Tips For Parents of Trick-or-Treaters

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Tips for parents of trick-or-treaters courtesy of Cindy Janicik, EdD –former Phoenix Police Detective and Director of Public Safety Partnerships at National University.

Increase the Visibility of your Trick-or-Treater:

1. Wear light-colored costumes
2. Use a flashlight or a glow stick
3. Reflective tape
4. Light-up tennis shoes are great!

Look for Cars:

• Avoid walking back and forth, mid-street
• Remind kids to look for cars before crossing the street
• Walk on the sidewalk and not in the street

Watch Young Children:

• Explain how neighbors are still “strangers.”
• Parents should walk with young children and remind them not to go into a stranger’s home

Parental Tips for Pre-Teens and Teens

• Remind adolescents of the consequences of destructive pranks, such as vandalism or stealing Halloween decorations

Share Suspicious Neighborhood Activity through Social Media

• If you see something suspicious, let your friends and neighbors know through social media
• Share information via neighborhood social media sites, like NextDoor

Check Candy

• Check all candy/chips for marijuana markings
• The package may explicitly say “Cannabis-infused,” “THC,” or “Marijuana”

Be a Good Neighbor

• Most trick-or-treaters are out between 6-9 pm; some adolescents are walking around later with friends
• Be vigilant: Drive slowly through the neighborhood and look for kids in the street