe While They Go Out on Halloween
Oct 23, 2009
The best thing about Halloween, as a child, is dressing up in fun, scary costumes and going out that night to see who can get the most candy. After knocking on every door in the neighborhood and going home with a pumpkin full of goodies, it is fulfilling to see that twinkle in a child's eye with a smile from ear to ear.
There comes a time when children get old enough to go trick or treating in a group without adult supervision. When this situation arises, it is pertinent that parents let their children know the rules on how to stay safe.
Six Simple Rules of Safe Trick or Treating
- Children that decide to go trick or treating on Halloween without an adult should depart during daylight hours
- It is helpful if parents inform their children of which route to go, what time to be home and which houses to visit so they can be stay in a familiar area
- Always let children be aware that they need to stay in a populated area and not take detours through dark places
- Children should not, under any circumstances, enter the home of a stranger, or get into their car while they are out trick or treating
- To help moving vehicles see groups of children, put some sort of light on their costume or give them a flashlight. It is very difficult to see at night especially if children are dressed in dark Halloween costumes
- If there are a group of kids heading out together, they should always stay together and come home together
There should always be at least one child who is old enough to be the leader of the trick or treating clan. It is a great idea to let the oldest carry a cell phone in case something does happen, or they just need to get a hold of an adult. Safety is such a relevant issue when it comes to Halloween night.
Always Check and Inspect the Halloween Candy
One of the most important things as a parent is to let the children know that they should not eat any candy until they arrive back home. It is never a good idea to accept opened candy. After the dressed up trick or treaters come home, inspect the candy as well as other items in their pumpkins or bags just for safety precaution. Sometimes people will make their own treats to give to the children such as rice crispy treats, brownies or cookies. Parents may want to think twice before letting any child eat those kinds of Halloween treats.
It is always difficult to let children go out on Halloween and trick or treat for their first time without adults. Keep these simple rules in mind, and children will return home safe and ready to chow down on their candy corn along with all of the other delicious treats.
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