Just when you thought you had all of the Halloween safety tips down -- there's a new trend to worry about if you have tweens and teens.
Word on the street is that those always creative kids are now into Vodka-soaked gummy bears. There are web articles and youtube videos teaching kids how to infuse the candy with booze. Apparently, these gummies really soak up the alcohol and it's odorless, which makes it easier to fool parents (teachers, police, etc) who don't know about the trend.
So let's review the Halloween safety list one more time. Just like we don't want to be caught with our pants down, we don't want to be out of the loop.
1. Set a curfew for around 8PM on the night of Halloween... 11PM if it's the weekend -- nothing good happens after that!
2. If your teens trick-or-treat, make sure they take flashlights and that you know where they'll be knocking on doors. Set a cut-off time of 8pm for trick-or-treating-- it's simply rude for a group of Snookis and vampires to appear after that time.
3. If your teens are attending a Halloween party, make sure a parent will be there to supervise.
4. Remind your teens not to enter the home of a stranger who may be wanting to offer some unsavory tricks or treats.
5. Make sure your teens know that you have a strict anti-drinking policy 365-days-a-year.. and that includes Halloween.
AND NOW:
6. Watch what they do with those gummy bears. This is a brand new tip just in time for Halloween 2011.
I can hardly wait for the creativity that 2012 offers. Have a happy and safe Halloween!
Barbara Greenberg and Jennifer Powell-Lunder are authors of the hit book, "Teenage as a Second Language: A Parent's Guide to Becoming Bilingual." They've set up an interactive website for parents and teens to listen, learn and discuss hot topics and daily dilemmas. You can find it at www.talkingteenage.com.
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