Halloween Tips for Parents and Homeowners

For a wickedly fun Halloween, What To Do With The Kids.com offers up tips on how to create a haunted house, throw a spooktacular party or design a jack-o-lantern that will be the envy of the neighborhood.

Here are a few tips for homeowners on Halloween:

1. Keep the path to your door clear of all obstacles and well lit.

2. Don’t terrorize the kids. It’s all about fun and not making them wet their pants.

3.  Be extremely careful with the candle in your pumpkin so that nothing bursts into flames, including a kid’s costume. Consider using a battery powered light or glow sticks.

4.  Use flashlights, glow sticks or electric lights with the power cord safe and secured.

5.  If you have a dog, keep it in another room and away from the door.

6.  If you’re going to give candy, give only store bought and wrapped items such as chocolate bars, chips, etc. Loose candy will be thrown out by the parents.

7.  Alternative giving can include pencils, erasers or stickers with a Halloween theme.

8.  If you’ve spent a lot of time on your Halloween display, you may want to consider putting some sort of safe fencing around it so that everyone can enjoy it without it being trampled.

9.  Halloween candy is magically calorie and fat free on Oct. 31 so feel free to use the “one for you, one for me” rule.

Here are a few tips to prepare parents for making the evening fun for everyone.

1. Encourage the kids to use facial make up instead of a mask.
2. Spend the extra dollar and purchase quality make-up. You don’t want your kid to have that same look weeks later.
3. If possible, design the costume to accommodate a sweater or even a jacket underneath depending on the weather.
4. Make sure that all costumes and accessories are flame resistant.
5. Keep in mind how much walking they’ll be doing for their age. You don’t want to have to carry your little ghoul home.
6. Carry extra bags to dump candy in so the kids don’t get overly tired.
7. If you have more than one kid to supervise, try bringing a wagon or cart to unload the candy in as they go door to door.
8. If you’re taking other kids with you, set out the rules before you leave and make sure they understand.
9. Instruct the kids to stay with you and off the lawns and out of the gardens.
10. Remind the kids to say thank you, even if they get crappy candy.
11. Be prepared to carry their props after a while.
12. Inspect all candy when you get home. Throw away homemade, unwrapped or open candy.
13. Let them have one piece of wrapped candy while on the walk as a treat/break.
14. Bring a flashlight and give them glow sticks to wear.
15. Don’t let them walk in the middle of the streets. Cars will still travel on roads October 31^st.
16. If the front light is out but they have Halloween decorations, there is a good chance that they have no more candy.
17. If the lights are out and don’t have any decorations, the people are most likely hiding in the back and have no candy to give.
18. Carry a small, portable first aid kit for those little cuts and injuries.
19. Many people bring their dogs with them and dress them up in costumes such as a hot dog or a devil. Instruct the kids to ask the owner if they can pet the animal BEFORE they do. There is a good chance that the animal is embarrassed to be in a costume and may want to take it out on a kid.
20. When the kids go to the door, stay close by and watch carefully.
21. Set a strict curfew for older kids that go out on their own.
22. Kids are never to go into the house unless you know them.
23. If you have to drive, slow down more than usual.
24. Give the kids a snack before they go out. They won’t complain about being hungry and want to eat the candy.
25. Take half the candy and place it in the freezer for use in the summer.

Discover what to do with your kids at whattodowiththekids.com.