https://blogs.mercola.com:443/sites/vitalvotes/archive/2019/10/19/a-warning-to-parents-check-your-childs-halloween-candy.aspxWhat once may have seemed like a harmless tradition &mdash; running door to door on Halloween in a spooky costume, collecting candy from neighbors &mdash; has turned into anything but. Every year around this time, parents are reminded to do a thoroughenCommunityServer 2008.5 SP1 (Debug Build: 31106.3070)https://blogs.mercola.com:443/sites/vitalvotes/archive/2019/10/19/a-warning-to-parents-check-your-childs-halloween-candy.aspx?ShowAllComments=True#96825910/22/2019 10:02:52 AM24451277-a5aa-4add-96dc-64081bfd86fa:968259Jackaroni<p>I live in the International District in my city and many of my immigrant neighbors don&#39;t understand Halloween and are frightened of strangers in costume knocking on their door at night. &nbsp;I discovered this taking my oldest out trick or treating for the first time as a toddler, she was dressed up as a mouse. &nbsp;Had a few doors slammed in our faces, so only went to the houses of close friends, and as my kids got older we went to a friend&#39;s neighborhood where Halloween wasn&#39;t something to be feared.</p> <p>And yes, we get some interesting Trick or Treaters at our house. &nbsp;Two years ago a pregnant woman showed up at our door trick or treating for her unborn child, how weird is that?</p> https://blogs.mercola.com:443/sites/vitalvotes/archive/2019/10/19/a-warning-to-parents-check-your-childs-halloween-candy.aspx?ShowAllComments=True#96811610/21/2019 1:28:50 AM24451277-a5aa-4add-96dc-64081bfd86fa:968116Almond<p>Sad, but true. &nbsp;However, part of the problem is due to greed which is natural in children, but allowed by parents. &nbsp;When we were children, we could only go to the houses of neighbors and people we knew. &nbsp;Neighbors would hold back special homemade treats (or maybe a big candy bar) for children they knew--and they knew about how many to expect. &nbsp;Nowadays, we see parents driving whole carloads of children from distant locations. &nbsp;Many of the children are not local. &nbsp;Parents should discuss what a reasonable cut-off age is for children and plan alternative activities when they reach that age. &nbsp;Let&#39;s just say for the sake of argument, that if you are beyond high school age, you should definitely not be out trick-or-treating. &nbsp;It used to be that we would turn lights off at 8 p.m., thinking that was late enough for small children. &nbsp;If you could not afford treats or had a sick person in your home who should not be disturbed, you would also turn your lights off--there was a time when people respected that. &nbsp;Now, if your light is off, kids bang on the door. &nbsp;Some trick-or-treaters who come after 10 p.m. are adult-sized... you don&#39;t want to open your door to them. &nbsp;This is very bad behavior--too big and too late in the evening.</p> <p>Halloween is definitely an occasion for parenting. &nbsp;Also, teach children to say &quot;thank you&quot;. &nbsp;Make sure costumes do not drag on the ground (kids trip) and they can see out of them. &nbsp;What is wrong with homemade costumes? &nbsp;Do you really need to go shopping for something $extravagant$? &nbsp;I think this is just parental guilt for parents who do not make time for their children. &nbsp;I usually try to keep my house well-lighted and put up a small fence around flower beds, but kids will traipse right through them. &nbsp;Children should be taught to use driveways and sidewalks, too.</p> <p>Please, no more vandalism or pumpkin smashing. &nbsp;It is a sick mind that thinks that is &quot;fun&quot;. &nbsp;-But, then, I am preaching to the choir.</p>