ALT-1 Trick or Treating Safety Tips for Teens
The fun in Halloween doesn’t go away after the toddler years, many teens still enjoy trick-or-treating because of the social aspect and of course the candy. The notion of being able to play pretend and dress in your favorite costume is something that children of all ages and many adults still cherish. Although the safety guidelines for teens trick-or-treating can be a much shorter list than if it were a young child, there are still many things to consider when it come to Halloween festivities.
Groups
Just as it would be unsafe to allow a young child to trick-or-treat by themselves, teens should go in groups while going door-to-door on Halloween. Although they may not need the handheld guidance of a parent, it’s important to trick-or-treat in groups because of the many safety hazards that can come from such a busy holiday.
Groups allow for safety in numbers when it comes to outside dangers like strangers looking to harm young teens. Going in a group can allow for more lookout eyes and can ensure that everyone makes it home safely.
Visibility
Teens can sometimes feel invincible when it comes to issues involving visibility. While younger children are usually dressed in reflective clothing and light-up shoes, many teens feel they no longer need high visibility aspects on their clothing. However, the visibility factor is more than just a parent wanting to see their child safely. Visibility also has to do with oncoming traffic when being on-foot in heavily used or even side streets.
Also, it’s important to limit the use of masks or eyewear while trick-or-treating. These items can hinder visibility in terms of oncoming traffic, as well as being able to see your surroundings and potential threats. Although many costumes include masks, it’s important to forgo these items to adhere to safety when it comes to trick-or-treating.
Accessibility
Even teens should restrict their trick-or-treating to places that are easily accessible. Avoiding dimly lit doorways or doors with obscure or hidden entries like side or backdoors is a huge safety guideline for trick-or-treaters. While it’s obvious to stay away from strangers or getting into an unknown car, it can just as important to trick-or-treat in places that are easily viewable and accessible to the general public.
Trick-or-treating is a fun activity that is a time honored tradition to participate in each year. Everyone from small children, tweens and teens should all be aware of their surroundings when they are partaking in Halloween festivities. While many counties have a strict curfew on how late people are able to trick-or-treat, there are still many areas where it’s completely normal to see trick-or-treaters long after the sun goes down. It’s important to adhere to safety guidelines while trick-or-treating in general but more so if trick-or-treating after dark.
