I've partnered with Allstate for this post about Trick or Treating safety tips.
Going Trick-or-Treating
- The night has finally arrived! Eat a good meal before you head out to discourage the kids from filling up only on treats.
- Pre-plan where you will trick-or-treat and walk in a familiar neighborhood.
- Designate a place for your children to meet you if they are separated from the group or get lost and teach your child how to call 9-1-1 if they have an emergency.
- Adult chaperones should accompany children at all times. If a house looks a little too dark, spooky, unsafe, or questionable, just skip it.
- Head out as soon as trick-or-treating hours begin in order to spend as much time as possible with daylight. Regardless of whether you plan to come home before dark, always bring along your phone, flashlights (with fresh batteries!) or glow sticks and consider adding reflective tape to your child's costume or treat bags for greater visibility.
- Leave your pets at home if they have a tendency to get riled up and could jump on or bite a trick-or-treater. Restrain them at home away from the front door.
- Don't run between houses! Avoid neighborhood shortcuts and stay on well-lit sidewalks. Use designated crosswalks where drivers will be on the lookout for children and never dart out from behind parked vehicles.
- If there is no sidewalk to walk on, walk facing traffic on the farthest edge of the road as possible.
- Never go inside a home or to a car for candy.
- Stop before the kids become too tired or overstimulated. If your older children are planning on going out without you, make a plan that is acceptable to you and agree on a specific time that you need them home.
- Before anything is eaten, inspect all candy for choking hazards or anything your child could be allergic to. Throw out all spoiled or unwrapped candy or anything that looks unfamiliar or suspicious.
- Try to ration the treats wisely to avoid getting sick!
Have a blast and enjoy all that candy!
This post was written as part of the Allstate Influencer Program and sponsored by Allstate. All opinions are mine. As the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, Allstate is dedicated to not only protecting what matters most--but to guiding people to live the Good Life, every day. Image credit: copyright Sergey Novikov/Dollar Photo Club.
Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood says
Such great tips! A lot of them are tips and rules that we used when I was a kid! My son's not quite at trick or treating age, but I'm bookmarking this for the future!
Amanda Schaeffer says
These are great tips especially the one about going out with your children that is so important.Halloween should be a fun time and these are great tips to make the night safe and fun 🙂
Heather Eavers says
Thanks for the tips. Halloween is almost here. Safety and Fun at the top of our list.
Yvonne McKenzie says
These are really good tips for keeping safe while out trick or treating. Thing have changed since I was a kid out for Halloween, all we had to worry about when I was a kid was not getting sick eating too much candy. Now kids have to worry about safety and poision candy.
Dorothy Boucher says
These are all great tips and shared this, I do go and help my daughters with my grandchildren and we always stick together and one of the things is going to peoples houses we know, we have so much fun having a party at home..
Renee Rousseau says
Thanks for the helpful tips! Concise article.
Karen Jaras says
I make photo books of all the grandkids for every occasion. Although they get impatient sometimes. They will thank me when they are older.
Miles Imhoff says
The flashlights are an old favorite, but don't forget to go with Halloween-themed flashlights. More of an aesthetic choice, I know; but hey, it makes something pragmatic all the more festive. 😀
God bless,
Miles
Kara Kudro says
Thanks for these great tips I have two young boys and appreciate the information
Trisha Chamberlain says
Thanks for the great tips! Another one you may want to add...make sure that the kids don't get 'piled up' at peoples doors. We have this happen quite often because we decorate so much for Halloween. Parents, slow down until some people move on so that the kids aren't tripping and falling over each other. That way, they will all end up having much happier nights. Have a safe and fun night. Happy Halloween!
Mary Beth Elderton says
Great tips! The whole experience is much better by having a planned idea about where to go and a fairly short time out.
Ana Aquino says
It's my daughter's first Halloween and these tips are so helpful to make our Halloween celebration fun and safe for her!
Jeanine Carlson says
Good tips! Thanks 🙂
Jeanine Carlson says
Thanks for all the great tips! I always worry that something might happen to someone
Tiffany says
These are great tip. The first definitely easier said than done in my house. My daughter gets so excited about going trick or treating that she wouldn't eat at all. I let it slide and only allowed her to eat her treats after we got home and had dinner.
Cynthia Bliss says
This makes sense
Dorothy Boucher says
My family went out for a couple of hours, we mostly play games , watch cartoon movies with the little ones, tell spooky stories and pass out candy to other trick or treater , But this is a great list of plans to keep and share with other..
RANDY FULGHAM says
trick or treating is a job for grown-ups now=====great tips
Sara schwab says
Theses costumes look cute
Pauline Gorczycki says
SAFETY FIRST IS ALWAYS THE KEY. NO MATTER HOW OLD MY KID'S ARE I MAKE SURE THERE IN A PACK AND THERE'S ADULTS TO. THANKS FOR SHARING THIS GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Megan says
These are good tips, especially as the kids get older!
Sandy Cain says
All good tips! Especially about not going into cars or houses. Make no mistake, there are predators out there, and Halloween is the time they take the most advantage!
Carolyn Massey says
Great tips, thanks for sharing. We didn't go very far this year, only to a few neighbors. It was cool and raining.
Carrine says
Love the tips. Yes I agree go out with them. It's fun 🙂