Halloween can be a recipe for disaster. Just think: children hypercharged by sugar, in costumes and masks, prowling dark streets with little supervision. The risks can be enormous. Fire departments and emergency room attendants can testify of the results of this formula. How can fathers help protect their kids and make Halloween a fun yet safe experience?
Consider this advice for making trick or treating a safe experience.
Plan ahead. First, dads should make sure they know the expected route their children are planning to take for trick or treating. Make sure they have an expected time for return and that the kids have a watch.
Go along for the fun. The best approach is to make sure a responsible adult, preferably a parent, accompanies all trick or treaters. A little adult supervision can go a long way. Get together with other parents and take the little people as a group. Some of my fondest memories as an adult at Halloween have been chatting with my friends as my kids went door to door.
Stay on the beaten path. Remind your trick or treaters that they should stay in populated areas and away from open fields, back alleys and the like. Choosing well lit streets is a good rule.
Go only to known houses. This is a little tough to enforce, but is a wise choice. Just go to the homes of people you know and can trust. While treat tampering is rare, you have to exercise a little caution. And there is a built in benefit–treats are usually a little better if the person behind the door knows the kids who are knocking!
Take a few safety precautions. Make sure your children have a flashlight or chemical "glow stick" with them. Putting a little reflective tape on the back of costumes is a good idea as well.
Watch for cars. This seems like common sense advice, but trick or treaters sometimes assume drivers can see them. Exercise extra caution. And remember, just because one car stops for them doesn't mean that all cars will.
Help them avoid crime. Sometimes children can unwittingly participate in criminal activities in the name of fun at Halloween. Toilet papering parties, egging houses, terrorizing younger trick or treaters, engaging in harmful practical jokes, shoplifting and the like are criminal offenses. Sometimes masks and costumes can make children feel invulnerable! Halloween is not an excuse for vandalism or crime. Warn them sternly. If they become involved in something like this, make them clean up or make restitution.
Costume Safety. Here are some general guidelines for Halloween costumes. <UL title="" type=disc|circle|square compact>
