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 feeling of exuberant freedom from inhibitions due to the make-believe with 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.
There are 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 along the way, walk, don't run, and listen to your chaperone
With the rain, here are 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 polyesther 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 (dragging an uncooperative child).
•3) Make glowsticks part of the fun. We distribute a few glowsticks to each child - a necklace with one in the back and one in the front at a minimum. The best way is to incorporate them into the costume - such as weaving it around the princess crown.
•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), set 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!
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