Halloween is a fun and SPOOOOOOKY time of year for kids. Make trick-or-treating safe for your little monsters with a few easy safety tips.

• As bad as it may sound, go on the internet and check your local state website for sex offenders. Almost every state has one, just do a search for your state sex offender site. Look up your zip code and it should have a list of registered offenders in your area that includes street addresses. Make sure that your kids stay away from these houses!
• Know the route your kids will be taking if you aren’t going with them. Let them know that they are to check in with you every hour, by phone or by stopping back at home. Make sure that they know not to deviate from the planned route so that you always know where they will be.
• Trick or treating isn’t what it used to be. It is best to make sure that an adult is going with them. If you can’t take them yourself, see if another parent you know can go with them.
• Help your young child pick out or make a costume that will be safe. Make sure that it’s fire proof or treated with fire retardant. If they are wearing a mask of any kind,  make sure that the eye holes are large enough for good peripheral vision.
• Know what other activities a child may be attending, such as parties, school or mall functions. If they are going to be at a friends home, get the phone number and make sure that you’ve met the parents.
• Make sure you set a time that your kids should be home by. Make sure they know how important it is for them to be home on time or to call immediately if something happens and they are going to be delayed.
• Explain to kids of all ages the difference between tricks and vandalism. Throwing eggs at a house may seem funny but they need to know the other side of the coin as well, that clean up and damages can ruin Halloween for everyone. If they are caught vandalizing, make them clean up the mess they’ve made.
• Teach your kids about not getting into strangers cars or talking to strangers, no matter what the person says to them. Explain to them as simply as you can that some adults are bad and want to hurt children, that they should never go into a house that they don’t know, get into a car or go anywhere with a stranger. Also, tell them what to do should this happen, to scream as loud as they can to draw attention and to run away as fast as they can to someplace safe.
• If your child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so they can see out.
• Provide children with flashlights or glow sticks to carry, or add reflective tape or material to their costumes.
• Tell children to stay away from open flames. Be sure they know how to stop, drop and roll.
• Use extreme caution, if using real candles inside jack-o-lanterns. Keep it away from anything that can burn and far enough out of the way of trick-or-treaters, doorsteps, or walkways.
• Remember to keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes.
• Make sure decorations do not cover up your house numbers.