Halloween is a great kid’s holiday, full of costumes, candy
and, for some kids, a day off from school! Normally, we tell our kids not to
accept candy from strangers and not to talk to strangers, but this is the one
day each year when those rules often don’t apply. So, who is safe to approach? Which
houses/apartments are safe or are they all fair game? Can you take a treat from
someone in the street? These are all questions that a child may have. —
To ensure it’s a safe and happy Halloween be sure to sit
down and discuss the DOs and DON’Ts with your children:
-DO behave whether at a party, trick-or-treating or even
answering the door. Just because you are dressed as a witch or a ghost does not
mean you get to act like one.
-DO say “thank you” any time you get a treat, even if you
don’t like it. If it’s a bowl of treats, one per person is the rule of thumb.
-DO go to houses/apartments where your parents said it was ok
to trick-or-treat.
-DON’T go trick-or-treating alone—always go with a parent or
caregiver and only go to homes that you know and that your parents ok’d.
-DON’T knock more than twice, if no one answers move on to
the next home.
-DON’T go to homes that don’t have a front light on or
apartments that haven’t signed up for trick-or-treaters, they may have run out
of candy or are just not participating in Halloween this year.
-DON’T grab more than one treat unless it is offered to you.
Knowledge is empowerment, so be sure to teach the vital
social interaction skills while trick-or-treating before setting your child out
on the town. Prior to the big day, have your child ring your doorbell and go
through a practice trick-or-treat run using eye contact, a greeting and a thank
you. Also, if your child is older, act out a trick or treat scenario with an
adult he/she might know and discuss how that would be different.
Happy Halloween from socialsklz:-)!
socialsklz:-)
has locations on the Upper East Side, Upper
West Side, Tribeca and Brooklyn.
For more information, visit socialsklz.com.
