{"id":22402,"date":"2019-10-10T10:42:17","date_gmt":"2019-10-10T18:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=22402"},"modified":"2022-09-09T09:35:56","modified_gmt":"2022-09-09T17:35:56","slug":"3-halloween-safety-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/3-halloween-safety-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Halloween Safety Tips Parents May Be Overlooking"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Halloween is nearly here and you\u2019ve never been more prepared. You\u2019ve ordered your kids\u2019 costumes, set up all the decorations and purchased entirely too much candy for a single neighborhood of children. You\u2019ve even talked to your kids about what they need to do to stay safe when they\u2019re out trick-or-treating on the big night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s just one thing you may not have considered. Most parents don\u2019t \u2014 it\u2019s a danger that hides in plain sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The uncomfortable truth is that your children may knock on the door of someone that isn\u2019t trustworthy, or worse, may have a criminal past. While you\u2019ve already done your best to pick a safe neighborhood, the unfortunate reality is that convicted pedophiles and sex offenders can reside in any community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best thing you can do as a parent is to use the internet to plan your child\u2019s trick-or-treating route in a way you never have before. Proactive parents like you stay ahead of the game. Here\u2019s how you can gain a better awareness of the world around you and your children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 Steps for Safe Trick-or-Treating<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Some states have certain restrictions that prevent registered sex offenders from displaying decorations or handing out candy. That being said, it\u2019s important for you to know where these individuals live and to actively avoid their homes while trick-or-treating with your little ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no such thing as being too cautious. Your awareness as a parent can make all the difference. Here are three steps every parent should take to make sure their kids are safe out there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Look up county crime statistics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When selecting a neighborhood, it\u2019s important to understand whether or not it\u2019s a safe place overall. You can check out county safety statistics by searching any street address<\/a> within a potential trick-or-treating zone. This can give you insight into the county\u2019s crime rates and generate an estimated Safety Score that you can use to compare with other local areas.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Search for nearby sex offenders<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve pinpointed an area that satisfies your safety requirements, check out the Nearby Sex Offender tab. You\u2019ll be able to access a list of registered offenders in the vicinity. Each available listing will give you their name, age, and physical description. For a small additional fee, you\u2019ll be able to see exactly where they live. Make a list of those addresses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: Draw a trick-or-treating map<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Print out a map of the neighborhood you\u2019ve selected. If there are any sex offenders, take the list of addresses you jotted down and mark them with a big X on the map. Then give it to your kids and ask them to draw a route that avoids the marks. If they ask, you can explain by saying that those X\u2019s represent homes notorious for giving out only healthy snacks or toothbrushes. Now that you\u2019ve got your map, you and your family are free to get out there and collect enough  candy that you\u2019ll be able to hibernate through the winter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What If I Find a Sex Offender My Area?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a good policy to make sure that you know your neighbors<\/a> but especially when it comes to Halloween. Some people get rattled if they run a search only to discover there are known sex offenders in their area. If you do discover someone with a criminal past, don\u2019t freak out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can still take your kids trick-or-treating in the area, just be sure that you pick an alternate route or stay on the other side of the street. Talk to other parents in the community and make sure they\u2019re aware of your discovery. You can even take charge and organize a community trick-or-treating group so that you can work together as a community to keep your kids out of harm\u2019s way.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We know you\u2019ve done your best to make this the safest (and most fun) holiday for your child. Odds are you\u2019ve probably already covered most of this, but for the sake of thoroughness, here are some additional tips to keep your kids safe on Halloween.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

8 More Tips to Keep your Tricksters Safe on Halloween:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n