Trick or Treat: Teens, Safety, and The Learning Long View

Trick Or Treat: Teens and Safety

We will take the “treats” please!  Our favorite candy this time of year?  Popcorn balls and Butterfingers.  We know you have a favorite, too.  

Right about now, all our teens are doing the same thing we did at their age - strategizing for a fun gameplan on Oct. 31^st. 

We thought long and hard about this week’s blog because we normally talk about helping other parents make the last season with their nearly-flown kids a roaring success. From preparing in high school for “life after English Class” to teen taxes, we’ve been there.  But Halloween safety and life-time payoff teaching moments?  Yes!

In point of fact, any safety guidelines we discuss here actually work no matter what the time of year or the event.  After football games, after class parties and after a group party at their best bud’s house all qualify.  Did we mention college?  Hmmm.

Also, every activity our kids engage in during their last season with us should be viewed as an educational opportunity for life.  

 So here are few things to remember as you watch your teen charge out the front door:

1. Driving Safety

What a challenge for all on this crazy evening.  Don’t forget that last minute sit down with them covering driving regulations, and staying away from highly trafficked kid areas.  If they need to be in that area, wouldn’t parking a bit further away and walking be a helpful suggestion?

2. The # Allowed in the Car

Do they drive or perhaps one of their friends have the wheel?  How many kids, by law, are allowed in the car with them? Even that could be too many for common sense and your instincts.  Laying down the ground rules before they walk out the door could save heartache later. 

3. Noise in the Car.

Encourage your child to be the one to “help keep it down” in the car.  Noise distracts everyone – and especially the driver.  By the way, how safe is that driver?  

4. The Party

You know this by now of course.  Who is hosting, are there enough adult chaperones, alcohol prohibited, etc.? Suggestion:  have them check in with you on a systematic basis.

5. Suggest alternative plans

Not wild about the proposed evening plans you hear from your teen?  There are great alternatives at your disposal.

• Put together a scary movie night for them and their friends. Snacks don’t need to be elaborate, just theme appropriate.
• Be the mom that volunteers to drive them around seeing the local haunted house
• Combine candy and a “hunt”. If you have kids at your house, you can “hide” the candy for them to find. 
• It might not be too late to have them volunteer to help churches, organizations and philanthropies in children’s activities.

6. A few last thoughts:
   • Encourage them to stay in groups
   • Wear light clothing
   • Only drink a soft beverage that they have kept their eyes on from the minute it was opened or poured.
   • Discourage tricks and applaud treats!
   • Don't forget candy safety.  (manufactured wrapping only, trusted givers, etc.). 

The Parent Long View

As we look creatively on how to bring learning from the traditional classroom to their “outside” life, many of the above activities do just that.  From planning ahead, to volunteering in an area that might interest them, to learning to relate to others on a social level, when we pull back our parent glasses for that future view of our kids, this last season offers so much to take advantage of.

As always, read the above with your family and its' needs and adapt accordingly.  We opted for having a party for our kids at our house one year.  It was fabulous.  We were exhausted, but those memories are amazing.  

You CAN Have Success in the Middle of it ALL !

Pam & Holly