Halloween is for satanists!

We'd all be lying if we said what Halloween has become is what Halloween was when we were children. 

The excitement of finding the perfect costume of one of our favorite characters, getting to show it off at school, have a class party and when it got dark hit the streets to hopefully collect as much candy as possible to hold us over until Easter. 

Today the media has turned the idea of Halloween into a dangerous escapade where children are begging to be abducted and parents are putting their children directly in harms way so their child can start their journey of obesity and false teeth. 

What the hell happened?!

There will always be dangerous people freely willing to do the wrong, of not dangerous thing no matter what the occasion. That's why parents TAKE their child trick or treating. And, although sad, there things parents can do to prepare their child should anything happen. 

First- make sure you know what costume your child will be wearing. Seems obvious but from working in child care I know from previous experience that parents don't always pay attention. Like the time I had to dress a two year old as buzz lightyear and when I put the wings on him he tried running away from himself for a solid 5 minutes. 

If your child is going to be a really popular character make sure you take note of which variety of that character they are going to be. 

Last year was the year of Elsa. I saw at least 5 variants of this costume and all had subtle differences. 

A quick fix for spotting your child if they are a popular character? Go to a department store and buy neon duct tape. Cut four medium thickness strips. Place a strip on each arm and the back of each leg. As long as it's neon color your child most likely won't resist. 

Now let's get to what kids actually need to know to be safe. And sharing this knowledge with them won't make a difference in their safety if you don't go with them. 

Teach your child to accept what they receive. All of it. This way your child is with you going door to door embarrassing you about possible hazards. When you get home throw away any fresh fruit or home made edible treat or temporary tattoo. This “pranks” are the classics and instead of waiting around to see if they still happen just assume they are. 

Make sure your child knows their address and at least one phone number. You'd be surprised how many children don't know either. And make sure they know where they're trick or treating. Even if it's your own neighborhood, whether or not it's the afternoon or dark, everything is going to look different. 

Prepare and be honest about getting lost or separated. As I tell my students, the second you find out you're lost stop moving and take off your mask if you're wearing one. The most terrifying thing a child can do is try to find their parents in a moving crowd. 

My last piece of advice? LET YOUR CHILD BE A CHILD AND HAVE FUN! The school system takes that away from them at such an early age. 

Xoxo – Mr. John