Tricks, Treats, and Halloween Safety Tips
Calling all fairy princesses, super-heroes, ghosts and gremlins - get ready to troll spooky neighborhoods and magical surroundings all on the quest for... GOODIES! Yum - I can almost taste the Snicker's now.
Trick or treating is one of the great American traditions, and we can still enjoy a safe night out celebrating the Great Pumpkin... provided we use some common sense and give our kids some important safety guidelines before heading out. Maybe you'll be accompanying your hobgoblins door to door this year, or perhaps you have older children venturing out on their own with friends. Here are some simple tips for the whole family. And remember: there is no trick to enjoying a safe and fun Halloween.
1. *Check your state's Megan's Law Sex Offender register. If there is an offender living in your neighborhood, be sure to skip that house. If you have older children who are out with their friends, be sure to tell them not to visit that home.
2. Visit only those houses where the lights are on.
3. Accept treats only in the doorway, NEVER go inside a house.
4. Parents should inspect all treats BEFORE eating anything.
5. Stay away from open flames or jack-o-lanterns with candles burning.
6. Cross the street only at corners and be sure not to hide between parked cars.
7. Carry a flashlight.
8. Wear brightly colored clothes, or use some reflective tape on your costume or bag.
9. Stay on the sidewalk, don't walk in the street.
10. Pin a slip of paper with the child's name, address and phone number to the inside of the costume or place in a pocket.
11. Do not eat any unwrapped, partially wrapped, or home-made looking treats.
12. Stay in the open, don't take shortcuts through alleys or backyards.
To check the sex offender register in your area go to: US Department of Justice National Sex Offender Public Website and follow the prompts. Or check http://www.familywatchdog.us
Reminders for Parents:
1. Make sure children's costumes don't drag on the ground.
2. Use non-toxic, hypoallergenic make-up on faces.
3. Be sure your child eats dinner or a good, healthy snack before going out.
4. Store bought costumes should be made of a flame-retardant material.
For older children who may be trick or treating on their own:
1. Never go out alone. Have at least 2 friends with you.
2. Stay in familiar neighborhoods
3. Never enter a home, accept treats at the doorway only.
4. Be very cautious of any stranger who tries to join you.
5. Carry a flashlight, a watch, and a cell phone if possible.
6. Parents must still inspect any candy before you eat it.
7. Plan your route ahead of time with your parents and STICK TO IT.
8. Find a nearby store, restaurant, or another mom with kids if you
feel scared or need help.
Pattie Fitzgerald can come to your school, business, or even your home for a non-fearful safety presentation. For more information on children's and adult's workshops, please contact Safely Ever After, Inc., at 310-203-1330. Or visit our website:www.safelyeverafter.com
For more information, please visit www.safelyeverafter.com or www.socialtoddler.com
Trick or treating is one of the great American traditions, and we can still enjoy a safe night out celebrating the Great Pumpkin... provided we use some common sense and give our kids some important safety guidelines before heading out. Maybe you'll be accompanying your hobgoblins door to door this year, or perhaps you have older children venturing out on their own with friends. Here are some simple tips for the whole family. And remember: there is no trick to enjoying a safe and fun Halloween.
1. *Check your state's Megan's Law Sex Offender register. If there is an offender living in your neighborhood, be sure to skip that house. If you have older children who are out with their friends, be sure to tell them not to visit that home.
2. Visit only those houses where the lights are on.
3. Accept treats only in the doorway, NEVER go inside a house.
4. Parents should inspect all treats BEFORE eating anything.
5. Stay away from open flames or jack-o-lanterns with candles burning.
6. Cross the street only at corners and be sure not to hide between parked cars.
7. Carry a flashlight.
8. Wear brightly colored clothes, or use some reflective tape on your costume or bag.
9. Stay on the sidewalk, don't walk in the street.
10. Pin a slip of paper with the child's name, address and phone number to the inside of the costume or place in a pocket.
11. Do not eat any unwrapped, partially wrapped, or home-made looking treats.
12. Stay in the open, don't take shortcuts through alleys or backyards.
To check the sex offender register in your area go to: US Department of Justice National Sex Offender Public Website and follow the prompts. Or check http://www.familywatchdog.us
Reminders for Parents:
1. Make sure children's costumes don't drag on the ground.
2. Use non-toxic, hypoallergenic make-up on faces.
3. Be sure your child eats dinner or a good, healthy snack before going out.
4. Store bought costumes should be made of a flame-retardant material.
For older children who may be trick or treating on their own:
1. Never go out alone. Have at least 2 friends with you.
2. Stay in familiar neighborhoods
3. Never enter a home, accept treats at the doorway only.
4. Be very cautious of any stranger who tries to join you.
5. Carry a flashlight, a watch, and a cell phone if possible.
6. Parents must still inspect any candy before you eat it.
7. Plan your route ahead of time with your parents and STICK TO IT.
8. Find a nearby store, restaurant, or another mom with kids if you
feel scared or need help.
Pattie Fitzgerald can come to your school, business, or even your home for a non-fearful safety presentation. For more information on children's and adult's workshops, please contact Safely Ever After, Inc., at 310-203-1330. Or visit our website:www.safelyeverafter.com
For more information, please visit www.safelyeverafter.com or www.socialtoddler.com
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