| Between the Harvest Festivals, Halloween parties and | | | | not be included in the list of houses to visit. Not only is it |
| social gatherings, this Halloween season could be very | | | | not safe, but obviously the tenants do not want visitors. |
| busy for you and your family. This is why all parents | | | | Although neighborhoods with larger houses in |
| should make safety the number one priority while | | | | prominent areas are more appealing, it can be |
| having fun. It also never hurts to be reminded of the | | | | tiresome for smaller children. These houses take |
| precautions all Halloweeners should take while | | | | longer to go from door to door, ultimately causing small |
| gathering candy. | | | | children to tire more quickly. If you drive to a |
| Before leaving the house, every person going out to | | | | neighborhood to visit, try to pick one with houses that |
| Trick-or-Treat should be dressed appropriately. Begin | | | | are closer together to make the trip more productive |
| by making sure attire is weather appropriate. The | | | | with less walking. |
| cooler the temperature, the more layers needed to | | | | Some of the best places to trick-or-treat isn't |
| keep warm. These layers should be easily removed | | | | necessarily in a neighborhood going from door to door. |
| as not to interfere with the costume if it gets too | | | | Churches, malls and shopping center strip-malls often |
| warm. Any masks being worn should fit so that vision | | | | offer treats to those who stop by. Churches often |
| is not obscured in any way. Children can't be expected | | | | offer forms of entertainment like "Trunk-or-Treating," |
| to be completely safe if surroundings can't be seen | | | | where the parking lot of the Church is filled with |
| easily. Batman and Darth Vader costumes are popular | | | | vehicles where drivers give out candy from their |
| this year, and their dark cloaks can make seeing | | | | decked-out truck beds and lawn chairs next to their |
| trick-or-treaters almost impossible after the sun has | | | | cars. These are wonderful places to take children |
| set. Take the ultimate safety precaution by purchasing | | | | because the people giving candy may already be a |
| reflective tape and place it on the back of the | | | | friend, therefore giving parents a more trusted source |
| costume, which can be done without changing the | | | | of treats. Parents are also able to socialize and have |
| appearance or effect of the costume. It also helps to | | | | some fun themselves, too! |
| add reflective tape to the side of shoes to add extra | | | | We all know of the importance of screening the candy |
| reflective surfaces. If a car approaches your child from | | | | our children receive during Trick-or-Treating. Some |
| any direction, enough reflective tape will give your child | | | | communities offer free screenings with X-ray devices, |
| shape and the driver will be able to see the children. | | | | which is an ideal way to make sure the stereotypical |
| Glow sticks and other accessories are also great | | | | metal object hasn't been inserted into your child's |
| ways to make sure you and your child can be seen in | | | | candy. In addition to screenings, parents should check |
| the dark. | | | | each piece of candy thoroughly before consumption. |
| When moving from house to house, children should | | | | All candy should be wrapped or packaged well without |
| refrain from walking in-between parked cars and | | | | any tears or punctures. Make sure the wrapper on the |
| ideally, should only cross the street at crosswalks. | | | | candy is still secure and bags are free of puncture |
| Some neighborhoods are easier to navigate than | | | | marks or tears. If candy looks like it has been |
| others, but it is always better to visit houses on one | | | | tampered with in any way, be sure to discard |
| side of the street at a time. Keeping on sidewalks and | | | | immediately. |
| driveways and refraining from grass and other soft | | | | Whether you decide to stay home and give out candy, |
| areas will help prevents slips, trips, and falls. Holes and | | | | or take a stroll or drive to your favorite haunts, be sure |
| dips in the ground are hard to see in covered areas. | | | | safety is first, no matter what! Enjoy your Halloween! |
| Blacktop and concrete surfaces should be used for | | | | Copyright 2005 by Rachael Towle |
| navigation as much as possible. | | | | This article may be republished for web content as |
| Only visit houses that are inviting. Houses without a light | | | | long as the author information, bylines, and active links |
| at the door or front porch, or without any light from | | | | are included. |
| jack-o-lanterns or other means or decoration should | | | | |