Although me and my family never recognized nor celebrated Halloween, I thought this a relevant article for the security minded parent if you so choose to allow your kids to go door to door to complete strangers homes asking for candy that could be poisoned or tampered with. Just sayin’..there are much safer alternatives for kids nowadays than this risky venture.-SF
Halloween is rapidly approaching. It used to be an extravaganza of creepy frivolity, unfortunately the bad guys of the world now require the hovering of helicopter parents checking for razors in their child’s candy — though as a kid, I was always sure this was just a means for parents to steal the best treats. Recently everything from moving trick-or-treating away from Halloween night to prevent hoodlums from wreaking havoc, to the dangers of invisible body suit costumes make parents and communities freak out.
Instead of being part of the problem, here are five ways you can keep your child safe and make your neighborhood a fun place for Halloween.
- Conduct Reconnaissance
A leader’s reconnaissance is crucial to the success of any tactical mission. Parents should perform a reconnaissance of the target neighborhood or their own with an eye toward safety and candy-acquisition variables. A creepy house without decorations meets the bypass criteria, while a creepy house because it is highly decorated and people are in the spirit is a target of opportunity. There are many web-based tools for parents to take a look at safety issues in a neighborhood (child predator, crime maps, and the police blotter).
Outside of glaring safety issues, providing 360-degree security on Halloween night is always a good bet. If you have older kids who don’t want mom or dad nearby, maintain an overwatch position from a distance — like the porch, sidewalk, or the entrance to the cul-de-sac where your child is trick-or-treating. Don’t forget to maintain regular communications with your candy scouts, or to pool resources with other families, and have fun.
Read the Remainder at Task and Purpose
Reblogged this on Brittius.