While some teens still use Halloween as an occasion to go house to house for trick or treating, many teens (and adults) spend their Halloween or a nearby weekend night dressing up and attending fun Halloween themed parties. Halloween has become one of the biggest drinking holidays of the year, and is a high stakes occasion for our teens. Coming early in the school year, Halloween celebrations can help set the stage for behavior around drugs and alcohol for the rest of the year. This makes family conversations around Halloween plans and expectations all the more important.

How do we let our children have fun and celebrate while staying safe? Make sure you have conversations with your child about their plans and your expectations. In addition to behavior expectations, be sure to include pedestrian safety tips and reminders about safe driving during times of high pedestrian traffic. And remember these precautions yourself when you drop off or pick up your child at a Halloween celebration. NCUFY is partnering with the Town of New Castle Police Department this year to support increased police patrols during the Halloween season to help keep our kids safe.

To learn more about keeping safe at Halloween and tips to share with your child, read our 2017 Halloween post. For more information about pedestrian and vehicle safety on Halloween, check out these articles:

https://exchange.aaa.com/safety/child-safety/halloween-safety/#.W9DwRhNKgcg

https://www.nhtsa.gov/halloween-safety-tips

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-safety/smart-road-tips-for-halloween-car-safety/

https://www.safekids.org/tip/halloween-safety-tips