

- Dress for the weather – but don’t sacrifice the costume. This might sound silly, but kids take their costumes seriously! The weather can change at a moments notice – this is Indiana after all! I remember as a child getting so mad when my mom made me wear a coat over my newest princess dress. So if it was really cold she would layer my brothers and I up with long sleeves and sweatshirts under our costumes. I’m sure we looked like giant marshmallows, but we were happy everyone could still appreciate our costumes.
- Have a good candy carrier. Nothing is more disappointing than getting halfway through the neighborhood and the bottom of your trick or treat bag falling out and candy going everywhere. Places like Dollar General, Walmart and Target have cheap, but durable, bags and buckets made just for getting the maximum candy haul possible!
- Go in a group, stay in a well lit neighborhood, and have an adult present. I sound like my mom, and I’m sure this gets the giant eye roll from the older kids, but looking back now at my trick or treating days, they’re good rules of thumb. I always trick or treated with my brothers, cousins and friends and it was so much fun! Sometimes the little kids went too slow and the older kids went too fast but it’s still a fun memory. As for having an adult, for some this may seem like a no brainer, but it’s probably really easy to scoot the kids out the door and get a little peace before they come home on a sugar high. Having someone along that can keep the kids moving and also keep a little watch on others that are out and about can give everyone a little piece of mind! (And can be a good excuse to dress up yourself, or in my, case dress up your dog!) Fort Wayne has tons of trick or treat friendly neighborhoods!