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I wrote an article last week on safety tips for Halloween and since the holiday is only a few days away, I would like to remind parents and kids that although the day should be fun for families, it is also important to practice good safety tips. It's a good time for parents to talk to their kids about "tricky people". Parents today are more concerned for their kids safety than ever before and Halloween can be a Little scary for mom and dad. It used to be that parent's main concern was making sure the candy their kids gathered was safe. More attention is being paid to making sure trick-or-treating youngsters don't fall into the hands of sexual predators and many parents are spooked by the threat of harm to their children. Halloween can be a day for predators to be attractive to children.
Predators and pedophiles have their own "bag of tricks", like inviting unsuspecting children into their homes for a party or with other enticing lure. There are about 700,000 registered sex offenders in the U.S. and Halloween can be a prime time for some of them. My first piece of advice would be for parents to check the National Registry for sex offenders and determine if there are any offenders located in their neighborhood. But parent's responsibilities don't end there.
It takes little time and effort for parents to practice Halloween safety, some common sense and taking safety precautions is all it takes for families to have a good time.
Halloween safety tips include:
- Its okay for parents to dress up in a costume and go trick-or-treating with their young children.
- Children under 12 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
- Teens should go out with other friends.
- Children should never, never enter a house unless their parent is with them.
- Visit only those houses where the lights are on.
- Stay in the open, don't take shortcuts through alleys or backyards.
- Parents need to reinforce to their kids that they should never get into a vehicle.
- Carrying a flashlight will make the child more visible when walking the streets.
- Carrying a cell phone can be helpful for parents.
- Parents need to know the plans of their older children. Knowing the route of the children and establishing a time limit is important and the children need to STICK TO THE PLAN. Trusting them with a cell phone can also be helpful.
- Keep your house well-lit on Halloween night.
- Report any suspicious activity to the police.
- Parents need to remember to discuss appropriate and inappropriate behavior at Halloween with their kids.
For additional information on child safety visit the National Crime Prevention Council. You can also read some of my related articles on child safety including cyberbullying and social networking sites.
Please post any comments.
About me: I am a independent security consultant and have extensive experience in providing security and safety awareness for home, family, community institutions and corporations. I have co-authored a security awareness handbook and have been invited as a guest speaker on safety and security. Please contact me at fred@jccsecurityconsultants.com or visit my website.
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