Happy Halloween everyone! On behalf of the entire MeloTel team, we wish you a fun and exciting journey trick or treating with your kids tonight! And, while “fun and exciting” generally entails fillings bags to the brim with sweet treats, it’s important to remember that true enjoyment can only be had when “safety first” is practiced.
Many of our colleagues recently noted that their almost-teenage kids now wish to trick or treat on their own. We all know that, at some point, it’s uncool to go door-to-door with your parents in tow, right? So, with that, we thought it important to relay some ever-necessary trick or treating safety tips for young, yet independent trick or treaters.
Here are four:
1. Go with a group.
Tweeners might think they’re too cool to go trick or treating with their parents, but no one should ever go out on Halloween night alone. Travelling in a sizeable group is a necessary precaution to ensure safety. Be sure to find out who your child is going trick or treating with and insist they stay together throughout their entire candy-hunting excursion.
“Go trick-or-treating with a group of friends or relatives,” agrees Kids Help Phone, “Stick together and have a plan in case you get separated.”
2. Wear a visible and warm costume.
Here, in Canada, ideal costumes have two very important characteristics: they are both bright and warm! If your child is wearing a dark costume (which is certainly a possibility), attach a florescent strip of tape that is easily visible. As well, be sure to have him/her layer up. Trick or treating is a lot more fun when you’re not shivering due to the cold. Be sure to check the weather forecast before sending your young trick or treater out the door this evening.
“Costumes should be light-coloured and flame resistant with reflective strips so that children are more easily seen at night,” says Canadian Red Cross, “(And remember to put reflective tape on bikes, skateboards, and brooms, too!)”
3. Bring your cell phone.
This shouldn’t be a problem for any tweener. Insist that your young, yet independent trick or treater has his/her cell phone at all times. That way, you’ll be able to easily get in touch to ensure you know about his/her whereabouts.
“Make sure it’s fully charged before heading out for the night,” reminds Kids Help Phone, “If you don’t have a cell phone, bring change for a payphone or make sure a friend has a device you can borrow. It may be helpful to write down important phone numbers in case of emergency.”
4. Save the candy eating for when you get home.
Make it a strict rule that your child is not to eat any candy until he/she arrives home. It’s wise to inspect every single piece of candy to ensure that they are safe to eat. You’ll want to discard already-opened packages, old or stale pieces or even dangerous items that somehow made their way into your child’s trick or treat bag.
“Remind children not to eat their treats and goodies until they are examined by an adult at home,” insists Canadian Red Cross, “And candy should not be eaten if the package is already opened. Small, hard pieces of candy are a choking hazard for young children.”
