Grandma Judy's Rules for Halloween-Making sure You Get Treats not Tricks

My mother Judy Carr, like most children, LOVED Halloween. Most parents like me endure it.  Combining an abundance of sugar-rush-inducing candy, the exuberant freedom from inhibitions due to make-believe and costumes and the often opposing ideas of "Halloween fun" between younger and older children can result in a disappointing feeling of being tricked when you expected treats.

Grandma Judy had the usual rules: walk, don't run; have at least 1 partner; only go to houses you know (or at least ones that are well-lit); don't touch the pumpkins or displays; don't eat any candy you received along the way, and listen to your chaperone.

Also, keep in mind the potential for rain, and plan accordingly. There's nothing worse than wet shoes, a torn costume or a hard fall to spook youngsters and spoil the fun.

Grandma Judy's Tips for Halloween

1)      Wear the right shoes! Maybe rain boots don't look right with Ariel's tail but they can help keep little ones from getting wet feet and catching cold.

2)      Wear a turtleneck and leggings or thermal shirt and long-johns under costumes. Most commercially-made costumes are made of thin polyester or nylon. It's easy for children's body temperature to dramatically drop when they get cold. Even if you realize it right away, it's still a long trek back home with you looking like a ghoul,  dragging along an uncooperative or sobbing child.

3)      Make glow sticks and snap-together glow tubes part of the fun. We distribute a few glow sticks to each child - a necklace with one glow stick hanging in the back and one in the front at a minimum. The best way to make it fun for children is to incorporate them into the costume's design - such as weaving it around the princess crown, making it into "jewelry" or attaching them to the costume or treat container.

4)      Use reflective tape in costume and container design. Reflective tape wound around the pirate sword and pieces cut into the shapes of eyes, ears and mouth for the plastic pumpkin help a child be seen. Even better is to streamline - tape along the sides of legs and the arms of children. Or make a design on their backs - spell out BOO, for example.

5)      Make a stopwatch part of the fun. If the total time allotted is 1 hour for trick-or-treating, the leader (adult or teenager in charge), sets it first for 30 minutes, then 20, then 10, then 5, then 3 then 1.

6)      Plan out and map route in advance, leave it with the adult at home and stick to it. That way if someone does get hurt or lost, the parents know right where to go.

7)      Bring at least 2 flashlights, 2 cells phones and 2 watches. Someone always ends up with a dead battery at the worst time, so doubling up is a good idea.

8)      Bring along at least 3 pieces of your OWN candy so you can safely snack along the way.

Have a safe & fun Halloween!