10 Ways to Keep Safe for Halloween

I know it's only September, but if you're anything like me - or you have kids in your life - you have probably been hearing about Halloween since June. Maybe since November.

But as much fun as the whole changing of the seasons and Halloween is, you can't give safety a rest! As Mad-Eye Moody would say, "Constant Vigilance!" and we all know that guy was right. Paranoid, sure, but he was right!

Now, while we all hear about the usual tips (make sure you can move in the costumes, stay in well-lit areas, and obey all traffic laws ...) Halloween is a bit of a tricky time (pun intended!) and it's easy to let certain things slide. For instance, any other day of the year, we're told not to take candy from strangers. Halloween comes around and you're told to ask for candy from strangers!

I won't even go into the mind-scratching I've been through the years with that one. I just won't.

So, here are ten tips to keep in mind, at any age, when you're out this Halloween season.

1. Your Daddy Ain't Driving That Car

2. If You Want The Candy, Walk the Walk

3. Follow The Masses

4. Paint It Black (And Avoid Masks)

5. Slow The @#$%#@% Down

6. Harry Potter's Eyes Were Green

7. Be Cool About Fire Safety

8. Fish Are Friends Not Food

9. Oh, No They DIDN'T!

10. Books Are Better Thank Walking

1. Your Daddy Ain't Driving That Car

My Dad says this, as he's driving. "What? Do they think I'm their father?" People walk, and drive, like it's the other person's job to be in charge of their safety. Now, I don't mean to say that people should run other people over. Plenty of bad drivers out there too! But when you're not even paying any attention, like when people are on their cellphones texting, then you really shouldn't be out in the street.

You have to be careful on the roads. Cars are powerful creations made of metal. If that hits you, and I pray one never does, it's going to hurt. That means EYES ON THE ROAD. Every time. No excuses.

For Halloween, kids are going to be out and about, and they're not going to be paying as close of attention as they should. If you're in a car, whether you're driving or not, please pay attention. If you're out walking, pay attention as well. Let's be serious, no text, game, photo, or email is worth more than your life or your kid.

2. If You Want the Candy, Walk the Walk

Kids get tired. Grown ups get tired. This year, Halloween is on a Tuesday. Which means, school day. And school the next day. While it is considered a holiday, there are no excused absences. No offices get closed and no one is going to believe any tale you give for being late the next day.

If you can't handle it, then don't indulge. And this is about adults to. Plenty of people like to throw their parties, and drink, and claim it's a holiday. Sorry sweetheart, but that's a no-go!

If a child is too young to walk, leave them at home. You know they're not going to be eating that candy. And you know that they could care less about their costume. Leave babies at home. They're likely to get scared, bored, or fall asleep. Then you're either carrying a kid or pushing a stroller. No fun.

If your kid doesn't want to walk, don't go trick or treating for them. I see this every year. Grumpy kid, parent at the door asking for candy. I'm sorry, but the least the kid could do to get candy from me is say "Trick-or-Treat" and let me gape over their cute costumes! I'm small enough that I've gone trick-or-treating as an adult, mixing in with the kids, but I put in the effort. And if someone doesn't want to give me candy, I completely understand. There are 13 year old taller than I am, there has to be some good from my small stature.

Now, before anyone mentions people with disabilities, I want to go ahead and mention them first. I have seen kids, every year, go out in their wheelchairs, walkers, with their medical dogs, etc. They want the experience and are thrilled to be a part of it. Sometimes, they can't make it up the stairs or long driveways. You get up and get the candy to those kids. They've earned it. Same reason there are safe trick-or-treating areas like Malls and why people go to hospitals to give those kiddos the experience. I applaud people who go up and above like that.

If your kid is being a brat, take them home. No candy. You just make everyone up and down the block miserable.

3. Follow the Masses

If no one is going to that house on the corner, don't be the dingas that goes to the house on the corner!

I say this because, we were often that house on the corner. We didn't want to deal with the kids coming to the house. I always buy the Halloween candy in November, discounted and as a treat for NaNoWriMo! But Halloween night is usually spent in door, as a family movie night.

I love Halloween! At home, there were never any decorations up, at least none of the Halloween variety. Fall was fine. And we have a lot of family birthdays in October, so there were probably still some decorations of that up. Candy was definitely around. But, we didn't want to be a part of the whole "fright night" part of things.

There are people who don't want to give candy. People who have different cultural and religious beliefs. People who forgot completely and didn't buy candy that year! All perfectly fine excuses. These people shouldn't be bothered if they don't want to be.

Unless that's your Uncle's house and you want to stop by and say hey, Don't Bother Those People. Stick where everyone else is going, where there are decorations and well lit porches, And don't forget to say Thank You!

4. Paint It Black (And Avoid the Masks)

My 4th grade teacher lent me a costume that I wasn't allowed to use, but it was the first time I had a huge mask on my head. It's hot in there. It's kind of stinky, depending on what you have eaten. It's kind of annoying to hear yourself talk.

A costume's mask loses its appeal. Even Batman masks. Every year, by the time we're finishing up trick-or-treating (and when I go with my sister, we go hard core. I mean Hours of walking up and down streets. We have enough candy to last until Easter.) most of the kids will be without their masks. IF someone still has a mask on, it's probably because they put it back on.

Instead, paint their faces. Your kiddos will still look adorable, and their visions won't be obstructed by the plastic over their faces! Also, it's safer for everyone around. We go in a large group, and instead of losing one Spider-Man or Batman among the dozens of others at the door, you know which mope of hair and toothless grin is your kin.

It's much better to get the full costume affect in pictures, save the masks for parties and the elementary school costume parade. Otherwise, leave the things at home.

Added bonus, you won't mistake your kid from someone else!

5. Slow the @&#^$@ Down!

This is a partial rant. Kind of ties into good old numerous 1. Halloween is a fun holiday. The only obligations are the ones you make. There is no party that you absolutely have to get to. Drive with care. Your kids don't need that candy. Make them walk.

People are going to be on their cells. Costumes are going to be too long (Jedi's I'm looking at you!) and someone's going to bring their dog and get everyone tangled up with their leash.

It's inconsiderate and it sucks. But it happens.

Don't be another problem. It's all in keeping you and the kids safe. Be a better example to them. Enjoy the moment with them. Chat with the other parents! But take things easy, please. Make sure everyone knows to wait at the corners and not to go into the houses. Count the kids after every stop. There's always slackers, those are usually the ones I would walk with. The little kids that aren't too interested in running. Or the older kids that are too "cool" to be running. Or the lazier ones that just want to walk.

It's pretty fun from the back too. Usually you get to see the decorations better and get to the door without having to wait for someone to get their candy dish.

6. Harry Potter's Eyes Were Green

And guess what? Daniel Radcliffe's eyes were Blue! And No One Cares. I mean, people kind of cared, but did it take away from the movie? No! Not having Peeves took away from the story. Never seeing Charlie Weasley hurt my heart, but the fact that film-Harry and book-Harry had different color eyes never mattered.

Daniel was allergic to the contacts that would have made his eyes green. But instead of having to torture an actor for accuracy sakes, the show moved on without Likewise, please remember your own safety.

Most costume contacts aren't worth the risk. Your eyes are delicate and should be treated as such. Don't place things on your person that will cause you damage. No cool costume is worth that.

7. Be Cool About Fire Safety

Ah, Smokey. You loveable bear! Right alongside Big Bird and Barney, most American kids know all about fire safety from our pal, Smokey. He's a Bear.

And while I doubt many people will go out to the woods for their Halloween night, fire safety is still very important.

You must always be careful with decorations at each house. Remember, somethings will be placed out to deliberately scare you. You can trip, or cause others to trip. Kids scare easy, they can run off at a blink. It's always nice to move in a group, because someone can linger back and be there for the scared little fellow running off from the screeching scarecrow on the porch.

A lot of times, candles are a part of people's decorations. Pumpkins are still popularly filled with at least one. And people can overload outlets with their electronic decorations. Don't be that person. And while you can't control what others decide to do, make certain that all costumes enable movement with ease. A kid can't catch themselves falling if their arms are stick in a too tight costume.

8. Fish are Friends, Not Food

Unless you eat fish. Then, I guess that they are food. I don't eat fish, so I can call them friends!

But, I digress. What I really mean is that you can't forget the animal counterparts of you family! And I don't just mean a costume.

Even the kindest of dogs and the most chills of cats can get frightened by the crazy that can often take part on Halloween night. There are sights that they won't understand and noises that make less sense.

Even if your puppy was fine with things last year, they might not remember this year. Make certain that they are safe and feel safe. Secure your animals if you have trick-or-treaters coming to your door. Don't allow strangers to pet your dog, you don't need them to start trusting the Joker now.

9. Oh No They DIDN'T

Like I mentioned before, I grew up being one of those families that didn't give out candy. Except, we would if someone actually knocked. I wouldn't nowadays, respect the fact that the porch light is off people!

But if you go to a house that is clearly not celebrating, don't get upset when they don't have candy. The lack of lights and pumpkins should have clued you in!

If you don't want to lose the privilege of Halloween in your town (I have heard of it happening), then be respectful of all of your neighbors. Also, try not to walk on their grass.

There's also the disgraceful concept of "Mischief Night" It's the night before Halloween, and I have no idea who started it or if it occurs in other countries, but it can be annoying. Very annoying. It's not okay to be a jerk. Not on any night.

Also, for those of you that don't celebrate Halloween, please don't try and take away the fun that other people are trying to have. If someone is doing something bad, by all means call the police. But if you're just mad because kids in costumes are running around, find a hobby. If no one is trying to do you harm, don't be the Halloween scrooge!

10. Books are Better Than Walking

Lastly, if you're not up to walking, don't. Walking is important. Exercise is important. But if you don't want to go, don't. Read a book instead.

Seriously, there is nothing better than books! Except cake. And cookies. But you're not walking house to house to get cake and cookies.

Unless that's something you do in your neighborhood. In which case, I want to know where your from!

Don't make yourself miserable for this day. And don't think that your kids will hate you if you don't go out or if you don't let them go. They won't. Make your own traditions. Go out November 1st and buy that excess Halloween 70% off candy! I grew up fine, and so will your kiddos. If they've been ill, it's safer to stay in this year than to make them worse. If you don't think that they deserve to go out then don't. Remind them that Santa is always watching and get yourself a book!

At home, we would watch movies, pop popcorn, and eat our candies that were given out in school. We had our own fun! No walking required.

#Halloween #10Ways