If you’re a kid, it honestly doesn’t get much better than Halloween. Dressing up as your favorite character, cruising the neighborhood with friends, and eating buckets full of candy & treats is what it’s all about! And while younger kids are happy to trick or treat with mom and dad, older kids may yearn for a little more independence as the years go by.
As parents, of course we want our little ghouls and goblins to have a blast, but we also want that extra peace of mind knowing they are safe during their Halloween adventures. Let's explore some innovative ways to keep the "eek!" in Halloween without the actual scares!
Stay Connected with Wearable Tech
If you were raised in the 80’s or 90’s, you probably remember trick or treating on your own—it felt like it was no big deal. But things look and feel a lot different today. Streets are busier, you’re less connected to your neighbors, and keeping track of excited trick-or-treaters can be challenging.
Enter the Cosmo Smartwatch, our kids smartwatch that helps you stay in contact with your littles via text or phone, and even keep tabs on their location in real-time through our Mission Control parent app. A recent CNET article notes this can be a great first step when you’re not quite ready to hand over a fully loaded smartphone, giving parents peace and kids the freedom to trick-or-treat around the neighborhood with friends. The best part? Kids love wearing them because they feel grown-up and independent.
Make a Spooktacular Game Plan
Another way to set your family up for success is to create a map of the streets you’re planning to trick or treat, along with a timeline so everyone’s on the same page. You can create a game plan in case someone gets lost or needs to ask for help. You can also establish regular check-in times using their smartwatch or a smartphone. Make it fun by having a special Halloween code word! Having safe adults/friends in the neighborhood your kids know they can go to if they need help or in case of emergencies is also helpful for Halloween and beyond.
Illuminate the Night
With the days getting shorter, visibility is also something to consider when gearing up to head out for the night. Bright colored costumes are great, and SafeKids.org even suggests incorporating reflective materials into kid’s costumes and bags. But another simple solution when these don’t mesh with your kids’ costume is to grab glow sticks and flashlights. Add a bracelet here, an anklet there, you can even get creative and add glow sticks to their hats and accessories! Fun and functional - glow sticks on Halloween are pretty hard to beat!
With a little bit of prep and your favorite kiddos in tow, this Halloween is sure to be one your family will never forget! Plus, you can relax a little bit more and enjoy watching your little monsters have a howling good time this Halloween (and don't forget to snag a piece of candy for yourself – parent tax 😉).
Have any pro trick-or-treating tips of your own? Drop them in the comments!
