If you have young children, I am sure that every year during the last week of October, they begin to get very excited.

And considering that it is Halloween, why shouldn’t they? 

All Hallows Eve is the one day where your kids get to dress up in lavish and outlandish outfits; the one day where they can pretend to be someone – or something – else in public.

Having worked with youngsters in schools and playgrounds for over twenty years, as well as give out countless bite-size pieces of Snickers and Milky Ways to little witches and Hannah Montanas through the decades, I’ve put together a list of handy tips to make sure your offspring stays safe on October 31st:

1. Make sure that your child’s costume is brightly colored, so they will be easy to see at night. White, gold, and bright yellow are the best colors for this.

2. The younger the child, the earlier they should go trick-or-treating. It’s just not too good of an idea for someone below the age of six to be out at night, even with parents. If your little one is in kindergarten or younger, the sun should still be out when you take them out.

3. The shoes your kids wear should be easy to walk in. Believe me, if they go out in high heels or platforms looking like they are visiting from a 1970s disco, it’s guaranteed that they will be complaining loudly about how their feet hurt before they are halfway done. Sneakers are the best option here.

4. Costumes should be comfortable. If your tween wants to dress like Britney Spears or Lady Gaga, fine. It is Halloween, after all, even though the thought of your sweet little girl skanking herself up may well be cringe-inducing. Just make sure the outfit is comfy and that they won’t complain about skin rashes from all the spandex and fishnets at the end.

5. Masks are not a good idea. It is dark, and your kids need to be able to see while they’re going door-to-door collecting the goodies. That’s why they should ditch the masks – face paint is a better option.

6. Thoroughly check everything collected when your children get home. This is probably the most important thing to remember.

The minute your little goblins walk through the door, have them drop all of their loot on the table, and carefully inspect each piece. Anything wrapped that has even the slightest tear needs to be thrown out on the spot. 

It’s also a good idea to see if there are any places, such as hospitals, that will X-ray your kids’ stuff, to make sure it is safe. Things such as razor blades and sewing needles have been found this way.

Trust me when I say it’s worth it. There are crazy people all over – don’t take chances with your loved ones.

Stay safe. And Happy Halloween.