Perhaps it's just a sign of the times, but even when I was kid it seems Halloween was as synonymous with safety as it was with candy. In fact, most parents I know spend as much time on safety concerns as their kids do picking out costumes. The days when you could leave a full basket of candy on the front steps are clearly over, replaced by Amber alerts and tales of razor blades in apples (that one is a holdover from when I was a kid). So, question is, how do you have a safe Halloween that is also still a fun holiday?

Safety first, yes, but it can be fun, too. Glow sticks come to mind, for example, but how effective are they, really? If there were real danger, do you think a glow stick would come to the rescue? I doubt it. A flashlight would, though. Not only can you get a flashlight these days with light that seems darn near strong as the sun, truth be told a flashlight--a weighty one, anyway--can be used as a weapon to fend off an attacker if necessary. I don't think your kid has much of a chance of coming up against such an assailant, but it's nice to know she could be protected by a flashlight anyway. And, most likely, you'll be the one holding it, because you'll be with her. All this said, reflective clothing or reflective material sewn in strategic places on costumes, hats, coats and treat bags can help oncoming cars spot your little one in the night. Costumes should be light and non-restrictive as possible to allow kids maximum mobility.

Traveling in pairs or groups and sticking to neighborhoods you know is always recommended for trick or treating, as is creating a safe meeting place in case one of the party gets separated. Having an event at someone's home is always a good option for parents who don't want their kids roaming the streets at all hours. And, silly as it may sound, it's still important to check the candy. Setting limits on candy consumption is, to me, another safety concern. The last thing you want to do is spend hours keeping your kid safe on the streets only to have him barf sugar all over the place because he ate WAY too many Snickers bars. Trust me, I've seen it happen. Eww.

There are as many Halloween safety tips as there are minutes in the day, and far too many to count here. Is there any top safety tip on your list that should be included? If so, let us know!