Trick-or-Treat with Confidence: A Safety Guide for Families & Communities
Tips and tools to make Halloween safer and more fun for you and your kids.
Halloween is one of those magical nights where kids get to be whoever they want—superheroes, princesses, monsters—and fill their bags with candy. But as a mom of four, I know it's also one of the most anxiety-inducing nights of the year for parents.
The reality? Halloween night sees a significantly higher risk of pedestrian accidents. Between excited kids darting between houses, early darkness, and costumes that limit visibility, there's a lot that can go wrong.
In fact, research from Morning Consult reveals that parents and caregivers identify Halloween as the highest-anxiety holiday when it comes to keeping their children safe. In a survey of parents with children ages 6 and older, more than 3 out of 4 parents shared they’re turning to technology, including smart watches and location sharing apps to help ease their concerns during trick-or-treating.
The good news? With some planning and the right tools, our kids can have the independence they crave while parents can have peace of mind. Here's what I've learned works.
The three essentials: Visibility, Communication and Awareness
Visibility: Being seen in the dark
As dusk sets in early, visibility becomes a major concern. Bright, reflective costumes are ideal, but if your child insists on being a black cat or ninja, add reflective tape to their bag, shoes, and costume. A smartphone's flashlight feature or a smartwatch with a built-in light can help them see and be seen—especially helpful for younger kids whose hands are full of candy.
Communication: Staying connected when it counts
For younger children, staying close is non-negotiable. But for older kids ready for more independence, pre-plan the route and set clear check-in times. Nine in 10 parents will monitor their trick-or-treaters, with most using a smartphone or wearable devices. In fact, more than half of Latino parents (53%) say that giving their child their own phone or smartwatch gives them peace of mind about their children's safety when trick-or-treating. Having a reliable network means you can reach them—and they can reach you—when it matters most.
Did you know? Among parents with children over 6, 75% report using location sharing features to monitor their children's whereabouts on Halloween night.
The Gizmo Watch 3 bridges the gap between independence and supervision for younger trick-or-treaters, allowing them to call, text and video chat with up to 20 trusted contacts—without exposure to social media or the open internet.
Beyond the standard safety reminders, you can set GPS boundaries for trick-or-treating through the Gizmo Hub app and receive alerts if your child leaves the designated area. A great option for our community, as Latino parents are more likely to use a phone or smartwatch to stay in touch with kids during trick-or-treating, compared to all other parents. Available in two models—Gizmo Watch 3 ($149.99 or $20 off with a new line) with a camera for video calls, or Gizmo Watch 3 Adventure ($99.99) with the same great features minus the camera but with wireless charging. Regardless of what method they use, most parents monitoring their trick-or-treating kids are checking in on them multiple times an hour.
Awareness: Staying alert and safe
Kids get distracted by the excitement, so reinforce the basics before they head out: stay on sidewalks, use crosswalks, look both ways before crossing and make eye contact with drivers. And remind them to put phones away while crossing streets—distracted walking is just as dangerous as distracted driving.
The Safe Walk feature in the Verizon Family app (free for all customers) gives kids a safety net—they can share their real-time location with emergency contacts and send an SOS alert if they feel unsafe while trick-or-treating after dark. For families wanting more comprehensive oversight, Verizon Family Plus provides unlimited location sharing for on-demand updates when kids arrive at a specific location.
Making Halloween safe without taking away the fun
Halloween is about creating memories, not managing fears. The key is preparing our kids with clear expectations, equipping them with the right tools, and maintaining open communication.
Technology isn't about control—it's about empowering our children with independence while giving us the ability to step in when needed. And on a night like Halloween, that balance makes all the difference.
For more information about keeping your family safe and connected this Halloween and beyond, get free tips and advice from the experts at Verizon’s Parenting in a Digital World, filled with age-specific resources, up-to-date guidance, and real-life stories from other families like yours and mine.
Not a Verizon customer yet? Visit your nearest store to learn how Verizon's network and family safety tools can give you peace of mind year-round.
You’re there for them with Verizon Family. Verizon’s there for you—including our 3-year price lock.*
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