Could Halloween be every parent’s favorite nightmare? On the one hand, nothing’s more fun than running around the neighborhood with your little ghouls and goblins, as they find the simple pleasure in dressing up for one night of the year, indulging the wildest parts of their imaginations. On the other hand, it’s a time to be extra cautious. It’s trick or treat, after all. We’ve all heard the horror stories of lost kids, tainted candies, and plenty of other convincing reasons to stay inside and wait for the trouble to pass by. But fear not: simple things can help you enjoy the night without so much as a blip, making sure Halloween remains the spectacularly delightful spooky holiday that we all know and love.

American Academy of Pediatrics keeps a running list of all the things parents should know heading into Halloween week. A great tip, and one we’re sure every parent will appreciate: keep the costumes bright and reflective. Halloween is a national holiday, but that doesn’t mean everyone takes the night off. A fluorescent sticker taped to the back of a cape or a set of pixie wings ensures two things: 1) people will see your child when they come a-runnin’, and 2) you’ll be able to identify your child should they scurry away from you. It’s also a great idea to consider using glow sticks, which will keep your child visible from a distance and help you avoid those Abracadabra moments of spontaneous disappearance.

The Center for Disease Control wants to make sure everyone has a S-A-F-E H-A-L-L-O-W-E-E-N. To do so, they’ve devised a clever acronym with 13 tips to help you remember some important safety measures. “S,” for example, stands for “Swords, knives and other costume accessories,” which should be “Short, Soft, and flexible.” “H” is for “Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating. Click the link to check out the rest!

Another big Halloween fright for parents: food allergies. Don’t underestimate them. If one thing’s certain, temptation is at the heart of this delightful holiday, and children might not understand the consequences of consuming an allergen, or they might not even know the ingredients in each candy. Food allergies pose a great challenges to you and your brood on Halloween night. Though you and your child may be aware of the can and cannots of certain delectable treats, there’s little else from stopping your child from sneaking a bite of something they know they shouldn’t be eating, especially when it looks like everyone might be enjoying a bite of something sweet. Fox32 recommends a few things: Keep in close contact with your kids while trick or treating, even mentioning to those doling out sweet treats that your child may be allergic to things like peanuts, etc. Should you be attending any festive parties, it’s a good idea to talk with the hosts beforehand to get a sense of what they’ll be serving, and to find out if any alternatives might be better suited for those with special food requirements. Going through your child’s collection of candy at the end of trick-or-treating, and then trading out the bad candy for safe candy is a kid-friendly way to keep your little goblin happy.

Similarly, it’s a good idea to brush up on your makeup knowledge in the coming week. The Food and Drug Administration points out that several styles of Halloween makeup contain toxins that can cause things like skin rash and eye irritation. The old adage proves true in this case – when in doubt, throw it out. Should a tube of makeup, paste, or any other novelty creamer look or smell strange, it’s a safe bet that it’s time has come to pass. Don’t be afraid to say RIP.

Stay safe and have a happy Halloween!

parent teacher conferences — Talk with your child’s teachers at parent-teacher conferences

The parent-teacher conference is a deeply personal ritual. It can be a wholly congratulatory experience or an indictment of one’s parenting skills. As comfortable or as uncomfortable as conferences may be, the most important thing to remember is that you’re there to talk about your child. Keep in mind a few basic principles when talking to your child’s teacher, so you can make the most out of the conversation.

Come prepared
The parent-teacher conference is a dialogue of great value. Like anything else, it’s important to be ready. Define your goals. Define your child’s goals. Write out a list of the ten most important questions and talking points prior to your meeting. Take advantage of the fact that you have an opportunity to gain insight into your child’s educational experience from the person who sees them almost as often as you do. By doing so, you’ll also prove that you take your child’s school experience as seriously as teachers do.

Stick to the subject
National Public Radio came up with a list of general principles to note the next time you’re scheduled for a parent-teacher conference. It boils down to three things: the child, the classroom, and the future. You may be tempted to boast about your child’s learning abilities. You may be tempted to defend their shortcomings. Stick to the subject. Listen to one another. Resist the temptation to chitchat and put the focus squarely on your child’s habits in the classroom. Discuss strategies to improve their learning habits and opportunities to improve the school experience, both inside the classroom and beyond.

Stay Engaged
The Harvard Family Research Project reaffirms what most parents already know: “family engagement matters for students success.” The Project defines Family Engagement in the following ways: 1.) A shared responsibility among families, community organizations, and schools; 2.) Continuous throughout a child’s life, from birth through adolescence; 3.) Occurring across the multiple settings and contexts in which children grow and learn.

It’s a perpetual process involving several factors of outside life. Take the conversation seriously and apply any suggestions or tips for better learning back at home, within a support group, or a community even, that fosters mutual success among its participants. Remember that education is a lifelong process, that continues beyond the classroom. Staying engaged and helping your child at home is one of the most important things you can for your child, but involving them in other learning-based, communal activities shows them how other kids are working towards the same goals. Establishing these learning habits and communities throughout childhood will help your young student succeed in school and out.

Open the lines of communication
Several factors may contribute to your child’s learning, even beyond the classroom. A recent divorce, a separation, a move to a new city, losing a best friend, or even a death in the family—all these things and more can contribute to a child’s psyche and well being. It can also affect you, which indirectly affects your kids. Addressing these issues with your child’s teacher may provide additional insight into their learning habits, and also make the teacher aware of how they may be coping with lingering issues at home. It is certainly not unusually for at-home “issues” to follow a child with them into school and extracurriculars.

Follow up
Parent-teacher conferences generally happen every 1-2 months and they last about 15-20 minutes a piece. Depending on the extant of your conversation, there may be many more topics left to discuss. Suggest a follow up with your child’s teacher either by phone or in-person. If the teacher is willing, you can cover more ground on a regular basis to ensure your child is improving in school and/or establish better learning tools at home. Ask the teacher if he or she can email you updates, or if the teacher puts class information online where parents can also see what their kids should be working on.

Tips for Keeping Kids Safe on Halloween

How Parents Can Make the Most of Parent-Teacher Conferences