This coming Halloween, children are celebrating with only the treats, and without the tricks. Parents say it is safer this way for the kids.
With Halloween creeping just over a week away, concerns of parents in Rochester, New grow more about having their kids go out and participate in usual Halloween events such as trick-or-treating, especially with the recent violence in the city.
Thus, they are finding ways for their young trick-or-treaters to enjoy the holiday focused on treats and not on tricks, ABC 13 Wham reported.
"There are a lot of things that happen on Halloween. I would just rather have them not engage in it. And it's not safe, especially in the city - there are a lot of things that go on, on Halloween," according to one local father, Ronnie Keesee.
Some parents shared their Halloween plan and said if ever they would consider trick-or-treating, they would do it with the kids earlier in the day, and definitely not in the night time.
For some, they are signing up for group-centered events like doing "trunk-or-treat."
Trunk or Treat
Another local father, Dirk Howard, expressed that the trunk-or-treats event is, by far, the "best way" he can ensure safety for his kid during the Halloween season. It's a win-win situation as the kids can still dress up in their favorite costume, gather and celebrate with their friends, and still get their buckets full of treats, all while being safe as they are just in one designated area, where parents can easily keep an eye on.
What happens during a trunk-or-treat event?
Parents and adults gather in a parking lot or in a designated area, decorate the back of their cars with a Halloween theme, load up on candies and other treats, and entertain kids that do trick or treating from car-to-car.
The father of 7 further stated that trunk-or-treat is better than kids going around, knocking on doors as the treats or the candies are placed in one spot.
He recalled how when he was still a kid, he and his friends would have such a great time going all over their community trick-or-treating. He is sad his kids will not be able to do that anymore but he expressed how children are unsafe here and now with all the violence and crime in the city. At least with trunk-or-treat, the kids do not have to be out at night, eliminating any harm that can happen to them.
Halloween safety tips
Trunk-or-treat may be safer than trick-or-treating from around the neighborhood, but parents should be aware that there are still probable dangers when it comes to the costume the kids are wearing or on the edible treats being offered.
Thus, here are some safety tips to lessen the danger and keep the Halloween celebration safe yet enjoyable for kids.
Costume Safety
Costumes should be made of flame retardant materials such as polyester or nylon.
Make sure length is just right and comfortable, and not a tripping hazard.
Face masks can be a "tricky" item. Covering a kid's face may lessen his/her peripheral visibility and may block his/her vision. Thus, using make-up on the face is much preferable, but remember to try the make-up first in their arms to check allergic reactions.
If parents are allowing their kids to wear colored, decorative eye lenses or glasses, they have to make sure they are prescribed and fit properly to lessen the risk of eye damage.
Food safety
If kids have allergies, make sure parents bring an epi pen with them.
Some of the treats that kids might receive may be homemade goodies. Unless the parents or the kids know the person offering the goodies, it is safer to not eat them.
Some folks may think that giving kids a fruit item is a healthy alternative for a treat. Do not let the kids eat the fruit if it doesn't come prepackaged.
For prepackaged goodies, check the packaging for punctures and tears, and throw anything away that has been tampered.
- Before doing the Halloween activity, make sure the children have eaten and are full. This will give them the energy to walk around and enjoy the activity. More than that, this will hold back the temptation to eat the edible treats immediately without the parents inspecting them first.
- Parents should also look out for food allergies and dye allergies before they let the kids consume the goodies.
