As your children get a little older, trick or treating loses its allure and they will start looking for parties, haunted houses and the like. If your children are headed out for a party away from home, follow a few common sense rules:
Set a curfew. Make sure the kids know what time they need to be home and that they have a watch.
Know where they are going. Get a name, address and phone number of their destination. It's also a good idea to make sure there will be adults supervising the party.
Take a cell phone or change. Make sure your kids have a way to contact you and to get home if needed. Sometimes parties can turn ugly in a variety of ways and they may want to get out and fast.
Consider hosting your own party. One way to stay in control of Halloween activities is to be the party host. Here are a few suggestions for a great Halloween party.
- Plan activities in advance. Consider having some active games like a scavenger hunt or a murder mystery. A little structure can go a long way toward a safe Halloween.
- Get creative. A pumpkin carving contest can be fun. You can even plan this around a theme like classic horror movies, local landmarks and the like. Have the party guests bring them along or carve them on site.
- Videos are great. With a little care and planning, you can rent a couple of Halloween classics at the video store. This with some munchies and a little supervision can be a great teen activity.
