HALLOWEEN IS HERE ... MAKE IT SAFE AS WELL AS FUN

Each year, with the looming of the harvest moon through the damp autumn mist, an ancient yet merry tradition unfolds for children throughout the land. So strong and alluring is this custom, that it still beckons children from their warm, cheery homes sacks in hand and sends them out into the night, slipping from door to door, seeking treats from kindly neighbors.

In centuries past, this custom born before Christianity came to northern Europe took costumed children along winding paths where shadows seeped and crawled, where goblins lurked behind the black trunks of trees, where owls hooted their warnings from barren canopies overhead. Sometimes, if the wind howled just right, a nasty troll would seem to stir beneath a bridge to knock on the planks above, threatening to eat the owners of the pattering feet and the gaggle of giggles that awakened him from his sleep.

Halloween will keep its ancient appointment once again, and with it will come the costumes, candy, makeup and merriment that so delighted trick-or-treating children throughout the ages.

A child development specialist at North Carolina State University offers Halloween safety tips to help parents ensure that the ghosts, goblins and trolls that frolicked through childish imaginations remain where they belong ... in the imagination.

"Halloween has always held a special place in the hearts of children," says Dr. Karen DeBord, a child development specialist in the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. "It's a time of venturing forth, of eating special treats, of dressing up and pretending to be a cartoon character, an action figure or a blending of those. But Halloween can also present some increased risks, especially for children trick-or-treating. If parents take certain prudent precautions, this holiday can be fun, inexpensive and above all safe."

DeBord offers the following suggestions for a safe, enjoyable Halloween for trick-or-treaters, their parents and their kindly neighbors:

• Adult supervision of all Halloween activities for children of all ages can help prevent merriment from escalating into accidents or mischief. This is especially true for trick-or-treating.
• Make sure that costumes allow visibility; if in doubt, choose makeup over masks.
• Avoid costumes that drag on the ground; these can cause a child to trip.
• Take a flashlight along and wear safe, comfortable shoes.
• Fabrics and fibers for costumes should be flame retardant.
• DO NOT enter neighborhoods with which you are not familiar.
• Discuss etiquette as well as safety with children before you all go trick-or-treating; "please" and "thank you" are terms your children should learn early on, trick-or-treating or not.
• Skip houses or apartments that have darkened porches or windows; some people don't care to participate. And ... insist that children forego the "trick" part of trick-or-treating. That part of the Halloween tradition is best eliminated.
• Children can enjoy a bonus of candy without overdoing it; monitor how much they eat.
• Treats should not be eaten until trick-or-treaters arrive home. Children and parents together should check treats to ensure they are wrapped and have not been tampered with.
• Establish an age limit, depending on personality and maturity, for children who have aged out of trick-or-treating. Explore safe alternative activities such as a small costume party at home, a movie with friends or a special outing.
• Some parents of young children seek alternatives to trick-or-treating, such as games where children work together to accomplish goals, scavenger hunts with a pot of goodies and a fun video to watch at the end, or activities offered by a neighborhood or a community organization, malls or churches.
• To minimize expense, encourage your children to exercise their creativity and make their own costumes, to dig around in old trunks and jewelry boxes for accessories and to recycle older siblings' finery.

Now ... as the magic huddle of ghosts and goblins await us on the last night of this month, your children can build their own memories of a safe, happy Halloween.

And the same to you!