How to Keep the Fun in Halloween

It seems that each year, Halloween is becoming more and more of a celebrated holiday. The industry of manufacturing and selling Halloween costumes continues to grow and become more profitable each year. Even adults have taken to wearing Halloween costumes more than ever before. I have been to professional offices, schools, most shops, and even hospitals where the staff are all dressed up in silly costumes.

And, of course, this is the most important holiday of all for candy manufactureers. It seems that a week or two after Labor Day, the front displays of all of the supermarkets are overflowing with candy displays. I would imagine that dentists do a great business shortly after Halloween!

With that in mind, there are certain guidelines that I think would make Halloween a much more pleasant experience for everyone involved.

1. Make sure your children, especially the little ones, don't have their faces so covered up by the
costumes that they are wearing that their vision is impaired , or that their speaking and breathing could possible become affected.

2. Make sure that the costumes fit properly so that the children do not trip or fall down because the costumes are too long. I have seen little three year olds walking down the street tripping along, stepping all over their ill-fitting costumes. It could be a disaster waiting to happen!

3. If face make-up is involved, please make sure it is non-toxic, and made for children. It would be wise to keep it reasonably away from their eyes and mouth.

4. This almost sounds too obvious, but with little ones especially, make sure there is lots of adult supervision. I have seen four year olds out trick - or -treating with their eight year old siblings. An eight year old is not responsible enough to be taking charge of a little one, especially on a night with so much mischief going on as Halloween.

5. All trick-or-treaters should have a flashlight to light both roadways when crossing the street, and the walkways of the homes they are approaching.