THE CHIEF'S VIEW

What can I do to provide a safe and enjoyable Halloween for my kids?
You and your kids will be safe and have a great time by following a few simple rules. Here are the top five safety rules for Halloween.
(1) Dress for the weather, have a flashlight and wear costumes that you can see out of and that don’t present a choking hazard. Masks make it hard for kids to see, hear cars, and avoid other dangers.
(2) Always have a responsible adult or older child supervising younger children. Halloween can be fun but it is not a free-for-all where children of all ages are allowed to run around town unsupervised. Doing so is asking for trouble with bullying, peer pressure, and all sorts of bad behavior that is easily avoidable.
(3) Inspect your children’s collection of treats and don’t let them eat treats that have been opened or are homemade.
(4) Respect everyone’s property. Not everyone celebrates Halloween, so if there is no porch light on or if there is something blocking the path to the door, don’t go to that house.
(5) Be polite to everyone. Trick-or-Treating is a privilege and providing candy can be very expensive. If you want to get good treats and encourage people to continue to give, always be respectful and thank the homeowners. Don’t cut across yards. Staying on the sidewalk and walking up to the house using the front pathway is best. Finally, don’t be in a hurry, and don’t shove your way to the front. Set a good example, and if there are small kids going to the door, let them go first.
Have a fun and safe Halloween.