Halloween is a big deal when you’re a kid. You’ve picked out your costume, figured out who you’re going with and probably thought through how much candy that bag can hold. For parents, there’s a little more planning involved.
At Frank Myers Auto Maxx, we love seeing local families come together for Trunk or Treat. Those community connections mean a lot to us, and we want everyone to enjoy the rest of the Halloween season safely, too.
The most useful trick-or-treating safety habits are simple: help children stay visible, supervise younger kids and cross streets carefully. Behind the wheel, slow down and watch for children who may step into the road unexpectedly. These precautions matter throughout Winston-Salem and the Piedmont Triad.
Decide where you’re going before the kids are standing at the door with their candy buckets. Choose familiar, well-lit streets and agree on when you’ll head home.
A responsible adult should accompany young children. If older children are ready to go without an adult, have them travel with friends, review their route together and set a firm return time. Remind everyone to stay with the group and never enter someone’s home or vehicle to get a treat.
For your own planning, consider more than the houses with the best decorations. Look at sidewalks, street crossings and where you can park without blocking a walkway. A shorter route that works for your family is a perfectly good Halloween.
A costume can look great in the living room and be difficult to see outside.
Add reflective material to costumes and treat bags, and bring a flashlight. Check that masks or hats don’t block your child’s view. Costumes should stay clear of the ground, and shoes should fit securely.
Have your child walk around in the complete outfit before leaving. That’s a better time to discover that a cape catches under their shoes than halfway down a neighbor’s steps. Look for flame-resistant costume labels, too.
The next house will still have candy after you cross safely.
Use sidewalks and crosswalks whenever available. If there’s no sidewalk, walk facing traffic, as far from moving vehicles as practical. Put phones away while walking, especially when approaching a crossing. North Carolina’s Division of Public Health also recommends reflectors and flashlights to help drivers see pedestrians.
At intersections, check for vehicles coming from every direction, including turning traffic. Keep looking as you cross. A marked crossing is a place to stay alert, even when you expect drivers to stop.
You don’t have to be taking children trick-or-treating to help keep them safe. Anyone driving through a neighborhood has a part to play.
On Halloween:
Reduce your speed. Give yourself time to react if a child steps into the street.
Put your phone away. Keep your attention on the road and the sidewalks.
Watch around parked vehicles. A small child can be difficult to see.
Back out carefully. Check around your vehicle and continue looking as you move.
Turn on your headlights early. Stay especially alert as daylight fades.
Arrange a sober ride if you’re drinking. Make that plan before the celebration begins.
AAA’s Halloween guidance emphasizes these precautions for drivers sharing neighborhood streets with trick-or-treaters.
Even if you’re running late, give the family at the corner time to get across.
Make the candy check part of the plan before leaving home. A meal or snack beforehand can help children wait until they’re back.
The FDA recommends checking treats before children eat them, sticking with commercially wrapped candy and discarding anything with damaged packaging or a suspicious appearance. Read ingredient labels for food allergies. For very young children, remove choking hazards such as hard candy, gum, peanuts and small toys.
Sorting the candy together gives parents a chance to check it while kids show off what they collected.
If you’re handing out candy, take a few minutes to check the route from the sidewalk to your door.
Clear away hoses, toys and loose decorations. Sweep wet leaves off steps, check the porch light and keep pets away from arriving trick-or-treaters. Battery-operated lights are a good choice for pumpkins near visitors.
Consider offering a separate nonfood option, such as stickers, for children with food allergies.
And give every child a little patience. Some may need extra time on the steps or may not say “trick or treat” out loud. They’re still welcome to enjoy the evening.
If your plans include a trunk-or-treat or fall festival in Winston-Salem, Clemmons, Kernersville, Greensboro or High Point, check the organizer’s current announcement before making the trip.
Confirm the date, hours, location and any registration requirements. Look for weather updates, too. An event graphic shared from a previous year can look current at a glance.
For Winston-Salem activities, the City of Winston-Salem is one place to begin checking local listings. Follow up with the host for details about the specific event you plan to attend.
Check your neighborhood’s plans or the event organizer’s posted schedule for start and end times. For younger children, consider an earlier activity while visibility is better and before they get overtired. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests checking for earlier community activities when neighborhood trick-or-treating begins after dark.
Older children who are ready to go without an adult should still travel with friends. Parents should approve the route and agree on a return time. Readiness depends on the child and the setting; a birthday alone doesn’t settle that decision.
Walk facing traffic and stay as far from moving vehicles as possible. Use a flashlight and reflective materials. When planning your outing, favor routes with sidewalks and clear places to cross.
Winston-Salem is home to our dealership, and the families across the Triad are our neighbors. We appreciate every parent walking along with a candy bucket, every neighbor making room on the porch and every driver taking a little extra care.
From all of us at Frank Myers Auto Maxx, have a fun, safe Halloween. Share these reminders with someone who’s taking the kids out this year—and save a little candy for whoever carries the tired superhero home.
