Halloween Advice

Here are my 5 big nuggets of advice/commentary on Halloween this year......

1.  If your children are of the "older trick or treater" variety, please teach them to take a step back for the younger kids if they're all rushing to the door at the same time.  The young 'ens have less experience and will, often, freeze up if they're shoved out of the way.  Not to mention, we should be teaching our older kids to be good examples anyway.  Seriously, tell them to take a step back, encourage the little ones forward first and then get their candy.  Compassion, helpful attitudes and patience are always important lessons.

2.  If you are a clown or you decided to let your kid dress up as a clown, just be aware that this is not a great year for it, especially with the kids.  You are opening yourself up to a whole lot of scared people who may react out of fear if you try to scare them.  In short, don't be a dick because it's a good way to get shot by an unsuspecting homeowner that is just trying to protect their home and think that you're attacking them.

3.  "Please" and "Thank you".  Seriously.  Use them early and use them often.  If my kids are rude at someone's house, I make them return their candy.  Believe me....they make it a priority.

4.  Please don't be the house that says "aren't you too old?"  They might well be "too old" but at least they're not out egging houses and causing mischief.  Worse yet, at least they aren't out partying and getting drunk or drugged out.  Be part of the solution, not the problem.  It's not really costing you much to give them a piece of candy and tell them they have a great costume.

5.  Stranger danger.  I can't stress this enough.  Halloween is prime time for people to be able to snatch kids.  Keep your kids close and teach them to not walk away with ANYONE else.  Candy is not worth disappearing.  Halloween is a fun holiday but child abductions are a very real thing.  If your kids are going out "on their own," make sure they do it with a group.  Keep them safe.  Monsters aren't always dressed that way; they often look more innocent than most.