Safety Trick or Treating Tips for Teens
Halloween is an exciting time for children of all ages and teenagers are no exception. Halloween allows them to dress up in their favorite spooky costume and get together with their friends for a frightfully good time. The following are some important precautions that your teen should take in order to stay safe while trick-or-treating.
- Know their location
Whether they are going Trick-or-Treating or to a Halloween party, you should know where your teenager is at all times. Have them tell you their travel destination. Know who they are going with. They should have a designated route for Trick-or-Treating or for traveling to and from the Halloween party. Discourage them from going into strange neighborhoods or heading off without checking in with you first.
- Stay in contact
If there is a time that your teenager needs their cell phone, it is now. Make sure that their phone is charged and working properly. Stay in contact with your teen throughout the night.
- Assign a designated driver
If there is a Halloween party, chances are that there will be alcohol. Although you may have warned your teen about drinking they, or one of their friends, may become intoxicated. Stress the importance of having a designated driver if this situation should occur.
- Watch their food
Discourage your teenager from sharingdrinkswith their friends or others while at a Halloween party. Also, warn them against accepting drinks from strangers or returning to drinks or food that they left unattended even for a brief moment. Predators have been known slip drugs into their victim’s food and drinks.
- Check all candy
Just like their younger brothers and sisters, teenagers need to check their candy and other food items before eating it. Make sure that it hasn’t been tampered with. If in doubt, throw it out!
- Look out for young Trick-or-Treaters
If your teen isdrivingthis holiday, warn them to drive slowly and to look out for younger Trick-or-Treaters. Halloween masks can obscure vision. Warn them to take extra special precautions when backing out of driveways as small children can be difficult to see and may run up behind cars without looking.
- Stay with the group
Encourage your teenager stay with the group. Discourage them from wandering off alone or into secluded places. There is safety in numbers, so have them stick with a group.
- Reflective colors
Darkness can interfere with vision. If your teen is walking, have them wear light colors or addreflective tapeto their outfit. This will make them visible to motorists.
- Beware of strangers
Your teenager is no longer a young child, but they can still become the target of predators. Remind them to beware of strangers, and encourage them to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity.
Halloween is a fun time of year, and teenagers may especially enjoy all the ghoulish activities of the night. However, Halloween can be a dangerous time of year. Help keep your teen safe by having them following the above safety tips.
