How do you feel about your kids taking candy from strangers? Are you going door-to-door or a safe trick or treat? When I was little, my brothers and I went door to door on our street. It was right around the same time as some people found razor blades in candy and were worried about anthrax poisoning. Of course, we knew our neighbors. We felt safe.
Now that I have my own child it’s hard to say I want to continue the tradition. I plan on taking him trick or treating but I don’t really know my neighbors. Not that I’m full-blown paranoid. The average person isn’t going to do anything bad to anyone’s kid but who knows where the bad apples are. I really need to find a better place to go to.
If you feel the same I highly recommend looking local for safe trick or treats. Check Facebook, your child’s school, or in your local ads (radio, TV, and the newspaper).
Places to Check for Safe Trick or Treat Near Home
- Churches
- Community centers
- Malls
- Sports clubs
- Campuses / Schools
- Grandparents neighborhood
Churches
I prefer churches. Hopefully, you’re talking about church people. Decent people. Inside the church is ideal. There’s a lot of control over the candy. The church or a handful of volunteers bought it and have anything to do with it. And there might even be bounce houses to add to the fun!
Community Centers
Community centers like the YMCA may have something awesome in your area. Ours had a ton of activities and loads of candy. The teens probably will jump out from somewhere to scare you.
Malls
We just went to the mall this year. A local radio station ran it. There were activities and candy. It was nice to be able to bail wherever we wanted. Aiden is still scared of masks so whenever he got a little scared we just ducked into a shop or turned around.
Sports Clubs
The baseball stadium on campus has its own safe trick or treat. You have a limit to the distance you have to walk and definitely control where the candy comes from.
Campuses / Schools
The sororities and fraternities often need to do volunteer work. Our campus holds a safe trick or treat on Halloween as an alternative to regular trick or treating. There may also be something at your kid’s school or future school. With a lock-in or trick or treating.
Grandparents’ Neighborhood
In case any of these don’t work out why not go back to the old neighborhood. If you still live close enough to the old neighborhood or your parents are in a better neighborhood than yours why not go there.
Safe Trick or Treat
These are just a few ideas that you can check out this year. Be safe and careful out there. Trick or Treat and have lots of fun.
Pin it: Safe Trick or Treat
P.S. I’m making Aiden a ghost costume for this year. Keep your eyes out for that DIY post later this month.
Check out some of the ideas on Pinterest on my Halloween board.