Category: review

I received items at no cost from Oriental Trading to help facilitate this post. No other compensation has been received. Any opinions expressed are my own. 

My two oldest boys are teens. They are at the stage where they’re too cool to go trick or treating with mom and dad but still want to go trick or treating. This year, as they have the past couple years, they’re going trick or treating with groups of friends.  That doesn’t mean I don’t still worry about them.

My husband and I will be taking our 2 youngest children and my 3 nieces trick or treating with us.  Keeping an eye on 5 little ones in the dark always has be in hyper helicopter mom mode too. So how do I keep my kids safe and help hubby and I keep track of 5 little ones? Here’s my tips:

For the teens:

1.  Know who they will be trick or treating with and where
2.  Have them check in via cell phone.  Send a picture of where they are at when they check in.
3.  Identify a pick up spot and time.
4.  If not wearing light colored costumes have reflective or glow-in-the dark accessories like these from Oriental Trading:

5.  Give them a flashlight like the mini one from Oriental Trading above. They can wear it around their neck to help them on poorly lit steps, sidewalks, and road ways.

6.  Review safety rules like only going to familiar areas, avoid places they are not comfortable with, stay with the group.  Remind them about checking candy before eating. If anything is open or looks tampered with throw it away.  Any strange looking candies show to an adult first.

For the Little ones:

1.  Have them wear glow-in-the dark or reflective accessories that match such a glow in the dark bracelet on the right arm in the same color.  It helps just to keep track of 5 glowing orange bracelets when there are a cluster of kids climbing up steps to get candy.
2.  Wait for each member of the party. Make sure after each house if you have 7 in your party you still have 7. It’s easy for little ones to get disoriented with so many costumes, unfamiliar faces, and houses.
3.  When it’s my husband and I one of us usually stay at the front of the group while the other stays behind the group to make sure if little ones are slowing down or getting tired they don’t get separated.
4.   When you get home, check candies and throw out any that look opened or tampered with.
5.   Remove any candies that might not be safe for toddlers, small children, or if your child has allergies. Things such as gum, jaw breakers, and hard candies, can be a safety hazard for little ones.

If you’re handing out treats consider having a teal pumpkin stash.  If you’re not familiar with the idea of the teal pumpkin, it’s a worth while to find out.  Displaying a teal pumpkin on your porch lets people know that you have Halloween handout that are safe for kids with allergies.  This can be things like toys, stickers,  bottled water, pencils, etc.  People will either paint a pumpkin teal or even just hang a paper with a picture of a teal pumpkin letting people know they have allergen free treats.

I got these super cute glow in the dark skeleton crawlers. You throw them against a door or wall and they slowly crawl they’re way down the door.

What tips do you have for a safe trick or treat?