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Halloween!

"Hey, let's be careful out there!"

Halloween is upon us once again. Here in Kentlands that means there will be some great decorations, parties in the mews, and a LOT of kids in the streets. To quote somebody, possibly Rob Garretson, “keep calm and party on!”

To quote somebody, definately Sergeant Phil Esterhaus, “Hey, let’s be careful out there!”

Being careful starts with slowing down a bit, watching the road ahead with extra attention, and checking the nearby walks. Stop at the stop signs. The little ones tend to get overexcited when they encounter a “full tilt Kentlands Halloween” and may not be following orders, like “wait for me!” very effectively.

Some things for parents to do:

  1. Make sure that children are supervised by a very attentive adult. The crowds can be daunting, especially on Treehaven and Booth.
  2. Be very aware of cars, especially where the street begins to become passable. Some folks get frustrated with the human traffic jam and may begin “the great escape” before they are completely clear of the excited kids.
  3. Keep multiple kids in a group that is small enough for adequate supervision. See (1).
  4. Markers for children: a helium balloon tied to a wrist can help find a small escapee (see (1)); light colored costumes are easier to find and easier for drivers to spot (see (2)); and costumes with lights can be the most observable of all.
  5. Plan a trick or treat route that fits with the kids’ age; the most crowded areas may not be the best for our smallest ghosts and goblins and spider people.
  6. Make sure you know who your teenagers are with, where they are going, and when they expect to get home.
  7. Inspect candy and other treats before letting the children eat them (Or do your best; seeing a bit of litter around the community the next day has convinced me that some candy escapes that inspection part).

Halloween is one of the “most fun” holidays of the year. Parties and costumes and candy make it so. A little caution on all our parts can do a lot to keep it that way.