When Halloween rolls around, children everywhere put on costumes and embark on an adventure to find the best treats. Trekking around at nighttime going door-to-door looking for the best Halloween candy in town is a favored late night activity. While parents typically enlist in a bunch of safety rules for their children like staying in a group and checking their candy before eating it, being cautious as a treat provider should be an important part of giving Halloween candy as well. Here are a few safety tips for providing treats in your neighborhood.

First of all, do not become a target. Single women and elderly couples are the most common people to be home during trick or treating and as trick or treating has become increasingly popular with teenagers and young adults, a tone of naughty and mischievous emerges. Beware of intentions of toilet papering homes to demanding the best Halloween candy. If you want to provide treats to visitors, make sure your home is brightly lit and all entrances (including windows) are secure. Also have friends over to share in the treats so that you are not faced alone with large groups of tricks.

Next, help parents out by being conscious of what kind of candy you choose. Make sure pieces are individually wrapped and none are damaged. Pick a healthier option like a granola bar or trail mix. Be sure to buy plenty to go around, and if you have extra, it is always easy to donate at local shelters or hospitals at this time. Avoid passing germs by placing the treat in their bag yourself rather than having each child reach into the same bowl of candy. Giving out one Halloween candy per trick or treat is a good practice to ensure fairness for the children and efficiency for the parents. By only providing one choice of Halloween candy makes it easier for you to interact with the children and faster for the parents to stop at the numerous houses on the block.

A final tip to keep you safe as well as those out trick or treating is to ask questions. Find out the names and area groups of kids are from. This way, you can keep track of who is coming to your home in case anything should go wrong during their visit. Anything from becoming ill to a missing lawn gnome is possible on the magical night of Halloween. Also, the lure of Halloween candy can mislead children farther from their home than they intended. A costumed child becoming lost or missing is a parent's worst nightmare, so if you were one of their stops and are able to provide simple information of whether they were there and which direction they were going can be a huge help.

Celebrating a spooky holiday with bags of Halloween candy and frolicking throughout the night is a long honored tradition enjoyed by many. Remember though, Halloween does not end with children. When you find yourself being a treat provider on this night, take an important look on what you are giving out, including your home, Halloween candy, and your observance. By actively protecting your home, your visitors, and your self, you can ensure a fun and safe Halloween night for everybody!