Shakopee Police Chief Provides Trick-or-Treat Tips

Halloween may be a fun holiday for kids, but for parents, trick-or-treat time can be a little scary. Concerns about children’s safety can cast a spell on the evening’s festivities. Shakopee Police Chief Jeff Tate offers tips for families on Halloween night via the National Crime Prevention Council.

“Unhaunting” Your House and Neighborhood

 •     Welcome trick-or-treaters at home by turning on your exterior lights.

•      Remove objects from your yard that might present a hazard to visitors.

 •     Ask your Neighborhood Watch or citizens’ group to patrol the community.

•      Involve students from a local college or university to be “witch’s helpers.” These students help trick-or-treaters cross busy streets and watch out for ghoulish behavior.

•      Drive slowly all evening—you never know what creature may suddenly cross your path.

Making Safe Costumes

•      Check that costumes are flame-retardant so the little ones aren’t in danger near candlelit jack-o-lanterns and other fire hazards.

•      Keep costumes short to prevent trips.

•      Encourage kids to wear comfortable shoes.

•      Try makeup instead of a mask. Masks can be hot and uncomfortable and, more importantly, they can obstruct a child’s vision—a dangerous thing when kids are crossing streets and going up and down steps.

•      Make sure kids wear light colors or put reflective tape on their costumes.

Dressed Up and Dangerous?

Halloween blood and gore are harmless stuff for the most part. But sometimes dressing up as a superhero, a scary monster, or a slimy alien from outer space—coupled with the excitement of Halloween—brings out aggressive behavior. Even fake knives, swords, and guns can accidentally hurt people. If these objects are part of a child’s costume, make sure they are made from cardboard or other flexible materials. Better yet, challenge kids to create costumes that don’t need “weapons” to be scary and fun.

Trick-or-Treat

•      Make sure older kids go out with friends. Younger children should be accompanied by an adult. If you live in a rural area, offer all kids a ride in the car.

•      Set a time limit for children to trick-or- treat. Together, map out a safe route so you know where they’ll be. Remind them not to take shortcuts through backyards, alleys, or playing fields.

•      Remind kids not to enter a strange house or car.

•      Try to get kids to trick-or-treat while it is still light out. If it is dark, make sure the children are carrying flashlights that work.

Pranks Can Be a Little Tricky

Halloween is notoriously a night of pranks— such as toilet papering a house or filling mailboxes with shaving cream. Try to get a handle on your children’s plans before they go out. Explain that while you want them to have a good time, some tricks could hurt people or vandalize property. Emphasize that you disapprove of vandalism.

Eating the Treats

•      Kids need to know not to eat their treats until they get home. One way to keep trick-or-treaters from digging in while they’re still out is to feed them a meal or substantial snack beforehand.

•      Check out all treats at home in a well-lighted place.

•      What to eat? Only unopened candies and other treats that are in original wrappers. Don’t forget to inspect fruit and homemade goodies for anything suspicious. By all means, remind kids not to eat everything at once or they’ll be feeling pretty ghoulish for a while.