Halloween Directory - Long Live Halloween!

Long Live Halloween!




The scent of fall is in the air and the colors of the season are gracing our landscapes. Know what that means? Halloween is right around the corner! Children everywhere are counting the weeks until this festive day arrives while parents wonder if their children should be allowed to trick or treat and whether today's world is safe enough for the Halloween traditions of days gone by.

Well I say LONG LIVE HALLOWEEN! How can we deny our children the only day of the year when they are allowed to run up and down the street begging neighbors for candy? How can we deny them the pleasure of dressing up as superheroes and princesses and gallivanting around a neighborhood that's been transformed into a one-night fantasy land?

While I believe Halloween should be enjoyed, I do believe we should take some safety measures to ensure our children have a safe Halloween in addition to having a fun one.

A Watchful Eye.

If you have young children who will be trick-or-treating this year, you need to realize that we live in a changing society. You need to keep a very close eye on your children and that means following along (even if from a few feet behind) as your children go door to door on their trick-or-treating mission.

Setting Ground Rules.

Halloween isn't the time for a free-for-all. You need to set some ground rules. Let your children know what's acceptable, what's not, and what you expect from them in regard to their behavior. If the rules are laid out up front, there will be less confusion and, hopefully, less frustration all around.

Bright Clothing or Reflectors.

It can seem like kids are swarming through the neighborhoods on Halloween night. Drivers need to be especially careful, but not all are as careful as they should be. Because of this, you need to take extra precautions. Don't let your children cross the street without you and when you do cross the street, make sure you have reflective clothing or a glow-in-the-dark nightstick with you.

Candy Checks.

As sad as it may be, you do need to check your child's candy after they bring in the haul. Look for anything out of the ordinary. Throw away any unwrapped items, items with wrappers that look as if they've been tampered with, etc. And take care that not too much of the good stuff is eaten all in one sitting!

So is Halloween a dying holiday? Absolutely not! You just need to take the time to lay out ground rules and practice proper safety, and Halloween can be as much fun this year as it was when you were a kid! Watch out for those ghosts and goblins!