Do you Have a Ghost, Ghoul or Goblin?

The bell rings and ghosts, goblins, ninjas, faeries and princesses stand at your door. It's a night of make-believe and fun for adults and children. Free candy. Community gatherings. Halloween can be a celebration of creativity and artistic expression. It can also be full of danger, so whether you are making the rounds or handing out candy following a few basic rules will make this a night to remember.

Tips for Adults

Although children have most of the fun on Halloween, adults play an important part in making sure every child stays healthy and safe. Using common sense and pre-planning can assist in determining any problems and their solutions prior to sending the children out the door.

Feed your children before they go out. Although your children might come home from school full of cupcakes, candy and punch, make sure they eat something filling and healthy before going Trick-or-Treating. This will make it less likely they will snack on pre-inspected candy due to hunger.

Inspect their candy. If your children are like mine, this is the rule they whine most about. It is also one of the most important. When children return, dump their treasures out and inspect each piece. Get rid of anything with ripped wrappers or that looks compromised in any way. As nice as they are, toss any home-made goodies unless you know and trust the person who made them. With small children, remember small, hard candies pose a choking hazard and should be kept in a safe place. A good rule to follow: When in doubt-Throw it out.

Know your children's route. Agree on a safe route before they go out. Your concept of "our neighborhood" might be different from your children's, especially when they are told on the street about the great house giving out full candy bars several blocks over. If the community is hosting any functions, such as a party or hand-outs at the mall, set down the ground rules about where they are allowed to go.

Have a parent or older child go with them. No one should go Trick-or-Treating alone. A trusted parent or child over 12 should be assigned to accompany the younger ones. Make sure you know the name of the chaperone and that the chaperon knows they are in charge of keeping the younger ones safe. If possible, send a cell phone with them.

Set a time for them to be home. Every family has a different idea about how long children should be out. Whether it's 30 minutes or two hours, ensure the time limit is understood. Make sure the chaperone has a watch. Also, many towns have Halloween curfews. Adhere to them. You might have to adjust the amount of time your children go out due to weather. Colder nights or inclement weather can affect your child's safety.

Put a slip of paper with child's information in his/her pocket. Make sure if your child gets separated from the group, they have information to get them home safely. Write down the child's name, your name, address and phone number. Let them know you are giving them the information. That way, if they get flustered, all they have to do is hand a safe adult the paper.

Explain the difference between tricks and vandalism. Children, especially older ones, sometimes see Halloween as a day they can get away with more. Smashing pumpkins and throwing eggs are common pranks. Make sure your children know vandalism will not be tolerated and they will be required to clean up any mess they make. Also, reinforce politeness. This is a good night for children to practice please and thank you. After all, they are begging for candy from others.

Explain cruelty will not be tolerated. Any acts of cruelty whether to animals or other children is unacceptable. Explain to your children these types of behaviors are not only wrong but have legal consequences. Encourage them to report any acts they observe to a responsible adult.

Tips for Children