If you’re like us, October is an exciting month. With pumpkins and apples galore, there is just something in the fall air that feels like magic. It sparks a light in almost every child’s eye. The thrill of dressing up as your favorite superhero or princess and heading into the streets of your neighborhood to find the house with the best and largest candy bars. It’s almost magical to see the light in a child’s eye on Halloween night, and it’s not just limited to the under-ten generation. Adults get to relive days of Halloween past as they help assemble last-minute costumes and indulge in a chocolate or two, rightfully collected as “trick-or-treat tax.” Yes, there is a lot to be said for Halloween.

In all of that magic and fun, though, there are a couple of elements of safety that should still be maintained. Especially if you’re trick-or-treating in a new neighborhood or location. Our hope in writing this is to make sure that you and your family can enjoy your night to the fullest by doing the safety planning ahead of time. Let’s just jump right in:

Have a Plan

We live in a time where cellphones are everywhere. Though, that doesn’t mean everyone in your household has a handheld device. Know where your kids are going before setting out on the conquest for candy. It may be a smart idea to have a couple of safe meet-up spots if someone gets lost in the sea of trick-or-treaters. Using the buddy system is a way to even further your means of ensuring that everyone is safe and never left alone. 

Know Your Neighborhood

This one may seem like a no-brainer. You’ve most likely already scoped out your new neighborhood and had a tour of the area by your Castillo Group agent. Or perhaps, you’ve lived in this neighborhood forever. Even with these precautions under your belt, it’s still a good idea to identify which doors to avoid. Frequent check-ins with older pre-teens (who are too old to be supervised by an adult) that sprint from door to door is a definite must. It’s also smart to give this information to your younger children who might wander out of sight. 

For those of you planning on trick-or-treating in your neighborhood, Family Watchdog is an excellent resource to review while planning your trick or treating route. According to their website: “Family Watchdog is a free service to help locate registered sex offenders in your area. Family Watchdog encourages you to use our site to help educate your family on possible dangers in areas that you frequently visit.” 

Waiting to Eat the Candy

This is the hardest tip of all to execute, but you’ll never be sorry for being safe. 

In recent years, you often hear stories of malicious candy embedded with needles, or other inedible items. A good safety look through is always a good idea. Kids rummaging through candy may eat a dangerous piece or not think to look for candy that may have been given to them unwrapped.

Another excellent reason to wait is to avoid potential allergens. Even though parents of children with food allergies have most likely drilled their kids of what to look for, the rush of Halloween and the dimly lit streets could lead to a child eating something that could cause a very serious situation. In the cause of such an event, always keep your EpiPen on you, and always make sure you know what’s being eaten.

Have Fun

The last tip is in the midst of the chaos, have fun. Kids are only kids once and Halloween is a magical time of make-believe. Enjoy seeing their faces light up as they marvel at their friends’ costumes and the decorations you traipse by on this spooky night. 

We hope you have a spooky Halloween and enjoy the night to the fullest. For information on neighborhoods in the Dallas area, check out our guide! 

Happy Halloween!