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Safe Trick-or-Treating Tips for Kids: How to Have a Fun and Secure Halloween

Halloween is a magical time for children filled with costumes, candy and spooky fun. However, it’s important to prioritize safety while enjoying the festivities. Whether you’re trick-or-treating in your neighborhood or attending an event, here are some tips to ensure a safe and fun experience for everyone:

  1. Stick Together: Always trick-or-treat in groups and make sure younger children are accompanied by a trusted adult. There’s safety in numbers. Staying with friends or family helps prevent wandering off.
  2. Choose Safe Costumes: Ensure that costumes fit properly and don’t pose tripping hazards. Avoid long hems or flowing fabric that could get caught. Opt for flame-resistant materials, especially when trick-or-treating near jack-o’-lanterns or candles.
  3. Use Reflective Gear: Trick-or-treating often happens after dark, so it’s important for children to be visible to drivers. Add reflective tape to costumes or candy bags and consider using glow sticks or flashlights to increase visibility.
  4. Check Treats Before Eating: Once trick-or-treating is done, make sure to inspect all candy before kids eat it. Discard anything that looks tampered with or isn’t in its original packaging. For little ones, be cautious of choking hazards like hard candy.
  5. Follow Pedestrian Rules: Remind children to stay on sidewalks and cross the street at designated crosswalks. Look both ways before crossing and never dart between parked cars. Being mindful of traffic is crucial, especially in busy areas.
  6. Set Candy Limits: While the excitement of candy is part of the fun, set limits on how much kids can eat at one time. Spacing it out not only prevents upset stomachs but also promotes healthy habits.
  7. Stay in Familiar Areas: Stick to well-lit, familiar neighborhoods for trick-or-treating. If possible, attend community events or trick-or-treat at local businesses that participate in Halloween events.

By following these simple tips, you can ensure your children enjoy Halloween safely while making lasting memories. Happy trick-or-treating!

Nebraska

Foster parents Eric and Nikkia Castillo are celebrating their adoption of two children! The Castillo family became a licensed foster home in Nebraska in April of 2023. The two children are a perfect forever fit for Eric and Nikkia.

Read more here!

Oklahoma

Randy and Karen Wingo have fostered for many years and have been fostering through TFI for about a year and a half. They always go above and beyond to achieve permanency for the children in their home. They are supportive of reunification efforts and help children achieve permanency.

Read more here!

Kansas

Leslie is from Independence, Kansas and has been a foster parent since 2014. She is a quiet soul with a big heart. Leslie has fostered more than 25 children and adopted four teen boys and one toddler.

Read more here!

Texas

Nathan & Megan Owen started their foster care journey in 2022 when they took in a sweet baby at a couple days old. They were able to provide the baby a loving and permanent home. After the baby’s adoption, the Owen’s continued to open their home to fostering.

Read more here!

Training Article:

How to Really Listen to Your Child

There’s no question that the middle school and high school years are tough. Social challenges follow kids home on their phones; academic pressure can be intense; and scary issues such as gun violence are all over the news. You might talk with your child about their feelings—but are you really listening?

Source: How to Listen to Your Child – Active Listening | Strong4Life

Read more!

More Trainings Available

Including:

  • Aggressive Behavior: Understanding and Managing
  • Attachment, Separation, Grief, and Loss
  • Creating Discipline and Appropriate Behaviors
  • Crisis Intervention and Verbal De-Escalation
  • Identifying Learning Strengths in Children

& many more! Click the link below to see all trainings offered between October and December.

Find classes HERE

Recruitment Corner

Our recruitment team is active in communities all over your state. We are starting a new activity on our TFI Village Facebook page where you can win TFI swag! Spot one of our recruiters in the community, snap a picture together and post on TFI Village. We will send you TFI swag as a “thank you” for supporting children and families and for making it fun.

Shelby is our Kansas recruiter. Earlier this month, she represented TFI in Topeka for the Miracle Mireya: Shaken Baby Syndrome event. Then, she set up camp at the Independence Zoo. She attended the Doo-Da Parade in Independence on October 24 and the Meadowbrook Mall Trunk or Treat in Pittsburg on October 26. She will be at Spring River Mental Health Trunk or Treat in Riverton on October 30. Who will find Shelby first?

In Oklahoma, we are all working together. At the beginning of the month, TFI gathered with DHS, other agencies and the tribes in a recruitment collaboration meeting to implement ways to recruit more foster parents in Oklahoma. Then, our Oklahoma team walked neighborhoods and placed informational door hangers on doors and talked with people about the great need for foster homes. One of our foster care workers and parents were featured on Stillwater Radio on October 18th and 25th! We are excited to share more about therapeutic foster care in Oklahoma so be looking for more information on this.

Traci is our Texas recruiter, and she really does travel the whole state! Early in the month, she represented TFI at Friendship Fest in Burkburnett. Then, she spoke at Granbury Kiwanis and shared TFI literature and swag with several local businesses there. Two days later, she was a vendor at the Wichita County Autism Association Trunk or Treat. She was also at the Archer County Foster Forum in Windthorst on October 24. Be on the lookout for Traci at Pumpkin Town Pumpkin Patch and Festival Vendor in Wichita Falls on October 26 and 27.  Who will find Traci first?

Below are our foster parents celebrating a milestone anniversary as a TFI Foster Parent! We love having you as part of Team TFI!

10 years+

David & Raven Harrison (11 years)

Peggy Crawford (12 years)

Henri Jean Howie & Murdice Sims (14 years)

Danny & Lisa Booth (16 years)

Jerry & Marcia Murry (18 years)

 

5 years

Patrick & Angel Brazeal

Michelle Garner

Jonathan & Kristen Whitacre

Timothy & Tammy Wolke

 

1 year 

Russ & Penny Dickenson

Patrick Dudding & Ashley Storrer

Roberto Goodman & Heather Littrell

Renee Johnson

Andrew Bills & Marina Bevilacqua

David & Amy Gooding

David & Laura Daigle

Michale Hale & Lachrista Santellana

QuanDre & Jacqueline Sewell