Community Corner

Family Forum: Parenting During Halloween

From setting trick-or-treating rules to costume limits, how do you handle the parenting challenges around this holiday?

Halloween season is a great time for families. But between the search for the greatest pumpkin and baking fall treats, the holiday brings some unique parenting challenges.

"As parents, we need to help our children find a healthy balance between excitement and fear, freedom and safety," said Dr. Karen Sokal-Gutierrez, M.D., M.P.H. on her Fisher Price parenting blog. "As fun as Halloween can be, it can also be scary for some children. And it can also be scary for adults because of concerns about the dangers for children."

According Sokal-Gutierrez, the National Safe Kids Campaign found that Halloween is the most dangerous night of the year for child pedestrians and that they are four times more likely to die from being hit by a car than on any other night of the year. Children are also at risk for falls, burns, poisoning, and abductions.

In addition to pedestrian safety on the actual night, parents struggle with setting rules about candy and price limits and appropriateness of costumes.

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What are the parenting challenges around Halloween? What are some of the rules you set for your kids in Farmingdale about trick-or-treating times, costumes and candy?

Join in the discussion by commenting below.

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