John Walsh: Keeping Halloween Fun and Safe For Kids

I know that those of you with small kids are probably getting excited about dressing up for Halloween and going out Trick-or-Treating. At least, your kids are. For parents, the big concern shouldn’t be candy – it must be safety. You can make sure that your kids have fun and stay safe if you just set some common-sense rules.

To help keep your little ones safe, and make sure the holiday is fun for them and you, our partners over at The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children have put together a great list of tips and suggestions. The most important thing you need your kids to know is that while they’re out Trick-or-Treating, they should NEVER enter anyone’s home without your permission. Among the other good tips from NCMEC:

• Be sure older children take friends and younger children are accompanied by a TRUSTED ADULT when Trick-or-Treating.
• Teach children to NEVER approach a vehicle, occupied or not, unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian
• Make sure children are able to see and breathe properly and easily when using facial masks. All costumes and masks should be clearly marked as flame resistant.

You can see the whole list here . There’s some great advice on it, and I urge you to take a look. Halloween is all about scary things, but remember: the safety rules you set for your kids aren’t aimed at scaring them for real. I want to make sure they have lots and lots of fun … and that you have some peace of mind.

-John